Help me give my students an opportunity to practice their beginning literacy skills by learning more about letters. With these items, alpha-bots, tactile letters, alphabet stamps, and a teaching easel, I will be able to offer my students multiple tactile approaches to learning the alphabet.
In my classroom, urban and suburban students join together to share personal experiences and investigate through learning opportunities that they previously may not have been able to participate in. Field trips, in class volunteers, and special projects are all ways I expose my students to new learning topics.
"Where curiosity steers exploration" is something we pride ourselves in at my school.
My students love to ask questions and use inquiry to find the answers. This year my students have been especially interested in our newest supplemental curriculum in literacy that focuses on the letters of the alphabet, the sounds they make, and how to correctly write them in both lowercase and uppercase.
As well, this year's class is a busy group, thriving on music and movement. We sing and dance daily as well as practice techniques in mindfulness and meditation. I am always looking for new ways to engage my students in the learning topics based around math, literacy, science, social studies, and the arts.
My Project
My goal with this project is to create an overall more welcoming and inviting writing center. I'd begin by using the easel to help with small group instruction on the proper technique used to write letters. After watching myself name and write letters, my students would have the chance to model after me and practice writing on their own. Using paper and markers or white boards with dry erase markers, students will be able to hone this skill that is a necessity as they venture off to kindergarten. I will also have the flexibility to observe and collect data on how students are doing in this area of literacy development, which supports my overall goal to see improved understanding of letter names and letter sounds.
During independent center time, my students will be drawn into the multi-sensory approaches to reading and writing letters.
They will engage in conversation with each other as they play to learn. My youngest students, who may not yet have the fine motor skills needed to write letters, will be able to use the stamps to "write" words based on our inquiry themes. Students will find excitement in exploring the Alphabots as they can change from being typical letters to being these exciting robots. I can already hear the chattering coming from my students as they discuss which letter they want to transform next. My oldest students, who are preparing for kindergarten in the fall, will be able to independently write on their own using a word wall or journal buddies, perhaps even using some inventive spelling to truly be able to write on their own.
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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. Felty and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
