Grade 5: Expert Reader Mission

Funded Nov 4, 2024

Your generous donation of books has had an incredible impact on our students and our classroom environment. Many of our donors love to read, but might not know as much about the specific ways that these books help us teach important skills. The new texts have introduced a wealth of opportunities for learning, from building literacy skills to fostering critical thinking and creativity.

In our classroom, reading is an interactive, immersive experience. We don't just read the words; we engage deeply with the stories, asking questions, making predictions, and exploring themes. For younger students, these books have been essential in building foundational reading skills such as phonics, fluency, and comprehension. For older students, they challenge them to think critically about character development, plot structure, and themes, helping them become more analytical readers.

One of the most exciting aspects of these new books is their ability to spark discussion and encourage students to share their thoughts and interpretations. This not only helps build their verbal communication skills, but it also encourages empathy and perspective-taking as they consider the experiences of characters in different contexts. We've seen students develop their ability to analyze stories from different angles, make connections between the text and the world around them, and express their ideas more clearly.

Particularly, some of our more reluctant readers have really come to life with the new books. For example, one student who previously struggled with reading has found great joy in a series that involves adventure and mystery. This has not only improved their reading fluency but has sparked a deeper interest in reading outside of class as well. Additionally, our students who enjoy reading for leisure are now having more robust discussions with their peers about books, which has created a wonderful community of readers in our classroom.

The impact of your donation goes beyond just reading; it's about creating a space where students feel excited about learning and are given the tools they need to succeed. Thank you for making this possible!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Clark