Connecting Cultures in 5th Grade
Donation protected
My name is Jan Loving. This is my twenty-seventh year in education. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, A Master's Degree in Elementary Education, Reading Specialist Certificate and an Early Childhood Endorsement. I am currently teaching fifth and sixth grade reading at Washington Elementary School, Clinton, Ok.
Program Description
Students come to the classroom with very different backgrounds, experiences, and reading proficiencies yet they are expected to rise above these differences, focus on the curriculum, and meet the grade-level objectives established by the district and state. With a diverse population of students facing socio-economic and cultural issues, succeeding in school is a challenge. The objective of this project is to address these challenges through exposure to high-interest leveled reading materials for fifth and sixth grade struggling readers that follow America's cultural and historical timelines and through selected author studies in which students can make connections with the world they live in. In order to do this, instruction will follow a themed focus and selected texts will be at or near students instructional reading levels thus enabling students to experience ongoing success. Connecting Cultures provides high-interest leveld children's literature and informational text sets that are aligned with the instructional reading levels of students and the Accelerated Reading Program.
Need
In an effort to improve reading scores, fifth and sixth grade students at Washington Elementary are receiving targeted reading instruction in addition to language arts instruction. I am currently serving 93 fifth and sixth grade students with reading averages, as determined by STAR Reading Benchmark Assessment to be 2.5 years below grade level. With a decline in reading achievement and due to thie fact that this is a new program, leveled reading materials are limited. Quality children's literature and informational text sets at lower levels are needed for application of the phonics instruction that students are currently receiving from Lexia Core5.
Evaluation
Success of the project will be measured by increased student performance on end of the year STAR Reading Benchmark Assessments and increased performance on the Oklahoma State Reading Assessment. Additionally, ongoing progress will be tracked through performance on Accelerated Reading tests and teacher made comprehension quizzes.
Time Frame
Connecting Cultures will begin as soon as funding for materials is received and will continue throughout the year. The books are non-consumable, will be organized within themes, will be used with multiple classes this year and will remain in the classroom for instructional purposes in years to follow.
All money will be spent on books and supplies such as incentive charts and stickers, treasure chest awards, and portable shelving.
This project will help my diverse population of students including (Hispanic, Native American, African American and Caucasian) increase their self-esteem by feeling degrees of success with learning materials at their actual instructional reading levels, as opposed to grade level materials which we now have.
Every teacher's dream is to see students transend from learning to read to reading to learn. Connecting Cultures is just the first step in the process and I would be so appreciative of any funding that is granted.
Program Description
Students come to the classroom with very different backgrounds, experiences, and reading proficiencies yet they are expected to rise above these differences, focus on the curriculum, and meet the grade-level objectives established by the district and state. With a diverse population of students facing socio-economic and cultural issues, succeeding in school is a challenge. The objective of this project is to address these challenges through exposure to high-interest leveled reading materials for fifth and sixth grade struggling readers that follow America's cultural and historical timelines and through selected author studies in which students can make connections with the world they live in. In order to do this, instruction will follow a themed focus and selected texts will be at or near students instructional reading levels thus enabling students to experience ongoing success. Connecting Cultures provides high-interest leveld children's literature and informational text sets that are aligned with the instructional reading levels of students and the Accelerated Reading Program.
Need
In an effort to improve reading scores, fifth and sixth grade students at Washington Elementary are receiving targeted reading instruction in addition to language arts instruction. I am currently serving 93 fifth and sixth grade students with reading averages, as determined by STAR Reading Benchmark Assessment to be 2.5 years below grade level. With a decline in reading achievement and due to thie fact that this is a new program, leveled reading materials are limited. Quality children's literature and informational text sets at lower levels are needed for application of the phonics instruction that students are currently receiving from Lexia Core5.
Evaluation
Success of the project will be measured by increased student performance on end of the year STAR Reading Benchmark Assessments and increased performance on the Oklahoma State Reading Assessment. Additionally, ongoing progress will be tracked through performance on Accelerated Reading tests and teacher made comprehension quizzes.
Time Frame
Connecting Cultures will begin as soon as funding for materials is received and will continue throughout the year. The books are non-consumable, will be organized within themes, will be used with multiple classes this year and will remain in the classroom for instructional purposes in years to follow.
All money will be spent on books and supplies such as incentive charts and stickers, treasure chest awards, and portable shelving.
This project will help my diverse population of students including (Hispanic, Native American, African American and Caucasian) increase their self-esteem by feeling degrees of success with learning materials at their actual instructional reading levels, as opposed to grade level materials which we now have.
Every teacher's dream is to see students transend from learning to read to reading to learn. Connecting Cultures is just the first step in the process and I would be so appreciative of any funding that is granted.
Organizer
Jan Shepherd Loving
Organizer
Clinton, OK
