The cost of guided, leveled readers is $330, 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>.
I am a first grade teacher at an urban elementary school in North Carolina. Currently I have 22 students in my class. They are diverse both socioeconomically and culturally. Our school has the same diverse population.
First grade is a very important year, both developmentally and academically for students. It is at this age that most children learn how to read. It is my job to teach them and to provide them with good reading strategies that will be their foundation for the rest of their lives. In this era of high stakes testing, I want to make sure my students are life long learners and readers and not just "test takers."
Students come to first grade with a variety of reading skills and levels. Some students are reading books, others can read the environment, and still others are working on letters and sounds. Reading programs adopted by school systems are usually geared toward the average student; and in first grade, there is not an average student. Students are usually reading on a certain level. In order to teach my students at their individual level, I need a wide variety of books - at different levels - for emergent to independent readers. Having books available for students at their independent level helps them to become fluent readers, and not frustrated readers. Also, I need to offer challenging books for students who read above grade level. Using leveled books also gives me a good opportunity to teach these kids good reading strategies that they will be able to use throughout their lives.
I am requesting leveled reading books so each of my students can have the opportunity to read books on their level. All children should have the opportunity to read, not just the average child.
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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. Hasty and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.