Early Bird Special

I teach in an urban middle school comprised of sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Our academic classes consist of three ninety-minute core classes and two forty-five minute electives. Art, music, shop, and gym are offered as electives to enhance math, language arts, science, and social studies. We are departmentalized by subject matter as well as teamed interdisciplinary. I teach the sixth grade science curriculum to students ranging in age from eleven through thirteen. During the course of one day teachers teach three different classes per day. Each class is ninety minutes in length. Many of our students lack the funding for basic school supplies. Teachers as well as the school help out when possible. The literacy program is first priority at our school. All curricular areas focus on reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. These areas are integrated when possible throughout the curricular areas. Language art skills can benefit students in two different ways: the End of Grade Reading Comprehension Test (EOG) as well as providing the students with a head start in writing skills. Writing strategies are vital because seventh grade students are required to take a mandatory writing test. These Ideals were the basis for most of our school improvement plan for the upcoming years. It is believed that early intervention of language art skills upon entering Parker Middle School would have a direct benefit to the students that would be continuing through our school system. During the past six years working with these students, there has been decrease in the willingness to read in the classroom. With motivation, the students could gain a love for reading and writing through inquiry based instruction of language arts skills that are employed through the school curriculum. Our students need to see a value for the literature and writing exercises that they are asked to complete within their classes. This makes the learning of these skills relevant to the students' personal lives. Receiving this donation would allow Parker to benefit the students in these basic areas of reading and writing. Meaningful activities will allow the students to draw from prior knowledge and experiences giving the students ownership within the learning process. When researching these ideals, I have found that there is a positive correlation of the integration of subject matter across the curriculum. The students were able to carry the subject matter to other classes and use the skills that they gained within other instructional classrooms. The activities that were utilized were reflective of real-life activities that the students could relate to their everyday life. This enabled the student to have repetition in the ideals that were being presented to them as well as have a better retention of the learned material. When incorporating a love for reading within my science class I not only had seen an academic change, but an additional change within my students. This funding could also be used to fund the purchasing of curricular based literature to be utilized within all subject areas as well as grade levels. Team activities involving reading, writing, speaking, and listening will allow the students to see their importance because their importance will be valued throughout the academic day. When students see educators modeling a love for Language Arts, they will allow themselves the chance to use them within their own personal lives. This past year this was proven within the sixth grade team. We implemented a SSR (self-selected reading) time. Many students commented that this was their favorite time of the academic day. This time gave students personal time to pick anything of their choice and have a set quiet time to read that item of choice. This time allowed for twelve students to win our school-wide battle of the books competition, as well as compete in the local system wide competition. When asked, the coach commented, "This was my youngest team. Just wait till next year can you imagine?" This is just one positive account of promoting a Love for Reading. In conclusion, this literacy grant would be used in a multiple of ways. Many programs will be implemented within Parker throughout many years. In summary it will be utilized in the following ways to aid with their implementation. : Purchasing of literacy based books that are cross curricular. Chapter books as well as picture story books (math, science, social studies, and language arts unit based). Materials for small group readings-Early bird Special- Breakfast reading groups to motivate a love for reading. This would promote leisure reading from all students in attendance. Purchasing random books creating small classroom libraries/ writing centers to encourage a love for reading and writing- self promoting authorship. Purchasing of back to school supplies for students that are unable to purchase required materials. Thank you for your consideration within this grant process. The students and staff of Parker Middle school eagerly anticipate the new school year. This grant would be the positive kick-off that our school needs!