Do you remember how much you enjoyed having a book read to you - either on the record player, tape recorder, or even on cd? This is such an enjoyable activity because it connects us to the heart of why we read - to enjoy a really good story or learn new and exciting information.
I am an ESOL endorsed third grade teacher.
The poverty rate at our school is 40% and rising. We have an increasing number of English Language learners each year. Many students in my class, are dealing with learning disabilities and ADHD. Most of them have focus issues that can be linked to less adult attention at home and more activities that are instantly gratifying, like video games and television. I teach in a building that is currently overcrowded with an outdated and under-maintained heating and cooling system, and our morning recess has been sacrificed to increase instruction time.
With recent budget cuts and the current economy, teachers are being asked to do much more with much less, while class sizes and student needs increase. Students at my school struggle with reading and writing. Parental involvement seems to be decreasing, which means I have fewer volunteers coming in to help. At home students are getting less support with their homework and reading.
My Project
I would like to build a listening library in my classroom to be an option for part of our literacy time. This would allow me to maximize the time I spend with small reading groups and individual student conferences as other students would be engaged in the book they are listening to. Less time would be spent redirecting off-task students and more time teaching students who need my support.
Classroom management is not the only purpose of having books available for students to listen to. Research has shown that being able to listen to expressive, accurate reading while following along with the text, students increase their own reading skills - especially accuracy and fluency. It is an exciting opportunity for students of lower reading levels to be able to access books that offer them higher thinking opportunities.
Each year that I teach fewer and fewer students are reporting that they spend time at home with an adult being read to.
These students are missing a valuable reading experience and this puts them behind readers who have this experience. I try to recreate this opportunity in the classroom in as many ways and as many times a day as possible. Helping us to build a listening library with books that appeal to many different interests will help give my students the chance to develop as readers.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Hate That Cat (Audio CD) Sharon Creech, Read by Scott Wolf
• Barnes and Noble
$12.78
1
$12.78
In Aunt Giraffe's Green Garden & The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders Jack Prelutsky, Performed by Jack Prelutsky, Read by Jack Prelutsky
• Barnes and Noble
$16.15
1
$16.15
Just So Stories Rudyard Kipling, Read by Boris Karloff
• Barnes and Noble
$11.92
1
$11.92
The Boxcar Children (The Boxcar Children Series #1) Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Barnes and Noble
$9.32
1
$9.32
Junie B Jones: Books 1-8 Barbara Park, Read by Lana Quintal
• Barnes and Noble
$21.60
1
$21.60
Magic Tree House Collection Books 1 - 8 (Magic Tree House Series) Mary Pope Osborne, Read by Mary Pope Osborne
• Barnes and Noble
$21.60
1
$21.60
The Tale of Despereaux Kate DiCamillo, Read by Graeme Malcolm
• Barnes and Noble
$10.79
1
$10.79
Frog and Toad Audio Collection Arnold Lobel, Read by Arnold Lobel, Read by Lobel Arnold
• Barnes and Noble
$12.92
1
$12.92
Little House in the Big Woods: (Little House Series: Classic Stories) Laura Ingalls Wilder, Contribution by Cherry Jones, Contribution by Paul Woodiel, Narrated by Cherry Jones, Read by Cherry Jones
• Barnes and Noble
$10.76
1
$10.76
Fantastic Mr. Fox AudioBook Roald Dahl, Read by Roald Dahl
• Barnes and Noble
$8.99
1
$8.99
Runaway Ralph Beverly Cleary, Performed by B. D. Wong, Read by B. D. Wong, Read by B.d. Wong
• Barnes and Noble
$11.48
1
$11.48
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Read by Judy Blume
• Barnes and Noble
$10.79
1
$10.79
Bad Case of Stripes David Shannon, David Shannon (Illustrator), Narrated by Jane Casserly, Read by Jane Casserly
• Barnes and Noble
$8.99
1
$8.99
Geronimo Stilton, Books 1-3 Edward Herrmann, Read by Edward Herrmann
• Barnes and Noble
$18.00
1
$18.00
Ralph S. Mouse Beverly Cleary, Performed by B. D. Wong, Read by B. D. Wong, Read by B.d. Wong
• Barnes and Noble
$11.48
1
$11.48
Amelia Bedelia Audio Collection Peggy Parish, Read by Suzanne Toren
• Barnes and Noble
$10.79
1
$10.79
Ramona and Her Mother Beverly Cleary, Read by Stockard Channing
• Barnes and Noble
$11.07
1
$11.07
Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy Carl R. Sams, Jean Stoick
• Barnes and Noble
$11.07
1
$11.07
Pippi Longstocking Astrid Lindgren, Read by Esther Benson
• Barnes and Noble
$12.81
1
$12.81
The Drinking Gourd: A Story of the Underground Railroad (I Can Read Book Series: Level 3) F. N. Monjo, Fred Brenner (Illustrator), Read by Patrick Collins
• Barnes and Noble
$17.05
1
$17.05
Materials cost
$260.36
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$3.91
Fulfillment labor & materials
$35.00
Total project cost
$299.27
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$44.72
Total project goal
$343.99
Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Brillig and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
