My classroom is a melting pot of learning abilities, and we love it that way! Because of our unique differences in an inclusion setting, we become one big family. We learn together in various ways and help each other along the way. We build upon each other's strengths as we learn and grow!
My fifth grade students vary from students with identified learning disabilities to gifted students.
We have students with Autism, Aspergers, general education, and gifted students all in one classroom. We are an inclusion setting and are lucky to have a co-teaching situation which benefits the entire class. We work very hard to instill in our students a sense of family and caring as we prepare them to leave for middle school next year. It is important for us to identify our students' strengths and to build upon them to ensure optimum learning for all. We are strong readers and now wish to become strong writers!
My Project
The easel and rug I am requesting are two of the most essential elements to integrating the Writer's Workshop into my classroom. The easel is used for teaching a mini-lesson, and writers are called to the "carpet" for this daily lesson. Writers will also return to the carpet for sharing their daily writing with their peers and the teacher. The carpet provides a place of concentration and direct attention to the lesson at hand. The carpet and the easel become a signal to students that they are now writers and the task of writing has begun.
We presently have cold, sterile tile, and the carpet, which is easy to clean, and specifically designed for use in the classroom will provide an area where students know it is time to learn and write. The easel is specifically designed for holding chart paper that is used in the daily mini-lesson, but also contains a magnetic white board which allows students to display sentence strips and their own writing while sharing with the class.
Donations to my project will improve the writing program for a minimum of sixty children because I will teach two reading/language arts classes.
I recently attended the Writer's Workshop staff development and I am so excited to begin with this program in the fall. Writer's Workshop will improve my students' writing as we prepare for the new testing in our state next year. Writer's workshop makes even the hesitant student a writer as they write every day on topics they love.
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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 Mrs. Shugart and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.