Today a Reader, Tomorrow Leader!

Funded Dec 24, 2022

Once again, thank you for making our project, "Today a Reader, Tomorrow's Leader" a success.

You read our story and responded with your financial support. Our library is now complete with many book titles, students get to choose according to their interests and/or assigned topics. Our school uses an instructional strategy called "I Do, We Do, You Do" when presenting new lessons. The "I do" portion of a lesson involves the teacher modeling the lesson, and students watching. This is the part where the teacher is modeling a think-aloud. In case you aren't familiar, a think-aloud is where the teacher is speaking out loud before the class what she would think if she were in the shoes of the student trying to solve the problem.

The "We do" portion is where students try to do it themselves, I assist them and give them feedback right away. The "You do" portion is where students are completely independent in completing the assignment or task. It can be in the form of an assessment, or it can be just regular classwork. They are typically just practicing the skill of mastery. The You Do portion is where the books you helped to purchase are used. For example, when I introduced the reading skill, "Finding Main Idea and Key Details," students would have then chosen a book on their instructional level to find the main idea and key details. I will then conference with them and provide them with feedback. Also, as part of their daily reading, this becomes a choice for students to complete a response to the reading graphic organizer.

During Learning Centers students get the opportunity to choose which learning center they would like to work in for two literacy rotations. While in centers, students are building reading stamina, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension just to name a few. During small group instructions, students get to meet with the teacher and talk about what they are reading. The paraprofessional also assists in this area.

Students enjoy new books in various ways. For example, not only do they get to engage with them in the classroom, but they get to take them home as part of their daily reading tasks. In addition, more than half of the students' reading levels have gone up which also boosts their confidence levels. The other striving readers continue to persevere working towards mastery of these fundamental literacy writing.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Scott