Teach 36 children with limited English to read

Dear our Donors!

     We would like to inform you that children in our Literacy Master Map Program have made progress in their reading and expressive language skills. We have been working on expressing ourselves verbally, as well as in writing. When making presentations to a small group, the children are required to use the internet for research, develop a plan for finding a way of presenting the information in a way that is logical and gets their point across. They have a challenge to ask questions, to set their goals, to be a valuable team worker, and to listen to a direction. The children are learning to support each other in their efforts, and encourage each other to do their best.

     It has been a process of learning new information, new vocabulary and being able to translate what the children are saying and thinking into writing. As we explore the finer points of writing, the children are learning grammar lessons, spelling and thinking skills. Our bilingual students learn some helpful terms during their participation in Literacy Master Map Program: pretend reading, experimental writing, print awareness, and reading vocabulary. For example, they learn how to determine the author’s purpose in informational text.

The students have had the opportunity to read three books together. When reading each book they have the opportunity to explore the voice of the author and relate character traits to their lives. Every student has a chance to research project on a selective topic of interest. It is a great experience that helps them to have a school success during a new school year. It is the hope that this will lead to lifelong enjoyment of reading.