Finding reading materials for middle school students with reading challenges is no easy feat. These students are typically reluctant readers, and the lack of high interest materials that are accessible to them only compounds the problem. Often these students are reading far below grade level, even through the library it can be difficult to find high interest books at their level. Currently in my middle school Special Education classroom we are relying on a few sets of chapter books inherited from previous teachers, half of an old set of F&P books levels J-S, and leveled Readworks and NewsELA articles. While these materials have been useful, they don’t always meet the reading needs of students. These materials are often outdated, uninteresting to students at the middle school level, or not appropriate for the student’s reading levels. With this grant I would like to purchase a variety of high interest books and materials at various reading levels to meet the needs of these students. This would include some classroom sets to read in small groups, some individual books for independent reading, and other leveled reading materials.
These high interest leveled books and materials would benefit special education students with reading difficulties in 6th through 8th grades. These books would be used to help support students meet their IEP reading goals, improve their general reading proficiency in order to help them access the core curriculum, and hopefully help them improve their attitudes towards reading in general. When it comes to struggling readers, having materials that are age-appropriate, while also accessible, is crucial for buy-in and to help develop reading skills.
Research shows that leveled texts are crucial for developing reading skills. They can be used to target reading and comprehension skills at different levels. In order to increase buy-in from students and avoid negative impacts on students self-esteem, these reading materials not only need to be accessible, they also need to be interesting and age-appropriate. At the middle school level, students are monitored at the beginning, middle, and end of the year using the STAR assessment which determines a student's instructional reading level. Additionally, special education students with reading goals are continuously monitored for reading level, fluency, and comprehension throughout the year. These assessments provide teachers with valuable data for target reading instruction. Using this data to provide targeted instruction, paired with appropriate texts, will help students progress in their reading.
The use of leveled texts is already being implemented within the special education classroom. Using assessment data, reading groups are provided with texts at the appropriate instructional level. Receiving this grant would be monumental for the Special Education program and would be implemented as soon as materials were received in order to provide students with high interest texts at their level.
This grant is going to benefit the entire middle school special education program, as the books will be used for all special education students in grades 6th through 8th, regardless of case manager. These books can also be a shared as a valuable resource for Reading Intervention and ELD classrooms at North Tahoe School.
There are not funds available to purchase these books.