We need 15 individual copies of The Secret Life of Bees for small group learning and Socratic Seminar.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Agnew's classroom raised $245
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
About My Students
I'm inspired by students I have not seen yet. To continue to drive learning, students require engaging text that challenge and sustain learning, and to make them stronger analytical thinkers, and readers through active discussions and issues that are important to them. Despite the violence that occurs in and around the Chicago area, my students come to school convinced they can make a difference in the communities they represent.
Our school has an enrollment of 1,100 students, Pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Approximately 10% of the student population receives special education services. Ninety-four percent are considered low-income and receive free or reduced meals at school throughout the day. Student population is 84% Hispanic and 16% African American. Twenty-three percent of our school population is considered Limited English Proficient.
My Project
Socratic questioning will help my students see themselves as a community created to help each other understand the ideas, issues, and values reflected in the novel, The Secret Lives of Bees by Susan Monk Kidd. My students will facilitate the discussion around ideas they gained from their engaged reading and thinking and small learning groups and Socratic Seminar discussions. Learning will occur as students listen closely to the comments of others, thinking critically for themselves, and articulate their own thoughts and responses to the thoughts of others. During Socratic questioning, students will explore complex ideas, seek and state evidence found in the novel to support their responses thriving as readers.
In Their Own Words
Most people don't have any ideas about all the complicated life going on inside a hive. Bees have a secret life we don't know anything about just like people. As students we need multiple opportunities to interact with each other during the day, and read to discover who we are. We have to promote reading with one another, learn about world views to see how we can inspire others by living a productive life.
While reading this novel, students will take on leadership responsibilities. Students are partnering to create the questions they want to discuss based on what they have read. Students are responsible for organizing facilitate student led discussions. This process includes organizing students for learning, using social skills as a mean to deepen positive communication, and building reflections around current issues in today's society.
Student learning groups are dedicated to recognizing and supporting the learning of other students. Our project represent the diversity of learning in our classroom. The novel will also provide a way for students to recognize each other's academic vocabulary, take risk to participate in our own learning, and develop as strong discussion leaders.
Nearly all 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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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 Ms. Agnew and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
