My students need a set of write and wipe alphabet practice cards, 3 sets of black write and wipe markers, a beginning vocabulary write and wipe flip chart, a stamp and write sight words set, a set of giant washable color ink pads, and a set of manuscript follow the dots.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
I am a 13 year veteran Nationally Board Certified teacher. I teach Kindergarten ESOL in a Title I elementary school in an urban, low-income area in Florida which was impacted by Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma over the last few years. Approximately 95 percent of our students receive free or reduced lunch this year, and the entire student body qualifies for free breakfast.
I currently service 30 students in two homeroom Kindergarten classes and tutor ESOL students in a first grade classroom who were previously my Kindergarten students. For the 2009 school year, I will be going into three Kindergarten classrooms. I go into these classes for ninety minutes each and teach reading, writing, and oral language in small groups. My students speak a variety of languages including Spanish, Creole, and Kanjobal.
Starting with the first week of Kindergarten writing, I teach many students what a pencil is and how to hold it. Some of my students have never seen a pencil, crayon, or marker. We work on shapes and alphabet letters at the beginning. I am constantly looking for new, exciting, and hands-on ways to help the students learn how to write. However, there are several children each year who struggle with journal writing. My students are enthusiastic about writing but often get frustrated around November when their peers are sharing their written stories. An additional challenge that my students face is that many of them have no additional help at home. Their families do not read, speak, or write in English so they cannot help their children with extra practice at home.
I intend to use the materials from this grant to increase their experiences with alphabet letters and vocabulary words needed for writing. The alphabet practice cards will be used to increase their letter knowledge and fine motor skills. The beginning writing chart will be used to learn basic English vocabulary words during small group journal writing activities. They will be able to use the manuscript and sight word stamps with stamp pads to practice spelling, writing and reading letters and words which will be critical to writing and reading in English. Besides learning to write, use of these materials will establish a link between reading, writing, and speaking. Success in these activities will bring the students extra confidence during journal writing.
My students will be more prepared for the increasingly difficult reading and writing they will encounter in first grade. Thank you for helping my students become successful and confident English language learners.
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