The students I work with are mostly struggling students, who are not at grade level proficiency in literacy. Many of my students come from diverse, low income backgrounds and are eager to learn to read. The students I work with have had to overcome different challenges and adversities in their lives at a young age. These students are 2-3 years behind their peers. This achievement gap not only affects the area of reading but carries over into all academics that require literacy skills.
Our schools district works hard to close the achievement gap among all students.
The students I work with have large achievement gaps that our school is trying to close by giving intensive interventions to our most struggling students. Over the last two years the population of our school has changed. We now serve apartment buildings that occupy families and students that were homeless.
Learning to read and write is a fundamental right for all children and one that every child can learn. As educators we have to understand how a child learns and make it accessible for all children. Not all children fit into the one size fits all approach to reading.
My Project
Every child has the right to learn how to read. But not every child learns to read the same. Studies have shown if we wait until third grade to deliver the right kind of instruction that approximately 74% of these children will continue to have difficulties through high schools. By third grade many children have fallen years behind in their reading skills and will never catch up to their peers. Our children deserve better.
Time does not stop for these children.
Children who struggle with reading shouldn't feel shame, frustration and low self-esteem. For many children their confidence spirals down with each negative grade or experience. Children need direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and a prescriptive way to learn how to read. For children who struggle with reading, writing, and spelling, they need the chance to learn how to read through methods like the Orton Gillingham approach which is highly structured and sequential.
The Orton Gillingham method was developed and founded from scientific evidence on how children learn to read and write. We as educators need to give children every opportunity to learn. We can't fit all children in the same small box of how many perceive reading should be taught. The Orton Gillingham training will give me the skill and knowledge to help EVERY child learn to read.
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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. Lynch and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.