My students need 23 audio books to read and listen to at the listening station, including 'Magic Tree House' and 'Green Eggs and Ham and Other Servings of Dr.Seuss.'
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
Imagine that you are a child in a new country, in a new school, learning a new language and learning to read. Several of my students face this challenge and my class lacks the audio books that will help improve their language acquisition.
My students are African American and Asian fifth graders in a large urban public school district in Wisconsin.
More than 95% of the student population is at poverty level. The students comprise a diverse group; several students are English Language Learners who are new to the country, speak native languages such as Hmong, Lao and Somali, and are learning English for the first time. Many of the non-English Language Learners are reading two or three years below grade level.
My Project
A selection of audio books will allow my students to read along with a tape or cd and hear fluent reading. This is crucial since many of my students are not literate in either their native or second language. The students will be exposed to a variety of genres and new vocabulary words. They will be able to explore the world of reading, begin journeys with new characters and be introduced to new places while building comprehension, vocabulary and interest. Visiting the listening station will give the students opportunities to be read to daily, and will help the students gain confidence as their English language increases. The listening station is one of the meaningful activities my students are engaged in independently during the literacy block while I am leading small group literacy instruction .
Recently, one of my students stated in a matter of fact tone that, "You never get too old to be read to!" My fifth graders are eager to learn and read, and your donation will help accelerate language acquisition for our newcomer English Language Learners, as well as boost the vocabulary and literacy skills for my students of poverty.
Thank you for your contributions to filling my fifth graders' ears with the sweet sounds of rich language and for caring about them as much as I do.
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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 Ms. Zuehlke and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.