I have the privilege of supporting three classes of seventh grade students who are reading at various Lexile levels. About one third are quite successful readers who are able to access high level text, but two-thirds read at or below grade level. This is a frustrating, and for some humiliating, experience. Those who read at a fourth or fifth grade level are only a few years away from high school where they will not be able to handle the curriculum if they are unable to comprehend what they read.
This puts some students at risk of not completing a high school education.
In order to address their reading deficit, students need to employ a variety of reading strategies in the context of engaging texts. Some students are working diligently to make up the gap in their reading ability, while others lack personal motivation. I work hard every day to try to engage all of them in developing their reading skills. It is a both a great joy and a great challenge to support these precious students.
My Project
My school district is adopting the Reading-Writing Workshop model for middle school language arts classrooms. This model has thirty years of research behind it, and it has proven to be effective in classrooms all over the world. It enables students to develop reading skills so they can become flexible, resilient readers.
The program is highly effective, but my library is inadequately stocked for this compelling new approach.
I need all kinds of books, but I would like to begin by stocking my shelves with pairs of high-quality fiction and non-fiction books. I need two books for each title because students work with partners. The books I have chosen for this project support students reading below grade level at three different reading levels.
I would ask you to please help me provide for my below grade level readers.
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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. Hughes and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.