We want to read!

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.

I teach English as a second language in the beautiful city of Huntington Park, California to the incredible students of Henry T. Gage Middle School. Gage Middle School is the largest middle school in the nation with nearly 4,000 students. Of our school population 45 percent are English language learners. y. We are desperate for books. The students have few if any books at home. In addition, the cost of a new book seems unattainable and our school library is minimal in comparison to our student population. The Plan - - reading to others I imagine a plethora of books, of which my 100 students might choose not just one but three or four. For any child much less an ESL student reading is the greatest ticket to language acquisition. How can they read without any book? With your help my students will be able to read daily. After receiving their books we will practice read alouds. Students will gain confidence with a positive attitude towards reading. Students will work towards a classroom goal of pages read silently and aloud through the use of reading logs, partner reading, and sharing. Students who compete their first book will be eligible to read a portion of their book or one of their choice aloud to an elementary school. Just one block away sits Miles Elementary school where a number of my students were promoted from. I anticipate numerous visits to neighboring Miles Elementary as my students diligently and relentlessly complete their brand new books. With so much practice reading aloud with their peers and teacher my students will be secure in reading aloud, a skill that will transmit across the curriculum to their science and history classes. They will act as reading mentors to other young readers. Furthermore, students who teach others demonstrate learning by retaining the information before instructing others which is why this reading plan will act both as a positive reinforcement for reading. Thank you so much for your time. Remember reading is so valuable but how can a child read if they can't practice. Books truly will develop competent readers, effective writers, engaging speakers, and creative problem-solvers that have developed pride, respect, and self-worth at Gage Middle School.