This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
Imagine arriving to school in a foreign country and not being able to communicate and express your basic needs to your teachers and/or classmates. Now, imagine being asked to read, write, do math, and learn Science and Social Studies without being able to speak the language. This is the reality for many of my students.
The students in my classroom are a diverse group of English Language Learners -- both geographically and academically.
My students have arrived to The Bronx, New York from many different countries, including but not limited to, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, China, Egypt, and Bangladesh.
Some of my students' families have left their country in refuge, some have left their country for medical reasons, and others have left their country in search of an overall better life. Considering that my students have arrived to the United States at different points in their childhood, including newcomers who have recently arrived, they are at varying points in their English proficiency and academic grade levels. Despite their differences in English proficiency and academic grade levels, my students are all resilient and eager to learn.
My Project
The use of board games and computer software will make the act of learning English and developing literacy skills--which can often be overwhelming for English Language Learners-- fun and interactive, instead. My students will use these materials during our daily guided literacy centers.
Games like "Sight Word Bingo" provide students an opportunity to practice the language skills they are learning in class while also engaging with their peers.
Activities like "Storyteller Writing Box" gives students an opportunity to use language creatively as they share original stories.
The journals will allow students to continue practicing their writing skills while at home, and even serve as a way for students to share the language they are learning with their parents and siblings. The materials I have listed address early literacy skills, such as phonic awareness, sight words, and tier 1 vocabulary. Since I work in a third grade context, materials that address early literacy skills are not easily accessible for teachers and students.
As an educator, I strongly believe that learning should be fun and engaging for students. These materials will allow my students to develop the early literacy skills they need while easing the frustration that can sometimes come with learning a new language. Beginning to speak, read, write, and understand the English language is vital for my students' academic success and personal growth.
Learning English and developing literacy skills will help students begin to culturally adjust and alleviate the social and emotional challenges of moving to a new country. My students can also use their new acquired English skills at home with their families, to translate and/or help their families culturally adjust as well. This project will ensure my students' success as learners in the classroom and as citizens of New York City's melting pot.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Trinidad and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
