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
My students are becoming more independent and learning to transition from one activity to the next, but this was not always the case. I am constantly looking for activities that will keep them engaged and learning when they are finished with their regular classwork and reading.
My students are in third grade, attending an inner city charter school in Chicago.
The majority of them are low-income, and many of them come from single parent homes. The majority of them are below grade level, and many of them struggle with self-control and behavior issues. Last year in school, they were moved around to different classrooms throughout the year because they had a difficult time getting along with each other. They are improving in all of these areas, but it is a slow process that requires constant attention.
My Project
My third graders take a special test a few times a year that assesses their reading level. In my school, their reading level is 70% of their Reading grade. All of my students started the year below grade level, particularly in Reading, so it has been an uphill battle for all of them. A few of them have achieved a third grade reading level, but for many, they are still working at it. I am trying to meet with individuals and reading groups every day in order to improve their reading skills and comprehension. There are also many behavior issues with my students, due to their upbringing and home environment. Because of this, they have a difficult time maintaining a peaceful working environment with each other, so it is imperative to keep them busy and able to transition from one activity to the next so I can meet as often as possible with individuals and reading groups.
It is very important that I spend as much uninterrupted reading time with my students as possible in order to get them the skills they need to achieve grade level status.
I have activities that they work on while I am with groups, but there are times that some of them finish this work, then struggle with the transition of what to do next. This reading activity would be great for them to work on because it would help build on the skills they need to get to grade level.
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 Mrs. Mlot and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.