I teach a multi-age first/second grade class at a small elementary school on NYC. We are a project and material-based school. I am committed to holistic teaching and to creating and maintaining a sense of a strong community.
The presence of different personalities and multiple age levels teaches all of us in the classroom the skill of compromise, the importance of both leading and following and the power of imagination.
The children in my class are economically and ethnically diverse and their home experiences vary. The prior knowledge that children bring to my classroom is incredibly valuable. All of the children need to be afforded autonomy and have many opportunities to make choices regardless of where they come from.
Allowing students to move to will support all students in their learning (especially my learners who require support, modifications, and accommodations). As a class, we work hard to develop empathy and awareness of others. My classroom will always be a place where everyone feels safe to speak and to be themselves. Relationships in the classroom are just as important as books and pencils, and children learn best in a trusting and safe environment.
My Project
First and second grades are such important years in literacy. My students are so eager to expand their reading and I want to make sure they have proper and updated materials. My students are travelling along their literacy paths- some are at the beginning, some are just starting to develop reading fluency and are moving from easy reader books into early chapter books and some have achieved high levels of fluency. We are in need of chapter books with larger font and shorter chapters for ages 6 and up and graphic novels for all. Kids are learning to read independently, so I need to give them books of high interest and varying levels of difficulty.
First and second grade is such a magical reading time for many kids.
It can become tricky to pick "just right" books for each of them. They need books that will hold their attention and interest but aren't so difficult that they will be turned off of reading!
The books in my room are dated, one dimensional, and frankly, the kids find some of them boring. I am asking for updated literature to add to the class library as well as book bins, a bench to sit on and read and a rolling cart to hold all the new wonderful books.
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