As a librarian, I teach students in grades K through 6 at a Title I school nestled between a private university and a low income neighborhood in Melbourne, Florida. About 91.9% of our students are economically disadvantaged. Many families are in transition. We depend on many kind community volunteers to support our students and faculty.
School is where our students come to nurture their hopes and dreams.
They come to school eager to learn every day. They leave our school feeling empowered, respected and loved. Our students are involved in many teacher lead groups such as: STEAM for girls, Recycling Club, School Ambassadors, School Safety Patrol, Chorus and Strings. Students love spending time at school building relationships with each other and their teachers. As teachers, we do everything in our power to help our students feel happy while at school, checking on their well being.
Reading is one of the ways our students learn and experience the world outside of their own. They enjoy talking about the books they read and let their imagination take them to the worlds they read about. Sometimes books also help our students know they can overcome their struggles; books serve as therapy.
My Project
We need 69 copies of the Newbery Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie by author Kate DiCamillo to read for enrichment. My fourth grade students will immediately connect with Winn-Dixie, the dog, and every character and event in the book titled Because of Winn-Dixie. Many of my students will recognize their struggles or will be able to connect someone they know with the characters and events of this book.
Students will participate in Socratic Seminars to discuss social-emotional topics reflected in the book such as: anger management and how to show empathy and kindness.
As we discuss the book, students will put together an interactive notebook to help summarize its main topics and express personal thoughts. We will culminate our reading of Because of Winn-Dixie by having a celebration similar to the one portrayed at the end of the book. Every student will have the opportunity to celebrate their favorite character.
After reading and interacting with this book, my fourth grade students will have a better understanding of themselves and their peers.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Caro and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
