Our school is a Title One school with seventy-five percent minority, a growing ESL population and ninety percent qualifying for free or reduced price lunch.
Our students come from predominantly single parent homes where survival and not literacy, is paramount.
We have a dedicated, highly professional faculty, yet "extra" materials that enhance curriculum are not a priority. Most teachers write grants and/or spend their own funds in order to facilitate the basic needs of our children.
Our children need to be exposed to brilliant authors who deal with issues such as intolerance, empathy in times of sorrow and human differences. Current literacy research states, "...using authentic texts and giving children choices are powerful and necessary conditions in the development of thinking, learning, and autonomy." We have super, awesome students at our school who deserve only the best!
My Project
My fifth through seventh grade reading intervention classes are comprised of students who are struggling readers (reading below third to fourth grade levels). My inner city children deal with horrific issues on a daily basis. What’s better than a universally, touching, inspirational dog story? Who can resist the tugging of heartstrings in "Love That Dog" (narrative poem) or the classic "Stone Fox" (historical fiction)? Who can resist the humor and irony in "No More Dead Dogs?
The novels provide authentic examples of children their ages who deal with “real life” atrocities outside of school; so what is a better ideal source of comfort and solace than dog stories!
The stories enable us to connect literacy and personal experiences in a realistic manner that will support positive change in our lives.
After completing each novel, the students will create an art project that displays their understandings and interpretations of the novel. "Tech-to-Stretch" is one project where the children represent their comprehension via an iMovie or Keynote. Another project,"Sketch-to-Stretch" empowers kids to represent their thinking with colors, shapes and symbols. Literacy research has shown that when we "recast" our thinking in another media, we greatly enhance our critical skills.
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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. Saunders and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
