Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation Grant: Listening to Read Tools for Reluctant Readers

Moderation state
funded
Grant Applicant
Jeanna Gruetzemacher and Renee Lewis -3rd Grade Tahoe Lake Elementary
Grant Co-applicants
Renee Lewis
School Site
Tahoe Lake Elementary
Grant Category
Literacy
Grant Date
2024-06-01T12:00:00
Description

Yoto Player (3rd Generation) opens up kids’ creativity and engagement in literacy. The Yoto Player can also build independence in choosing a book and creating excitement around reading, especially for reluctant readers. There is no microphone, no camera, and no ads. You can also record stories you read outloud and the students can listen to them over and over again. There are countless stories that you can "add" to the player. I would like to have four players, so I can create a listen to reading center that is student based and the stories are truly being chosen by the students for high engagement. 

Benefits of Program

With the uprise in screens and video games students are having a harder and harder time finding joy in reading and truly being engaged by literature. This is also causing eye issues, developmental issues, and of course behavior issues. There was an article written by the California Teacher Association about how listening to reading can greatly support reluctant readers comprehension. While we do have listening to reading on Chromebooks, there is still a screen attached. The goal is to have no screen at all. This helps the students be able to predict, infer, use their imagination, and truly be engaged in the story without any struggle

Success of Program

These players can enhance reluctant and non reluctant readers engage in a limitless amount of books and stories. Listening to reading can deeply support comprehension, fluency, ability to infer, predict, and connect with literature. 

Implementation

Listen to reading will be a daily/weekly choice for all students in our classrooms. Focusing heavily on struggling readers. Providing the opportunity to listen to reading as well as following along with the actual book. This will also provide the opportunity for students to be able to reread books multiple times. 

Can you share this grant with your grade level or subject team?

Yes, we can share these across grade level and within our heterogeneous groups. 

Sustainability
If granted, these players will stay in our classrooms the remainder of our careers, they do not need updates which is helpful. You just place a card in the player and listen.
Amount Funded
$1680.00
Individual Budget Items(s)
$1600 - Eight Yoto Players (119.99 Each) Collection Cards to start ($400) Yoto Headphones ( $30 Each x 8)
Shipping
$50.00
Taxes
$30.00
Other funding sources

Yes.

Supporting Links
https://us.yotoplay.com/
Notes

Thank you all so much! I am forever grateful for these amazing opportunities.