The cost of reading books are $248, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
It is my first year teaching first grade at Painter Elementary School in Alum Rock District in San Jose, CA. In first grade, the primary goal is reading. With my students this year, I must go from 0 to 60: literally, from reading 0 words per minute for some of them, to 60 words per minute, which is the California standard for the end of first grade.
Learning to read in first grade is absolutely essential. Only one out of eight children who is not on grade level in reading at the end of first grade EVER reaches grade level. Students must know that it is important to learn to read, so that they may eventually make the transition from learning to read into reading to learn.
My classroom is in need of grade-level books that are diverse and engaging. For half of the students at Painter, English is their second language. It is crucial that I teach my students that books contain information that will relate to their own lives, inspire their imagination, and expand their knowledge of other places and people. An excellent teacher should have approximately 1,500 books in his or her classroom library. I am starting with only a few left over from the previous teacher, most of which are not at the first grade level. I would love to procure a variety of books to begin my library: award-winners, culturally relevant literature, and amusing stories, that will bring reading to life for my first graders.
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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. H. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.