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Goal

The goal of this project is to give students the opportunity to learn, discover, and discuss current events that occur within our country, as well as internationally. Students will become informed citizens through resources that they are not provided with at home. 

What will be done with my students

Students will use Time for Kids Magazine to become aware of national and international current events.

Students will apply reading and comprehension skills to articles in Time for Kids.

Students will interpret graphic sources (charts, graphs, etc.) and understand how to relate them to the text.

Students will integrate all subject areas in every weekly issue.

Students will hold discussions and debates on current controversial topics.

Students will increase reading comprehension skills through high interest articles in Time for Kids Magazine.

 

Benefits to my students

New Beginnings is the Alternative Elementary School in Collier County. Our students have been sent to us due to extreme behavioral issues at their home school. Many of our children come from a stressful home environment. Most of them are on free or reduced breakfast and lunch, and often times say that their dinner consists of little to nothing at all. With having such little money that food is scarce, these students do not have any resource at home that connects them to the world we live in. When I try to begin a discussion on a current event, most if not all, are completely unaware of what I am referring to.

Last year, I was very fortunate to be awarded my classroom grant request of a one year subscription for Time for Kids Magazine. Every Friday I would distribute the magazine for our class read and discussion. The students were so eager every Friday to see what would be on the cover of the magazine, or as they would call it, what the “Big Deal” of the week was. It was joyful to see the students get excited over the magazine. In today’s time, it’s very difficult to motivate children to read. However, once I started using the Time for Kids Magazines last year I could see the children’s interest sky rocket. When I distribute the magazines I give the students a few minutes to flip through the pages and preview the articles and illustrations. We then read the cover story together and hold friendly discussions and debates. The fact that my students can hold friendly debates with one another over the articles is a huge step itself. My students come to school in August with anger, defiance, and minimal social skills. When we debate the “Big Deal” of the week and the students can do so without showing aggression, I know that the magazine has done more for them than open their eyes to the world. It has helped them grow, mature, and promote positive interactions with peers. There is one particular moment regarding the Time for Kids Magazine that I won’t forget. It was Spring of 2015 when a student approached me asking if we could talk. What came out of his mouth next almost brought me to tears. He then told me that he took the magazine home every Friday and spent the weekend going over it with his mother (who speaks Spanish) to help her learn English. He proceeded to tell me that he also reads it with his father (who speaks Italian) to help him learn English as well and was asking if he could take home two magazines per week, so each parent could have one at their house. This moment went beyond what I ever hoped for. I wanted my students to become more aware of the world that they live in. Now, my students wanted to take them home and help their family do the same.

The Alternative Schools do not have a PTA for extra funds. We are adequately supplied with textbooks and materials; however additional resources are not always able to be included in the budget. I have several returning students this year and I told them I would do everything I could to give them another year of Time for Kids Magazine. This magazine has helped my students grow in many ways. It connects students to the country we live in, the world around us, and most importantly, their family.
 

Budget Narrative

Time for Kids Magazine is priced at $4.46 per subscription. I am asking for 40 subscriptions to split between New Beginnings Naples and New Beginnings Immokalee, resulting in a total cost of $178.40 

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