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.
My Students
How many words do children need to know in order to be successful readers and learners? Children living in poverty have thousands LESS than their peers in other communities. In order to close that gap, my preschoolers need lots of rich vocabulary to practice, play with and OWN.
My preschoolers are part of an "at-risk" preschool population; the most common "at-risk" condition of each is coming from low-income families, embedded in an extremely poverty-ridden community.
For many, poverty has become a part of the culture for generations of families, but things are beginning to change. Parents want better lives for their children and know that education is the key to that end. My preschoolers are avid and excited learners, eager to soak up new learning and experiences. They also have the confidence to believe they can learn and do anything. They believe they are unstoppable and in order to make that belief ring true, we must give them the best we have to offer. Especially WORDS. Words solve problems. Words unite. Words bring understanding and richness to life. Words build bridges between individuals, communities, cultures and even nations. Words are knowledge and knowledge is power. Empower the preschoolers.
My Project
The books and puppets I have chosen will encourage students to act out and expand upon the stories they present. By retelling and re-making these stories, the preschoolers will embrace new vocabulary and use it in new ways, making it truly their own. Furthermore, the story elements "wands" will give the children focus during storytime and a special purpose for listening. By sharing their "part" during or after the story, they develop their oral language and thinking skills.
The oral language card activities will reinforce basic concepts some of the children have not yet mastered, such as rhyming words or things that belong together. By using these cards in a playful manner and making games out of these activities, the preschoolers will learn and master these concepts with enthusiasm and ease.
The alphabet and print awareness activities will reinforce the connection between the spoken words and the print they will soon be expected to read.
If words are knowledge and knowledge is power, there is no better way to give this gift to children than through good stories told and retold using various methods and materials to reach all types of learners.
Give preschoolers the gift of words, words they can own and use to make their lives better. How many ways to say "good job"? Hundreds! "Fabulous" "Terrific" "Bravo" "Excellent" "Incredible" "Wonderful" "Brilliant" "Magnificent" "Kiss your Brain" "You're the Best" "Exceptional".
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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 Mrs. Sanders-Bruce and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.