I am an intervention teacher and I service students in grades K-2, daily. Currently, I am focusing on a small group of 1st and 2nd graders that need extra help meeting grade-level expectations in reading.
My students are struggling readers but they want to become more efficient, & they try very hard.
Because I am passionate about helping them to achieve their goals, I started a program called Paws For a Book.
Paws For a Book is a student-led literacy program that brings therapy dogs into our school to listen to children read. When a child is reading aloud to a dog, he is not nervous about being a perfect reader because a dog will not correct him. Therefore, with time, his skills will improve.
Paws also offers opportunities for students to participate in volunteerism. Paws is not only about helping kids to become better readers. Paws teaches kids about the importance of giving back & spreading kindness in all that they do.
Some of our past projects have included a visit to a home for the elderly, collecting literacy supplies for kids in the hospital, & a pet food & pet supply drive for needy pets in our area. Paws For a Book is a wonderful program that touches many.
My Project
Currently, I have 2 Hokki stools that I received from the generous donors of DC. I am asking for 3 more because they have been such a big hit in my classroom. The kids love them, & so do I. I am so pleased with the calm they've brought to my struggling readers.
When the kids are sitting on the Hokki stools, they are able to complete their work more efficiently & in a timely manner. This is especially true for the ones who need to wiggle more.
Rocking on the Hokki stools allows my kids to put their focus where it's needed most; on their work, my lesson, or into the books that we're reading. Further, they are able to focus for longer periods of time, especially during guided-reading groups. They also seem to be less anxious when reading aloud. Bonus!
However, I do not have enough stools for all of my readers. Because the stools have offered such an advantage for the kids who are using them, I'd like to share that gift with all of my kids. Their success is important to me.
Receiving 3 more Hokki stools would mean so much to me & my students.
If funded, all of my kids would have 1 to use during guided-reading, & small group instruction. It would be a blessing for my struggling readers.
My main goal is to grow my students into confident, successful readers who feel proud of their academic achievements. I do not want them to be nervous or stressed about reading. They are so smart! They just need an extra boost, & I think these stools can help me get them there.
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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. Marciniak and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
