Sunset Primary gets new addition of texts for upper grade levels

Sunset Primary School recently received a large shipment of new books thanks to the fundraising efforts of the school’s Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO.)

Third-, fourth- and fifth-grade teachers, the librarian, the instructional coordinator and the principal collaborated last spring to determine what kinds of texts were most needed in the upper grade classrooms for supporting older readers, particularly those who require texts below actual grade level in order to make expected progress.

According to Principal Lisa Hawking, students make the most progress when they read texts right at their own actual level during independent reading. And having enough interesting, engaging, respectful texts that are just-right for students reading below grade level can be a challenge, because just-right texts for such students are shorter, thus classroom libraries require a higher volume of them.

Supporting classroom libraries in this way is advocated for by many literacy experts, according to Hawking.

“We are most fortunate to have such an excellent PTSO who supported this use of funds raised with enthusiasm and gladness,” she said.