Tell us the teacher you want to support

Shannon Jones

I teach three different reading intervention classes for 6th grade students at a public middle school in Reno, Nevada. My students` reading comprehension levels vary greatly from beginning readers who are between a Kindergarten and 2nd grade level, to readers who are at about a 5th grade level. My students are over 90% hispanic, and most are on a free or reduced lunch plan. Many do not go home to their own books as we did growing up, and they dont have the luxury of ordering from a book club like Scholastic. The average reading comprehension level at the beginning of the school year is approximately 3rd grade. I want to continue trying to motivate these struggling readers to fall in love with reading. I need high-interest leveled books for use in the classroom, and for students to take home. I would also like to have some reading comprehension board games which would make learning the reading strategies competitive and fun. Furthermore, I think a magazine such as Weekly Reader or Time for Kids would not only help their comprehension, but keep them up-to-date with current events around the world. My students want to improve their reading so much, and I want to see them succeed!