Help me give my students things they can take home that will read to them and allow them to listen to native readers saying letter names and sounds as well as blending words to read simple books.
The Newcomer Program serves students who are new to the United States and are learning English for the first time. About 75% of our students are from Latin America, and most come as unaccompanied minors fleeing violence. The other 25% of our students are mostly refugees from Africa and Asia, specifically Congolese and Burmese refugees.
Our students come with a myriad of experiences and educational backgrounds.
Some have never held a pencil before or spent a day in a school, and others arrive with transcripts and a wealth of education in their native language. We are unique in that students spend about a year, or a year and a half, with us and then transition to another school within our district.
We serve families too, with wraparound services, partnerships with local nonprofits and universities, and workshops based on families' needs. The Newcomer Program offers our students a safe place to acclimate to life in the United States.
My Project
Some of our students come to us with no literacy in their native language which makes learning English more difficult. Studying letters and sounds at school is great, but they need to hear native speakers outside of school. Most of our families don't have the internet or a computer at home, limiting the free online resources they could use.
These LeapFrog LeapReader systems and LeapFrog Scribble and Write Tablets will be able to be checked out to students who need to practice their letter names, sounds, and basic blending.
Without a way to listen to the correct letter, sound, or word, taking regular books home can't teach or correct students. I'm looking forward to seeing our students learn to read more quickly with materials they can use outside of school without the need of a teacher at their side.
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