Literacy for low-income students

Berkshire CountyAccess to meaning

$3,561

Raised of $2,000 USD

Successfully funded on Jun 14, 2013
29 supporters
178%%

About This Project

With the money raised through this project, I plan to help students in Berkshire County over the summer months who are struggling with reading. The more money raised, the more students we can reach.





About Me


I have been helping children and young adults with reading for the past fifteen years. I received my training in
Alphabetic Phonics at
Columbia University, and my masters in Reading and Literacy from
Simmons College. I regularly attend the New York chapter of Academic Language Therapists Association as well as seminars and workshops at The
Reading Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts.  I am a member of the
International Dyslexia Association and attend workshops and conferences at the New York and Massachusetts branches. 


I have seen how effective this instructional approach is, and I want to help as many struggling students as I can.





Intensive Reading Instruction


Through this instruction, students learn not only about reading, spelling, and writing, but also about how they learn and that their difficulties have nothing to do with their intelligence. This builds
their confidence as they begin to trust themselves again: trust their observations, their ideas, and their thinking.


These young people can have a range of difficulties including memory issues, phonemic awareness deficits, attention deficits, and Down syndrome.  Using a variety of different materials, I guide each
individual student to discover the seemingly hidden structure of words, sentences, paragraphs, stories, and reports.  We focus on the 85% of English that is regular.  We look at the history of English to understand its patterns and inconsistencies.  We use
mnemonics for irregular words.  They come to understand that good reading is accurate and sounds like speech – and that it’s not about reading fast.  Comprehension is the goal. The lessons are designed to insure the students’ success, and their success leads
to further success.  Gradually, support is withdrawn as they approach and achieve mastery.   


This kind of intensive, multi-sensory teaching of basic language skills is effective with a diverse group of struggling students and even two months of this type of instruction can empower and concretely make a difference in an individual’s
life. 


I really hope you decide to support this project. 


Thanks so much.


Catherine McCabe

Use Of Funds

$2,000 Tipping Point Goal


Students will be selected for this work in collaboration with the guidance of schools in Southern Berkshire County. Together we will select the students who will benefit most from this instruction but
whose families are unable to afford it.





My Goal


I have set the tipping point goal to $2000.  $2000 will enable me to provide one student with intensive one-on-one instruction during the summer, meeting three to five times a week.
Creating lessons for these students takes careful planning and time to prepare.  The money that is raised will cover prep and teaching time, as well as the necessary instructional supplies.


Additional contributions mean that we can meet the needs of more students.  


Though working in small groups can be effective, it can also pose obstacles to learning.  Many of these struggling students feel very vulnerable and self-conscious.  The first thing I need to do is create a safe learning environment
in which they can risk making mistakes.  It's in making mistakes that learning takes place.  Given the short time frame of the summer, the best way to ensure a safe environment and make the most progress is by working with students one-on-one.


We will not be able to reach every struggling student in Berkshire County this summer, most likely only a handful. But with the students we
can reach, this type of instruction will affect the most significant improvement. The more money we raise, the more students we can help.


 


$6,000 Stretch Goal


Latest News

No updates yet.

Rewards

Select Reward
$25.00

Thank you! You will receive updates about the work you have made possible and a personal thank you from me.

194 left

Select Reward
$50.00

Thank you! Thank you! You will receive updates about the work and a homemade thank you postcard from me in the mail

94 left

Select Reward
$100.00

THANK YOU! You will receive updates about the work, a homemade postcard in the mail and portraits by one of my sons of the students you have helped.

67 left

Select Reward
$300.00

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! You will receive updates about the work, a homemade postcard in the mail, portraits by one of my sons of the students you have helped and a box of Catherine's Chocolates.

38 left

Select Reward
$1,000.00

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!!! All of the above and a beautiful bunch of flowers delivered to your door.

10 left