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
"Reading gives us a place to go when we have to stay where we are." There are things in this world we will never get to experience and for those experiences there are books. My students need the basic skills of reading to have the opportunity to go places that they could not go otherwise.
In Mississippi, there are a few schools that are collaborating with Friends of Children (Headstart) to introduce a four year old class into the elementary schools.
My children are still a part of Headstart, but are coming to school with the 'big kids'. They are doing this to try to promote readiness for kindergarten in schools. These children come from a lower socioeconomic background and many times have not been introduced to reading until they started school. They come to school excited and ready to participate everyday. They soak up information like sponges and are always ready to learn something new. They love to dance, play, sing, and draw, but what surprised me is they love to pick up a book. They picture read to each other and they love to listen to a story. Their comprehension skills are developing and I am so excited about it. They are capable of telling about a story that we read a week ago and give details. They surprise me everyday.
My Project
The books requested with this project will help my students get more familiar with reading. Even if they can not yet read, they can find and identify letters, they can picture read, they can learn the parts of a book, and they can learn how to hold books. Many children do not get much experience with books before school and I want to be able to give them the basic skills so that they are ready to jump into reading when they get into kindergarten.
We need to take responsibility for the learning of our children and I really believe that reading is a solid foundation for their education.
Please help us prepare our children for their futures so that they have the foundation to be successful.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Chastain and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.