Our students live in the rural area of northeast Georgia. They are an amazing group of kids who are full an excitement for academic and social learning. Our students spend much of their time enjoying their small mountain community, attending local sporting events, or enjoying time with family and friends.
Each day with our 8th grade students is an adventure in education, as they thrive in learning environments that are academically challenging, authentic, and engaging.
Our students inspire us daily to be better educators, and our school community continuously strives to meet their learning needs.
My Project
My students have faced reading challenges throughout their educational experiences. Some of their challenges are a result of learning difficulties, some from lack of engagement or personal interest, some from past experiences that were less than positive, many from low self confidence, and numerous other reasons. Recently, I have found success in challenging my struggling readers to reading THROW DOWNS. The process works by challenging struggling students to read a book and take an assessment on throw down day. Students themselves invite staff members, sometimes including teachers, administrators, counselors, academic coaches, paraprofessionals, etc, to participate in the challenge. Students and staff are rewarded for passing assessments on throw down reading challenges by ordering out lunch. Many students find success in reading where they may have never felt successful before!
Reading throw downs are quickly becoming one of our students' favorite school events for our most struggling readers.
Supplying students with books has become quite a challenge! This project will help supply students with books to keep their challenges fresh and interesting. These specific books provide quick, confidence building reading adventures while covering content knowledge requirements and maintaining student engagement. Additionally, getting a new shipment of books for these students will allow students to see that these books have been specially ordered specific for their interest. Students always get excited when they get packages of books that are just theirs, brand new...and not the old dusty ones on the shelf!
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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