Past projects 12
Make Reading an Adventure
Funded Jun 24, 2019The books that I bought over the summer were books that my students last year truly wanted and tried to get before the end of the year. (We ran out of time and I used the gift cards from the previous project to get them) 5th grade students are expected to read 40 books over the course of the year, to help them, each year we do a "book walk" and a someday book list. The students get time in class to sample many books and then write them down if they want to read them this year. Many of my students were SO THRILLED to see Story Thieves, Smile/ Sisters, the Percy Jackson and Fable Haven books. Most of them are now currently being read by my students.
We also received a new pencil sharpener for our class. It is the biggest time saver and the best way to get rid of distractions in class. Many students use the excuse of needing to sharpen their pencil as a way to avoid work or distract others. Having a working pencil sharpener has helped me have sharpened pencils ready for kids to use. And has cut down the interruptions in class.
Thank you so much for helping us get these books into our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lewis- Prospect Elementary
Exciting Worlds of Reading!
Funded Dec 25, 2018I first want to thank everyone who helped fund our class project. Reading wasn't important to me until I was in 4th grade and found a teacher willing to take time to read and a series that captured my interest and imagination. As a teacher my goal is to pass the love of reading I found as a child to everyone in my classroom. Frederick Douglas said, "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." For me, learning to appreciate reading opened my eyes to hundreds of new worlds and experiences that I would never have found if it weren't for that one teacher and that one book.
I am fortunate enough to have found a school that values reading as much as I do. At our school there is a challenge in place for all 4th graders to read 20 books in a year and all 5th graders to read 40 books in a school year. After each block we celebrate students who have reached the midpoint goal and they are rewarded at the end of the year if they have completed the challenge. Starting this year, I found myself with about 10 kids who had already learned to love to read and were thirsty for new and exciting adventure books. I, just starting my career in 5th grade, did not have a wide collection of books. I mostly had older classics that were given to me from other retiring teachers. At the beginning of the year we did a book walk, giving the kids a chance to see the books in the classroom and preview some that they might be interested in. Many of my students were disappointed by my "collection of old books" and had to use the school library, public library or other teachers to get books to read. I also found that my students who had yet to find "that book" that spoke to them had an even smaller book selection than last year to choose from and where not motivated by what I had at all.
When I decided to start the project, I asked some of my avid readers in class for books that they have read before and would read again and books that they would like to read in the future. When I showed the books to the students I had a to stop the rushing kids from stomping on me because of how excited they were to get the new books; they were so excited to get new material! Some of my kids are starting new series because a friend suggested it to them. Some are reading one of the series with friends and putting on an independent "book club" that they are enjoying together. These books have even sparked an interest in some of my more stubborn students, who have decided they might want to try to read a new book. I have had many students ask if we can do another one to get more books and I have gotten new requests.
Before getting new books many of my students completing the 40-book challenge were struggling to find something they were interested in, now because of the new books I have students who are going above and beyond 40 books already! Thank you so much to everyone who helped make that possible!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lewis- Prospect Elementary