My students need 30 blank hard cover books for publishing their stories. They are also in need of 34 great mentor texts to go with our Lucy Calkins writing curriculum.
Entering my classroom is like walking into a small home, decorated with lamps and student creations. I like to call us a "school family," because we spend so much time together.
My students are some of the most resilient beautiful kids.
Students each share a unique background, some have just come from far away countries in Africa. Others are living in homeless situations. And still others are thriving with parents who work long hours to make ends meet. I love working with them everyday. Seeing their interactions with each other and with their learning gives me hope for the future. Everyday is not easy, our students are living in high poverty situations, and with that comes many issues that a teacher and school have to respond to. Hard work pays off though. I have seen students eager to learn, to write, read, to connect with others, and succeed.
My Project
The blank hard cover books will be used to hold students work that they publish. After each unit students will revise and fix up our writing, and than place them in this hard cover blank book. Students will then read from this book at publish parties. When we have publishing parties it is a joy see them read in front of their peers, and the sense of pride they have. By the end of the year they will have a full book with their most cherished pieces of writing.
The books that I am requesting are books that are recommended by Lucy Calkins. She is the author of the writer's workshop curriculum that I use. She references these books within the curriculum (although they do not come with the curriculum) to show students examples of quality writing, we call this a mentor text. Students will listen to these stories read to them and examine the authors writing. They will then use this as a springboard to add to and improve their own writing practice.
Teaching writing is one of my favorite things to teach, it is like teaching an art form.
Each child has creative control over the story they create and produce.
The books that I am requesting will help enrich the lessons that are taught. By having great examples of literature to learn from students will begin to include those elements into their own writing, become better writers themselves. As writing skill improves so does reading skill.
The blank books will add to the publishing experience
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