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Mrs. McFarland’s Classroom Edit display name

  • Sweetwater Branch Academy
  • Gainesville, FL
  • More than half of students from low‑income households

Your custom url is https://www.donorschoose.org/mcfarland

We are a Title 1 school in Florida, with 72% of our students on free/reduced lunches. Our school is only 2 years old, and we have approximately 65% minority students. Our school is on the side of town where it is a very low SES bracket, and businesses are failing frequently. I'm a firm believer that a main reason our students don't test well on the FCAT is because they lack ability and confidence in their reading skills. Sure, there are some real learning disabilities, but I believe they can be countered by teaching children to love reading and to find the joy in a good book. My kids range in ability from almost gifted to learning on a kindergarten level, and we just don't have the resources to supply my classroom with materials that will foster fluent reading and small group centers.

About my class

We are a Title 1 school in Florida, with 72% of our students on free/reduced lunches. Our school is only 2 years old, and we have approximately 65% minority students. Our school is on the side of town where it is a very low SES bracket, and businesses are failing frequently. I'm a firm believer that a main reason our students don't test well on the FCAT is because they lack ability and confidence in their reading skills. Sure, there are some real learning disabilities, but I believe they can be countered by teaching children to love reading and to find the joy in a good book. My kids range in ability from almost gifted to learning on a kindergarten level, and we just don't have the resources to supply my classroom with materials that will foster fluent reading and small group centers.

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About my class

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