Great Books for Growing Readers

Funded Feb 5, 2023

I have been working all year with students that have been struggling with reading. These students were initially 2 to three grade levels below in reading, and the instruction that these students participate in is incredibly structured and systematic. To start the year, we practiced phonemic awareness, phonics, and sight words. As time went on we shifted the focus towards syllables, and how we can put those syllables together to create more complex words. These skills are essential for older students, as content material grows more nuanced. One main component of how these skills are cemented in my classroom is through the practice of reading. Texts that were purchased in this project were specifically selected for their ability to be decoded. This means that students will be able to access them using the skills they have learned through our coursework.

At times it can be challenging for struggling readers to read in front of their peers. I have worked to create a comforting environment for students to come in and read to hone their skills. Students are able to make themselves comfortable around the room and take a few minutes to simply enjoy a book. Some of them have never found joy in reading until this year. Others have simply not been able to access the texts they wish to. For approximately ten minutes a day, students have a chance to build their skills while exploring new worlds. This has been paying off, as we have seen leaps and bounds of growth from students on assessments.

Students have been especially drawn to certain texts. I have had students rushing to book bins to read their preferred novels. A particular favorite thus far, entitled "The First Rule of Punk" has regularly left students asking to keep it for their personal book collection. Books like "Mae Jemison" and "Mango, Abuela, and Me" are frequently chosen by students because they identify with the stories. I have been asked to purchase another copy of "The One and Only Bob, so more than one student can read it at a time. Instead of lacking enthusiasm to challenge themselves with a book, students are being enticed by these stories, and growing as they are able to decode these new texts. As the year has drawn forward students have become so much more comfortable with diving into a story, which gives me peace of mind that these students are on the right track to success.

Thank you so much for bringing me that peace of mind. Thank you for providing these books to my students,”

With gratitude,

Ms. Potter