The cost of a set of Guided reading books is $336, 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>.
Last year was my first year as a teacher. I walked into a classroom of rusted desks, moldy pipes, peeling bookshelves, and NO books. I was beginning my career as a first grade teacher in this environment. As you may already know, students generally learn to read in first grade. It is my strong opinion that students cannot learn to read without books. I knew that if I were to be successful in teaching my children to read, I would have to find a way to find some books. So I bought as many as I could using money from my pocket. Now I should tell you that a beginning teacher does not make a whole lot of money. I rarely had enough out of my paychecks to buy books. I used the few that I had bought and borrowed a few here and there for my students to use. Although most of my students are now successful readers, I believe that with the proper materials they might have been more successful.
I feel it necessary to have a classroom guided reading library with enough books that I can put them in my students' hands. Guided reading kits allow several copies of each book. This would allow me to conduct reading groups. It would also allow children to read together and learn from each other. Finally, I want books in my classroom that my students can take home. Many kids do not have books in their homes. I want to provide them with stories to share with their families. This would lead to increased practice of reading skills, increased love of reading, and increase family participation in the child's learning.
I am a looping teacher that means I teach first grade and then take that same class to second grade. I need books for both grade levels. I would like several kits to last an entire school year. I just do not have the funds to make this happen on my own. Thank you for considering the needs of my students.
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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. O. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.