Today a student said to me, "I just can't put this book down. It's so good!" What a testament to the power of literature! Books allow us to learn, escape, and dream. My kindergarten students are thrilled about reading, and I want to encourage their interest.
My students come from a variety of backgrounds.
Some may have books and educational supplies at home, while others may not. I want to make sure that every student in my room has a chance to read a book on his or her reading level. I want to encourage and foster their interest in literature. If students feel like they CAN read, then they will WANT to read. If I provide them with books that are developmentally appropriate, they will be able to decipher the text and comprehend what is happening in the story.
I would love to have books in my classroom that include all kindergarten reading benchmarks: what students should read at the beginning and middle of kindergarten, as well as what they will ideally be reading by the beginning of first grade. My hope is to send appropriate books home with my children every few days; this way, each kindergarten student will have a book to read on their own OR with the help of their parents.
My Project
The books that I have chosen include fiction and nonfiction, and include various kindergarten reading levels. Some of the books cover topics that we spend part of the school year studying (the seasons, for example). Other books may invoke ideas during class discussions or Writer's Workshop each day. Students are encouraged to gain writing ideas from books that I read aloud in my classroom each day. With these leveled reading books, my children will be exposed to different topics and different genres.
Most importantly, I believe in the school/home connection. I work WITH my students' parents; we are a team. With these leveled books, I would be able to send home appropriate literature for my kindergarten students to read with their mom or dad each evening. Instead of simply listening to a more difficult book that mom or dad reads TO the student, my children would also be able to participate and read themselves.
My ultimate goal in receiving these leveled books is two-fold:
- to foster and encourage a LOVE of literature
AND
- to boost my children's self-confidence and make them believe in themselves as readers!
Please consider helping our classroom. We would be thrilled to add these books to our classroom library, and I would love to be able to partner with parents to encourage reading at home!
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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. Cranford and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.