Grade: First Grade

Teacher Name: Rachael Curran

Description and purpose of grant:

Our first grade team is requesting funding for We Both Read leveled books to enhance family engagement and reading fluency across all first grade classrooms. These unique books are designed for shared reading — one page for the adult (with more complex text) and one page for the child (with simpler text) — creating meaningful reading experiences at home and at school.

The goal of this project is to foster stronger reading habits and confidence in young readers by partnering with families to practice together. This aligns with our campus and district literacy goals to strengthen foundational reading skills, increase home-school connections, and nurture a love of reading in every learner.
 

Implementation process:

Each of our five first grade classrooms will receive a collection of We Both Read books for use in small groups and take-home reading programs. Teachers will use these books during guided reading, family reading nights, and literacy take-home bags to encourage consistent reading practice beyond the classroom.

This project will directly impact approximately 100 first-grade students this school year and will continue to benefit future students for years to come.

Implementation will include:

• Incorporating We Both Read titles in small-group reading instruction

• Sending books home weekly for shared family reading

• Providing family literacy activities to support shared reading strategies

• Using books to build fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary through repetition and discussion

Because the books are high-quality and durable, they can be reused for many school years, ensuring long-term impact for our learners.
 

Items you plan to purchase with grant money:

In the event my grant is not fully funded, this is minimum amount I would need to get started on this project: 

A minimum amount we would need to get started is $336.04, which would support one classroom.