Stairway to Heaven: Books to Reach our Grade Level

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

My students are hit every day with the expectation of passing a high stakes test in the near future. They are focused and willing to work toward their goal, but lack foundational reading skills necessary to build upon. We can't comprehend passage reading when we don't have the books to get there!

My students arguably have the most unreached potential of all students; they are English language learners who have little background knowledge of American culture - many of the comprehension materials we have in class are completely out of their experiences.

These students do not take karate, attend birthday parties or have positive experiences with puppies; but you wouldn't believe how eager they are to learn! My students spend their days differently than most American students - many are responsible for other siblings, making their own meals, setting a bedtime and even teaching their parents English. They have a vibrant curiosity about the world around them and are eager to display how responsible they are and how quickly their brains are growing.

My Project

Most children are exposed to over 100 books before they are asked to learn to read. Not the case with my students. We are still discovering books tell stories, have words that correlate with the pictures, and start from left to right. Most recently, we've discussed how books can be based on real things that can happen to YOU, or how they can be great stories that are completely made up! The average student in my class is two years behind grade level; meaning they're expected to read a chapter book when their brains are only ready to listen to a story or read a few words on a page. In order to make the climb to chapter books, we need books in between read-aloud and grade-level chapter books. We need early reader books with characters who are playful and can expose them to more facets of culture - such as going to the doctor or attending a birthday party. Series such as Amelia Bedelia, Frog and Toad or Fancy Nancy are not in our classroom and are the perfect bridge to reach grade level!

This project is a continual gift.

For many of them, it's the first brand new item picked out especially with him or her in mind; and a gift they can give to someone younger next year. Stories are also terrific escapes for imaginations to work; with our rigorous curriculum to catch them up, there is little room for creative growth. Owning their own books will encourage them to read, take ownership of their materials and grow to reach their grade level expectations.