This bonus $1000 grant allowed me to dream big for my students and to carefully consider purchases which will benefit not only this year's class but future classes as well. With the grant money, my students and I decided to focus on small group engagement.

While I work with a small group using our other grant purchases (Sphero Indi and Math Stackers), students can remain actively engaged in an Act It Out readers' theater group, Piece It Together puzzle group, or a Book Buddies reading group.

In the Act It Out group, students will read a short script and then act it out using puppets. This encourages expression and fluency. Reading skills and engagement is increasing rapidly because the students love using the puppets. Students also practice retelling stories with the fairy tale flannel board set, which they will use when working with our first grade reading buddies.

At the Piece It Together puzzle group students develop cooperative skills and critical thinking while completing puzzles. The puzzles also support vocabulary growth for our English Language Learner students as they practice their alphabet, numbers, and animal names.

Finally, students are enjoying our new forward-facing bookshelf as it allows them to choose books by the cover. Once they select a book, they can sit in flexible seating and read to a plush Book Buddy. Reading to a plush friend has helped students build confidence in their reading abilities.

This grant has truly gifted my students by igniting new confidence and joy in reading and storytelling. I am forever grateful for the Lawton Public Schools Foundation for providing these incredible opportunities.