"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -Benjamin Franklin
We are a community of fourth graders, within the School District of Philadelphia, who are very eager to learn.
Our classroom consists of 29 students, a few of which receive special education services, as well as students who are struggling, English-speaking learners. Being an urban school setting, approximately 90% of our students receive free or reduced lunches which means many of my students do not have the resources or tools at home to help reinforce their learning.
My Project
Many students are reading below reading level, and you cannot effectively assess a child using a text they cannot read. Would you purchase and wear a pair of sneakers that are 3 sizes too big? No, because that would be useless. In my classroom, skills and standards are modeled through a grade level anchor text. But the real learning comes when the child can read their own text on their own level and then apply those skills and standards taught in their own work.
With the use of a leveled library, I can create book groups and literature circles where students can read on their own independent reading level.
Small groups of students will gather together to discuss a piece of literature that is targeted to their reading level. Then discussion will come alive as students respond to what they have read. Therefore, every child in my classroom would be wearing the correct size sneaker!
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. Jannotta and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.