"Oh, magic hour, when a child first knows she can read printed words!" - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1943
I work just over the bridge, in an urban area of Staten Island, NY. I live by this quote, and truly understand the time-stopping power of that moment when a struggling reader "gets it". Such Joy!
My students are referred to my program from my colleagues in first and second grades.
I work with struggling readers in small groups and try to lessen the achievement gap so they can return to whole class instruction and have the confidence and skills they need to better decode, comprehend, and write alongside their peers.
The students I work with are of a low-income demographic and many of them lack appropriate reading materials in their own homes. I provide my students with books to read at home and return, which the parents are truly thankful for. These children are eager and can easily be excited about what they are learning. They thrive on the consistency of the reading program and seem to really enjoy the small group attention. The large class-sizes of my school can be overwhelming for a struggling reader, but in our small instructional groups these children really have opportunities to shine.
My Project
There are a multitude of apps available for children from magnetic letter boards for word building practice to reading fluency with an unlimited library of books to suit every reader's interest. It is my hope that the students will transfer some of these programs to their home technology devices and use them while outside of the school. While working in our groups these Ipads will make most efficient use of our fifty minutes of instructional time. Students will be able to do an "Every Day Phonics" lesson in a much short amount of time thanks to the magnetic letter app. There will be much less transition time from word building to fluency practice with an e-library app. Children will be inspired by a book with animations and noise to enhance. It is my goal to motivate my readers with the latest technology that they are excited to use.
"The more that you read, the more you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you'll go!" -Dr. Seuss
No one says it better! I hope to inspire a love of reading. Capturing interest and a desire to read is the seed that starts ones journey of lifelong discovery and growth. Equipped with the power to be thoughtful, fluent, and eager readers, my students will be given the opportunity to succeed in life.
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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. Ralph and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.