Boundless Readers 5153 North Clark Street, Suite 206 Chicago, IL 60640 p. 773.989.8582 e. info@boundlessreaders.org
© 2009 Boundless Readers
Dear Boundless Readers Supporters,
Did you know that approximately half of Chicago public school students drop out before high school graduation or fail to graduate with their class?
As a teacher, this saddens me. As a member of my community, this alarms me. This reality has many serious implications, not least of which is the fact that a lack of basic literacy skills in Chicago threatens the current and future prosperity of our great city and its youth; something we all help to determine.
As an 8th grade teacher at James Monroe Elementary School and a Rochelle Lee Teacher Awardee, I know from first-hand experience that student literacy is an issue that requires thinking big and starting at the root of the problem. Research shows that teacher quality is the single most important determinant of student achievement, regardless of family or economic circumstances. Knowing this, Boundless Readers invests heavily in the professional development of teachers like me.
And it's working -- a recent independent evaluation of their work showed the following:
•
Students at Boundless Readers schools made greater gains on the ISAT Reading standardized test than students at comparison schools or students in their own school who had teachers that did NOT participate with Boundless Readers.
Students at Boundless Readers schools made greater gains on the ISAT Reading standardized test than students at comparison schools or students in their own school who had teachers that did NOT participate with Boundless Readers. •Student motivation -- the ultimate variable in developing a lifelong reader -- showed significantly more growth at Boundless Readers schools than in comparison schools.
Student motivation -- the ultimate variable in developing a lifelong reader -- showed significantly more growth at Boundless Readers schools than in comparison schools. •Principals report that Boundless Readers is building literacy leadership in low capacity schools - a critical indication that broader and longer-term positive change is taking place.
Principals report that Boundless Readers is building literacy leadership in low capacity schools - a critical indication that broader and longer-term positive change is taking place.None of this is possible without your generosity. While a stubborn problem, Boundless Readers is making measurable progress. They are not satisfied; they know what works and want to do more of it. In order to do so, they need your help.
Please consider making an investment to transform Chicago's students, teachers, and schools via the enclosed envelope or to make an immediate gift online, visit boundlessreader.org. Your generosity makes this important work possible. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Connie Oshana
8th Grade Social Studies Teacher
James Monroe Elementary School
P.S. Please donate today and make an impact on teachers like me.
Boundless Readers 5153 North Clark Street, Suite 206 Chicago, IL 60640 p. 773.989.8582 e. info@boundlessreaders.org
© 2009 Boundless Readers
via Network for Good
“There is always something I learn at a
Boundless Readers session that I can apply
right away in my classroom.”
-Connie Oshana
8th Grade Social Studies Teacher
James Monroe Elementary School
