Statewide Reach for Local Impact

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The purpose of this project is to enrich literacy experiences by providing every student in our three kindergarten classrooms with access to the full collection of the 2025–2026 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Junior (SSYRA Jr.) books. These engaging, high-quality titles are carefully selected to inspire early readers through diverse stories, relatable characters, and age-appropriate themes. By purchasing three copies of each book, we ensure equitable access across classrooms, fostering a shared reading experience that encourages motivation, vocabulary growth, comprehension, and oral language development. This project aligns with our literacy goals by supporting foundational reading skills and cultivating a lifelong love of reading.

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Sparking a Love of Reading Across Three Kindergarten Classes

School:
Lavern Gaynor Elementary 
Subject:
Language Arts 
Teacher:
Arizona Keegan 
 
Kelly Dodge and Michael Marcotte 
Students Impacted:
69 
Grade:
Date:
July 16, 2025
Deadline:
August 1, 2025

0% Funded

 

 

Only $719.55 Needed

 

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Goal

The purpose of this project is to enrich literacy experiences by providing every student in our three kindergarten classrooms with access to the full collection of the 2025–2026 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Junior (SSYRA Jr.) books. These engaging, high-quality titles are carefully selected to inspire early readers through diverse stories, relatable characters, and age-appropriate themes. By purchasing three copies of each book, we ensure equitable access across classrooms, fostering a shared reading experience that encourages motivation, vocabulary growth, comprehension, and oral language development. This project aligns with our literacy goals by supporting foundational reading skills and cultivating a lifelong love of reading. 

 

Category

Learning Aids - Sunshine state book sets, robotics kits, puzzle boards, science models, engineering supplies, etc. 

 

What will be done with my students

The SSYRA Jr. 2025–2026 book collection consists of 15 titles that will be integrated into our daily classroom activities, including read-aloud sessions, small-group discussions, literacy centers, and independent reading time. Each classroom will receive a complete set of three copies per title, allowing students to engage directly with the books without waiting or sharing. These books will serve as a springboard for literacy instruction, vocabulary building, storytelling, and comprehension exercises. Their diverse themes and characters will also support social-emotional learning and cultural awareness. Having the full collection readily available ensures consistent, high-quality literacy experiences for all students. 

 

Benefits to my students

With the addition of these books, we anticipate increased student engagement in reading and literacy activities, stronger vocabulary, and improved comprehension skills. Students will develop greater confidence in reading aloud and discussing stories with peers. The books’ variety will support differentiation, allowing students at different reading levels to find texts that challenge and interest them. We will measure success through teacher observations of student participation, informal literacy assessments, and student reflections on their favorite books. Reading logs and participation in related classroom discussions will provide further evidence of growth and enthusiasm. 

 

Budget Narrative

Grant funds will be used to purchase three copies of each of the 15 titles on the 2025–2026 SSYRA Jr. list, totaling 45 books. Each book is currently estimated at $15.99 per copy, making the total cost approximately $719.55. These prices are based on current market rates and may be eligible for educational discounts or bulk purchasing savings. This investment ensures that every student in all three classrooms has personal access to these high-quality books throughout the year. Funds will also support related materials if available, such as reading logs or book-related activities, to maximize student engagement and literacy growth. 

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 15 SSYRA JR BOOKS 25/26 TIMES 3 $719.55
  Total: $719.55

0% Funded

 

 

Only $719.55 Needed

 

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Special Thanks to Our Presenting Partners