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 struggle for the support necessary to become a fluent reader. I was recently appointed as a literacy coach for K-3 students, all of whom receive free breakfast and lunch, and live in the most dangerous parts of New Orleans.
My students are young and eager.
They love school and you can see the lessons click in their eyes as they light up after connecting a letter to a new sound. On the other side, my kids are not confident, they are not strong and they cry, or fight, at the slightest insecurity. My new reading room is intended for small groups of low readers, where I hope to build a "team and family" atmosphere, as is the motto of our school. All of my students share the same joy and feeling of accomplishment when they ace a spelling test or move up a reading level. I want to work as a team to make these little joys a reality for every student on a daily basis.
My Project
Having an organized set of level readers will allow students to measure their own progression. Almost every student is starting at the lowest level. Students will be able to see their own level, and that of their peers, allowing them to team up in various complementary groups. Most of our work will be in small centers of close to 3 students. Having leveled readers allows me to differentiate the instruction level for students so that everyone can work on their individual level. The requested supply caddies will help my students stay organized.
Our school has been active in the community since before Hurricane Katrina.
Our building has been functioning since before the storm. Over the years, however, we have lost various materials when we moved sites. The books are not up-to-date and many are falling apart. We need leveled readers that will guide my students in their growth and gradually build reading skills. I am also asking for whiteboards where kids can practice their letters and small nonsense words.
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 Ms. Rubinstein and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.