For the LOVE of BOOKS!
Donation protected
I'm a 5th grade teacher at Grant Elementary in Santa Monica, part of the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District. I've been teaching for the district for over a decade and love my job.
After attending a Reader's Workshop seminar this summer, I've decided to completely revamp my library and I'm asking for your help. Research shows that the biggest predictor of success is reading achievement. Studies show our brains actually grow when we are challenged and I want my students to feel the power of "growing their brains" through reading books that are just right for them!
Teacher's College (through Columbia) does life-changing work in education and they have done the "heavy lifting" by putting together the ULTIMATE classroom library. They have researched what books grow student's brains and have packaged it for me. Now I just need to raise the funds to bring those books into my classroom. Here's a link to give you a better idea of their research:
http://www.heinemann.com/calkinslibraries/#overview
Unfortunately, due to the imposed curriculum over the past 15 years, I've been limited in the choice of materials made available to the students in my classroom, and that curriculum wasn't structured to meet the varying needs of everyone in my classroom. Students who came to me with a love of reading grew as readers; students who didn't love reading, often weren't able to access the books at their "just right" levels - and sometimes got left behind. With my new insights on ways to reach and inspire ALL readers, at all levels, it is my goal moving forward to have 100% of my students leave my classroom loving books and enjoying a world of possibilities.
I absolutely LOVE my job - it brings me joy to see students empowered by their own hard work. All donations - big or small - will bring me closer to that goal. Please consider making a donation to help grow the love of reading and learning in the Kooy Pond for years to come!!!
With immense gratitude,
Ms. Tracy Kooy
After attending a Reader's Workshop seminar this summer, I've decided to completely revamp my library and I'm asking for your help. Research shows that the biggest predictor of success is reading achievement. Studies show our brains actually grow when we are challenged and I want my students to feel the power of "growing their brains" through reading books that are just right for them!
Teacher's College (through Columbia) does life-changing work in education and they have done the "heavy lifting" by putting together the ULTIMATE classroom library. They have researched what books grow student's brains and have packaged it for me. Now I just need to raise the funds to bring those books into my classroom. Here's a link to give you a better idea of their research:
http://www.heinemann.com/calkinslibraries/#overview
Unfortunately, due to the imposed curriculum over the past 15 years, I've been limited in the choice of materials made available to the students in my classroom, and that curriculum wasn't structured to meet the varying needs of everyone in my classroom. Students who came to me with a love of reading grew as readers; students who didn't love reading, often weren't able to access the books at their "just right" levels - and sometimes got left behind. With my new insights on ways to reach and inspire ALL readers, at all levels, it is my goal moving forward to have 100% of my students leave my classroom loving books and enjoying a world of possibilities.
I absolutely LOVE my job - it brings me joy to see students empowered by their own hard work. All donations - big or small - will bring me closer to that goal. Please consider making a donation to help grow the love of reading and learning in the Kooy Pond for years to come!!!
With immense gratitude,
Ms. Tracy Kooy
Organizer
Tracy Odoms Kooy
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA