Past projects 2
Roald Dahl Author Study
Funded Dec 31, 2024Thank you so much for allowing my students the opportunity to read an outstanding set of books by an incredible author! So far we have had the opportunity to read "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and we are about to start reading several chapters from each of the remaining books that the students will be able to read on their own. By sparking their interest with the first novel, and giving them a glimpse of how Roald Dahl writes, it is my hope that I am creating lifelong readers that love getting lost in a good book! Just like adults, children usually fall in love with an author and want to keep reading books by them, by introducing them to authors that they might not be familiar with, I am able to open up new worlds and new genres.
When students are reading in my classroom, I usually allow them to grab a meditation pillow, cushion, or comfy seat that I have around the classroom. They pick a spot and start reading either along with me, listening to me read, or reading silently to themselves. My favorite part is listening to all the giggles when I get to a funny or silly part. I often try to choose books that also have a movie that was made based on the book. This also sparks interest and intrigue while we are reading the books, then they ask to read the next in the series, especially if there is a movie!
I think my students who do not speak English as their 1st language are really enjoying these books as a read aloud because they are given the opportunity to just listen and do not have to focus on determining each word meaning as much as they would if they were reading independently. I strongly believe that reading aloud also helps them acquire English in a fun way.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gialames
Flex Seating for Cozy Reading!
Funded Sep 25, 2024My students have thoroughly enjoyed the flexible seating that you so kindly donated to our classroom! When I tell my students to find a cozy spot to learn, it is always a mad dash to find these chairs. My students love to use them during silent reading, group work, and when learning together in the front of the room. These chairs have added to the cozy & fun learning environment that I consistently try to foster.
When my students first saw the chairs they couldn't believe that someone outside of our school bought them for us, they thought that was so cool! They couldn't wait to try them out and often fuss over someone getting a chair two days in a row. They especially love the fact that these chairs are adjustable and can sit upright or lean back, this feature definitely adds to their comfort level and desire to sit in them.
We recently finished reading "The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis. I transformed my classroom to look like Narnia, a winter wonderland, and even had a "wardrobe" for the students to walk through, just like the characters in the novel. For our next class novel study, we will be reading "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl, my hope is to do another classroom transformation to make my classroom look like Wonka's Chocolate Factory to totally immerse my students in the setting of the novel. My hope is that by creating these learning opportunities I will have created and fostered a love for reading that will follow my students well into adulthood.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Gialames