Past projects 2
Can you hear me now? Good...
Funded Dec 31, 2016Thank you all so very much for your generous gift....You don't realize just how much your gift will have an impact on my scholars. We need to be able to hear the videos that we watch. We need for the computers in our classroom to have have privacy during small group time. Thank you so very much for your generous gift. It will truly go a long way!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Owens
Reading is the Key to Success!
Funded Sep 27, 2016I want to first thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity and support. My classroom changed from first graders to fourth graders at the blink of an eye. When you are a teacher and you are certified, you can be shuffled around as the need arises. I was thinking how am I going to use the generous gift that was given to me for the use of my first grade class? Well let me tell you, I have large class of diverse readers, I have fourth graders that are reading on the kindergarten level, I have the bulk that read a 1st and 2nd grade level, and a small few that read on grade level.
The impact of your gift, is immense. Our class of 33 children has seen +15 growth in scores because my scholars have access to books inside and outside of class, we are 4 points away from our end of the school year goal of +19 by May 2017. I have a class that ranges from those that read on levels that are far lower than their actual grade level .
But the most important impact of your gift has been that they have books that have topics that they are interested in, they love reading about science, sports and famous people. They are gaining new vocabulary, they are gaining comprehension skills and most importantly they are gaining a new love for reading.
I ask each child to read everyday for a minimum of 20 minutes, this is the bare minimum. The more practice that they get in reading, the better off they become at this so necessary skill. A lot of my scholars didn't even have a library card at the beginning of the school year. I happy to report that now over 70% have a library card. Having access to reading materials is a blessing and gift. Books can give them much needed background knowledge for experiences that they can dream to have one day. I want them to be transported to new worlds, new characters and lives different from their own. So that they can dream of a life that is diverse and ever changing; to give them life skills that aid them later in life to being able to adapt and change with situations.
I believe in reading. I believe in public libraries. I believe in public schools. I believe in having the same opportunities being afforded for all.
Thank you once again so very much for all your support. It is so greatly appreciated. God bless you all! Please continue to give to teachers such as myself it is so very, very important.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Owens