Teacher: Lenea Ortiz

School: La Junta Intermediate School

Website: lajuntaschools.org

Address: 901 Smithland, La Junta, CO 81050

Grade Level: 6th grade reading

Region: Southeast

Project Title: Closing the Gaps

Category: Literacy

Funding Amount Requested: $1,000

Project Description:
This group of sixth graders was severely affected by the COVID pandemic, missing critical years for reading development in K-2. As a result, many students are unable to read or are reading below a 6th-grade level. I offer tutoring but lack the necessary resources to meet students at their level. My goal is to give these students the opportunities they missed during COVID, focusing on building foundational reading skills to help them succeed.

Impact:
Our school is 100% free and reduced lunch, with many students coming from broken homes or living with family members instead of parents. These students need all the support they can get. By providing resources to help teach foundational reading skills, I hope to give students a chance to catch up and feel successful in their learning. Fun, engaging resources will make learning enjoyable, and appropriate-level books will allow all students to experience success in reading.

Use of Funds:
- Foundational Reading Resources (Games, Digraph and Vowel Pair Practice Tools)
- Books at Different Reading Levels