Reading is FUNdamental: Phase 1

My Students

Every year I strive to create a love of reading within all of my fifth graders. Upon entrance of my classroom, you'll quickly notice the rows and rows of labeled book boxes and individual book titles. It is imperative that my readers are immersed in a literacy-rich learning environment.

My nineteen fifth graders are inquisitive, social, and willing to embark upon new learning experiences.

For example, this school year my students became learning partners with a four-year-old, Title 1 classroom at another campus location. These fifth graders have confidently assumed additional responsibility, patience, and have became familiar with their surroundings in a different building. Over 60% of our student population participates in the free and reduced meal program. Our Title 1 building represents a diverse socioeconomic background with varying home life experiences. I strongly believe in the value of arts integration within the classroom learning environment. Often times when a student faces hardships outside of the academic setting, artistic expression provides a therapeutic and safe outlet for the child. Empowering students through art experiences encourages them to add layers of personalization and expertise to the subject area of study resulting in higher levels of learning.

My Project

Patricia Polacco is an excellent author and illustrator of over 90 children's books. I want my students to complete a Patricia Polacco unit of study. I've requested 2-3 copies of 22 different Polacco book titles, including Rechenka's Eggs and Thank You, Mr. Falker. Students will be placed in small reading groups, where they will complete independent and guided reading instruction concerning the assigned book. As a culminating project, students will select their favorite Polacco book and chose a book project to complete and share with their peers. Using the requested mobile art cart, no-spill paint cups, and easel paper, a student may refer to Polacco's vivid details and sensory language to paint a scene from her book. A painter can design and paint a wooden egg and teach the class the significance of it related to Polacco's book, Rechenka's Eggs. The iPad Air 2 and can be utilized to develop an iMovie book trailer related to a Polacco book. The storytelling board can be used to create a flannel version summarizing the book.

"Reading is FUNdamental: Phase 1" will cultivate lifelong interest, excitement, and additional reading experiences for my students.

They have pleaded for additional book titles written by Roland Smith, Peg Kehret, Mary Downing Hahn, and Patricia Polacco. However, many of the newly published hardback books are costly. Thanks to you, my students will explore their reading interests, creatively express their understanding, and communicate their learning involving media and various art mediums.