Completed:5th Grade Literature Circles: The Revolutionary War
"Sherman Elementary School is located in a dense, urban neighborhood in San Francisco's northeast corner. Many of our students live in neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Civic Center and the Tenderloin. Our students are diverse culturally, economically and academically. Teachers at Sherman work hard to...
"
MORE
"Sherman Elementary School is located in a dense, urban neighborhood in San Francisco's northeast corner. Many of our students live in neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Civic Center and the Tenderloin. Our students are diverse culturally, economically and academically. Teachers at Sherman work hard to individualize instruction so that every student has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
As the librarian at Sherman I collaborate with teachers to organize and support literature groups. We believe that exciting, high-quality historical fiction is an excellent way for students to understand events of the past while expanding reading comprehension and appreciation of literary forms.
We would like to institute a model for literature circles in which each group reads a different title, but each title is on the same theme. Students are trained to run their own groups, including how to discuss and analyze fiction, and how to support each other in their reading. The class meets periodically as a whole to share similarities and differences between the books. Through this process students deepen their understandings of both literary and social science concepts. The only barrier to instituting this model is the lack of appropriate resources (i.e., books) for our students to read.
Fifth graders study American history, including the revolutionary war period. We would like to offer students a broad selection of historical fiction about the revolutionary war at a range of reading levels. Our students are eager learners and only lack access to resources. This grant will enable our 60 fifth grade students to continue to grow and expand in their development as lifelong readers and educated citizens.
Fifth grade students studying the Revolutionary War need 10 copies each of six different historical fiction titles to read in literature circles.
Ms. W. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Jan 4, 2008
Dear San Francisco 49ers Foundation, Jonathan and Carolyn,
Thank you so very much for funding our request for historical fiction books. The books will make it possible for us to provide an exceptional educational experience for our 5th graders studying American history.
It means a great deal to the teachers at Sherman School that you are supporting student learning by providing these desperately needed resources.
Thank you very, very much.
Sincerely,
Clare W
Sherman School Librarian
On Apr 1, 2008, Ms. W. followed this note with student letters sent via mail to the donor who completed this project, and to donors who gave $100 or more.
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Keelin B. (staff member)
on Nov 18, 2007
