Connecting The Two

School:: Pinecrest Elementary
Subject:: Language Arts
Teacher:: Patricia Zawodny
Students Impacted:: 100
Grade:: K-5
Date:: July 24, 2017

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Perna-Rose Foundation for Hope - $324.81

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 100

Thank you so much for the funding of my “Connecting the Two” grant. As a reading resource teacher of struggling readers, I am constantly trying to find the right materials that will motivate and engage my students while improving their reading. In Florida the FSA (Florida Standards Assessment) reading test is administered to our 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th graders at the elementary level. Results not only impact the student’s education but also teachers’ salaries and the grading of the school. The materials provided by this grant were designed similar to the format of this test. This allowed me to focus on the necessary skills while familiarizing the students with the format they would be tested with at the end of the year. Information was presented on one topic in both fiction and nonfiction formats. The students enjoyed these activities quite a bit. Since the materials were different from their classrooms, it was easier to engage them. The topics were highly interesting to the students so they worked hard because of the interest level. Materials were shared with the other resource teachers in my room. Approximately 100 students were impacted by this grant. Having all the levels allowed me to meet the needs of all grade levels I taught. Although test scores are not in yet, I am hoping for nice gains. I have seen the gains throughout the year on other assessments so I know the comprehension has improved!

Original Grant Overview

Goal

I am a reading intervention teacher for grades K-5 at Pinecrest Elementary. The goal of this grant is to help my struggling readers deepen their understanding of text by providing them with two different points of view (fiction and nonfiction) on the same topic along with focusing on the essential reading standards. These materials focus on the development of skills with main idea and details, context clues, inferences, cause and effect, author's purpose and citing text evidence. These goals align with the Florida Standards for language Arts. The materials are motivating and engaging and present the skills in both fiction and nonfiction text on the same topic, similar to the FSA (Florida Standards Assessment) test the students take in the spring.

What will be done with my students

I would be using these materials throughout the entire year. The journals are consumable, however the paired passages will be used for many years. Our lowest readers are pulled from their classrooms for intensive reading instruction daily. These groups have 4-6 students in them, depending on the intensity of the instruction needed. I would use these materials in my small groups. The paired text readings are perfect for engaging the students and helping them understand material from the two different viewpoints. The reading comprehension journals will allow my students to respond to the text in writing with my support. I am able to provide the materials on their level. Majority of my students are 1-3 years below grade level.

Benefits to my students

These materials will help me close the gap with reading. 99.7% of our students are on Free/Reduced Lunch (Poverty Level), 88.7% are from Non-English Speaking Households, and 46.5 % are Migrant. My students are well below grade level and it is important to provide materials on their level that address the standards they need to master. When presented with material they can read they are motivated to work harder to improve. The materials will engage the students on their level and help develop proficient readers!

Budget Narrative

Materials priced for grant with teacher discount through Lakeshore Learning.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Fiction & Nonfiction Paired Passages Grade 1	$37.99
2	Fiction & Nonfiction Paired passages Grade 2	$37.99
3	Fiction & Nonfiction paired passages Grade 3	$37.99
4	Fiction & Nonfiction Paired Passages Grade 4	$37.99
5	Reading Comprehension Daily practice Journal Grades 1-2	$72.18
6	Reading Comprehension Daily Practice Journal Grades 3-4	$72.18
7	Nonfiction Comprehension Quickie Crads	$28.49
	Total:	$324.81

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