The One and Only Ivan-One School, One Book, Part 2
My students need their 100 copies of the novel The One and Only Ivan written by Katherine Applegate in order to participate in our One School, One Book campaign with their families.
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."--Benjamin Franklin
As the K-12 school librarian, in charge of both a K-6 and 7-12 grade library, and the elementary gifted teacher (grades 4-6), I am blessed to impact the lives of my students throughout their entire public education career.
My 475 students live in a rural community (population approx. 925) in southwest Missouri. K-6th grade students are scheduled for the library each week as part of their specials rotation (55 minute class periods); my elementary gifted class meets daily for 40 minutes. 7-12th grade students may visit the library on an open schedule; if I am not available to help them due to my teaching responsibilities in the other library, my full-time non-certified aide is available.
I collaborate with my teachers to make my instruction relevant to the real-world and to integrate research. Most importantly, I desire to instill a life-long love of reading.
My Project
The One School, One Book movement allows for each student to read aloud the same book while completing various literacy-based activities together with their family.
For the 2017-2018 school year, "The One and Only Ivan" written by Katherine Applegate has been chosen as our elementary school's first One School, One Book selection.
"The One and Only Ivan" is a novel written in verse based on a real silverback gorilla that spent a portion of his life on display in a shopping mall. Themes for the book include friendship and compassion.
As families are reading the book together, they will be encouraged to complete age-appropriate literacy activities based on their reading. Sample activities include using art to express their feelings, using verse to write about one of their memories, and researching an animal's habitat.
Our elementary school library, in collaboration with Title I, will host a culminating family literacy night at the end of our month of One School, One Book. Family literacy projects would be showcased during this event.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Baldwin and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.