As we work to diversify our library collections, we are learning more about our students’ needs and how we can best support them. Many of our students are striving readers or English language learners who would benefit from the use of audio books, which give students the opportunity to hear language, have proper fluency modeled for them, and build their reading comprehension skills. In addition to our striving readers and language learners, some of our students have vision impairments that limit their ability to enjoy many of our books. Many Wonderbooks come in large print, so a student who has vision difficulties would have the double benefit of hearing the language and seeing larger print on the page. This project would allow us to meet the following English Language Arts standards across each grade level, some Social Justice standards, as well as some of CASEL’s Social-Emotional frameworks: Massachusetts Frameworks for English Language Arts and Literacy Anchor Standards for Reading: Key Idea and Details 1. Read closely to determine what a text states explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from a text 2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas. 3. Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. Craft and Structure 4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words. Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity 10. Independently and proficiently read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts. Anchor Standards for Speaking and Listening Comprehension and Collaboration 1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. 2. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally. 3. Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric. Anchor Standards for Language Knowledge of Language 3. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening. Vocabulary Acquisition and Use 4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate. 5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. 6. Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge. Social Justice Standards DIVERSITY Anchor Standards 8. Students will respectfully express curiosity about the history and lived experiences of others and will exchange ideas and beliefs in an open-minded way. 9. Students will respond to diversity by building empathy, respect, understanding and connection. ACTION Anchor Standards 16. Students will express empathy when people are excluded or mistreated because of their identities and concern when they themselves experience bias. CASEL FRAMEWORK Self-Awareness: Recognizing one’s emotions and values as well as one’s strengths and challenges Self-Management: Managing emotions and behaviors to achieve one’s goals Social-Awareness: Showing understanding and empathy for others
