Adult Students Need Help, Too!: The GED and Beyond

School:: Immokalee Technical College
Subject:: History
Teacher:: Brad Myers
Students Impacted:: 250
Grade:: Adult Ed.
Date:: August 11, 2016

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Champions For Learning - $510.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 40

Initially, this grant was written with lower-to-middle-level GED students in mind; however, the books for this grant have already been used in several classrooms. At this point in time, the materials have been used in GED, migrant, ELCATE (English Literacy for Career and Technical Education) and adult English Language Learner classrooms. Because these books will also be used in the future, as new students enroll over time, the number of students who will use these materials will increase from the current 40 students.

The students have used the books to foster language and vocabulary development, reading fluency, writing skills and knowledge of U.S History, government and economics. As the students have used the books in class, they have begun to develop a better understanding of American History and culture while improving their reading skills, including fluency and pronunciation. Adult English students have actually benefitted the most, as they have truly embraced the idea of developing their English proficiency and simultaneously learning about their new homeland and its people, customs and history.

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Original Grant Overview

Goal

The teacher will help students improve their literacy skills through reading various books on U.S. History in order to pass sections of the GED test. The teacher will use a series of three student books containing 45 high-interest biographies that profile a historical figure's life in a cultural setting. The students will use books covering a broad range of topics: history, geography and nature, economics, U.S. culture and famous Americans through 52 thematic lessons to help develop reading, vocabulary, comprehension, discussion and writing skills. The information will be used to strengthen the students' literacy skills while broadening their understanding of U.S. History all in preparation for passing the GED Social Studies and Reading Language Arts Tests.

What will be done with my students

The students will read individually and in small groups, interacting with the teacher and text, as they summarize readings and practice new vocabulary based on the materials in the books that coincide with GED Social Studies topics. Students will use the materials to research United States History through historical texts and biographies of famous Americans throughout history. The students will question their partners and relate the materials and information to enduring principles as outlined in the GED Social Studies test. The topics will also be connected to any relevant current events.

Benefits to my students

Because the students will be using materials that will help them relate to the GED test for Social Studies, they will be more equipped to understand the tested materials. The background information in the texts will give the students better prior knowledge when preparing for the GED test. The materials will also assist students in preparing for the English Language Arts section of the GED test as they read, write, question, answer and discuss the materials. Finally, another major benefit will be for students who are also immigrants to the United States. The extra ideas embedded in the texts about civics, the U.S. Government, economics and United States History will assist the students in assimilating and adapting to life in the United States, and learning about U.S. culture. The books may also be shared with Adult English classes as a method of teaching U.S. History for immigrants learning English. The number of students who will benefit from this will be continuous and ongoing as new students will use the materials as they enter classes, and the books will stay in the school for future use.

Budget Narrative

In ordering 10 copies of student books, the teacher will be able to have small groups use the books without the need to purchase entire class sets, which would cost a great deal more. Also, 10 copies allows multiple classrooms the ability to share and to use the books simultaneously if needed. One book is a teacher reproducible book to make copies of pages as needed.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	1 copy-Short Lessons in U.S. History Reproducible Teacher Book	$32.00
2	10 copies-American Lives Book 3 - High Intermediate	$120.00
3	10 copies-American Lives Book 2 - Low Intermediate	$120.00
4	10 copies-American Lives Book 1 High Beginning	$120.00
5	10 copies-Across the U.S. Student Book	$118.00
	Total:	$510.00

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