Research has proven that the best way for children to master phonics and spelling patterns is to write them repeatedly.
Years ago, spelling practice constituted playing chanting games, making up cheers, and playing games where students guessed letters and filled in blanks.
These games are fun and important in keeping kids engaged in spelling practice and phonics application, but as a teacher, I must also make sure my students practice writing their spelling words every day.
My Project
In place of using paper to write spelling words and to complete phonics dictation exercises, I prefer to have my students use dry erase lapboards. This minimizes paper waste and yet still engages my students in spelling and phonics. Unfortunately, the dry erase boards we have now are warped, chipped, and have build up that no longer wipes or washes off. By donating to our project, you will be providing a clean slate - literally - for my students to use for spelling practice and dictation. My students will use the boards to write their spelling words in a variety of ways. We will also use the boards to write and then check word spellings that go along with the weekly phonics patterns we are studying. The book pockets will be utilized as storage for each week's spelling/vocabulary word cards, which will be adhered to their desks or directly to the backs of the boards, thus ensuring their words are always readily available for practice.
Providing our classroom with new dry erase lapboards will allow my students daily opportunities to master spelling and phonetic patterns of words just the way the experts say they master them - by writing them!
Equally importantly, we will be doing this practice while eliminating paper waste, allowing us to respect our environment at the same time. Please consider helping us go green with "clean slates"!
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 Mrs. Painter and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
