Reading for Academic and Life Success

School:: Avalon Elementary
Subject:: Language Arts
Teacher:: Shannon Keenan
Students Impacted:: 65
Grade:: 5
Date:: September 4, 2017

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Harlan & Heather Dam - $100.15

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 67

This year I taught the ELL (English Language Learner) cluster at my school. This means that many of my students are non-English speakers, or are learning English as a second language. As such, the focus upon learning how to read on grade level is paramount due to the end of the year state exams and for middle school preparation. Needless to say, nearly all of my students achieved the remarkable accomplishment of reading three or more SSRYA books this school year. Thanks to the generous donation of the grant funding, my students made tremendous academic gains and proved to themselves that they can achieve anything that they put their minds to.

Original Grant Overview

Goal

The goal that I have in mind is to have all of my students excited about reading. In order to do this, I'd like to request the 2017-2018 SSYRA - Sunshine State Young Readers Award books. I teach at a Title 1 school and many of my students don't have access to books outside of school. I'd like students to be comfortable in taking the chapter books home, enjoying them, and perhaps become more motivated to read. Last year I requested the 2016-2017 SSYRA books, and every one of my homeroom students read nearly all of the books (which was remarkable), or at a minimum three. The impact of the funding of the grant was remarkable and as a result, my students loved going to the library and taking out new books!

What will be done with my students

The students have an opportunity to earn charms and a chain (provided by the school) as they read the SSYRA books. Students can wear their charms to show how smart they are! In addition, I hold my own classroom contests throughout the school year which truly motivates the students to read more. When students finish one of the books, they take an online reading test on the book. If they have a passing score, they will be added to my SSYRA "reading hall of fame" in addition to a reading growth (data) chart in my classroom. In addition, I have class activities wherein we utilize their chapter books in order to complete the projects,

Benefits to my students

The benefit to reading is endless! Students not only learn to become better writers, but they increase their vocabulary skills, fluency, comprehension, stamina, and their imaginations! Reading can be a positive outlet to students rather than t.v. and/or social media.

Budget Narrative

The 2017-2018 SSYRA books will be educationally and personally rewarding for my fifth grade English Language Arts students. I teach at a Title 1 (high poverty) school and I want my students to learn the love and joy of reading. A great way for them to know this is to have award winning books to read all while knowing that their community cares for them and their education.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks	$11.06
2	Pugs of the Frozen North (A Not-So-Impossible-Tale) - by Philip Reeve	$5.61
3	The Vanishing Coin - Kate Egan	$3.62
4	Framed! by James Ponti	$7.99
5	My Brother is a Superhero - David Solomons	$5.31
6	Castle Hangnail - by Ursula Vernon	$5.97
7	The Wild Robot - Peter Brown	$11.89
8	Willy Maykit in Space - Greg Trine	$5.99
9	Teddy Mars Book #1: Almost a World Record	$3.84
10	Allie, First at Last: A Wish Novel - Angela Cervantes	$5.28
11	The Hero Two Doors Down: Based on the True Story of Friendship Between a Boy and a Baseball Legend - Sharon Robinson	$4.89
12	A Whole New Ballgame: A Rip and Red Book - Phil Bildner	$4.58
13	Night of the Living Worms: A Speed Bump & Slingshot Misadventure - Dave Coverly	$5.99
14	A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans - Laurence Yep	$6.29
15	Maxi's Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog) - Lynn Plourde	$6.18
16	6% tax	$5.66
	Total:	$100.15

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