To grow the Sunshine State Jr. Reading program. A few years ago, the state published a new list of books geared towards younger students. My goal is to excite and motivate my younger readers by providing for the a variety of quality chapter books to be read in their classroom. We will increase peer interaction by sharing with others, through conversation, ideas and thoughts, about books on the Jr. Sunshine State Young Readers List. Also, students will experience first hand the political voting process when choosing their favorite book and comparing our results with those of other participating schools around the state of Florida.

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Adding Sunshine to our Reading

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School:
Herbert Cambridge Elementary 
Subject:
Language Arts 
Teacher:
Tiffany Weeks 
Students Impacted:
75 
Grade:
Date:
September 11, 2020

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

Suncoast Credit Union - $193.00

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 75

The books were purchased and distributed to the 3rd grade classrooms.  The students were beyond excited!

 

This school has been exposed to the SSYRA Jr. program for the first time, so the introduction was slow.

 

Their interest and excitement in the Jr. Sunshine State program grew after the books were distributed to the classrooms. Students began to read the books and share the stories. I noticed the copies in the media center began to circulate more also!

 

It was thrilling to watch students who previously showed little interest suddenly running up to share a Jr. book that they had completed.

 

Due to Covid restrictions, the Supervisor for Elections is not able to visit the school but I am looking forward to holding a virtual election.

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Book Delivery

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Our First Junior Sunshine

 

Original Grant Overview

Goal

To grow the Sunshine State Jr. Reading program. A few years ago, the state published a new list of books geared towards younger students. My goal is to excite and motivate my younger readers by providing for the a variety of quality chapter books to be read in their classroom. We will increase peer interaction by sharing with others, through conversation, ideas and thoughts, about books on the Jr. Sunshine State Young Readers List. Also, students will experience first hand the political voting process when choosing their favorite book and comparing our results with those of other participating schools around the state of Florida.  

 

What will be done with my students

Second and Third Grade teachers will each be given a class set of SSYRA Jr. titles and curriculum to support student learning. Classes will view a SSYRA Jr. premiere when the Media Specialist provides video book trailers on each of the 5 titles. Students will be encouraged to read as many of the books as they can throughout the 7 month period. After they have read the Jr. titles they will be ready to move up to the original SSYRA titles. They may write book reviews that will be shared with their peers. These may be viewed by students throughout the school. Students that read at least 3 titles, may vote in a mock election using real voting booths provided by the Supervisor of Elections. For every 3 books read, the student will be eligible for a reward provided by the Media Specialist.
If possible, those students who are successful in reading will be invited to a special invitation only reading party. The books will be collected at the end of the year and organized together to create literature sets for future reading groups and lessons.
This grant would meet the following Sunshine State Standards:
LAFS.3.RF.4.4 Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
a. Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.
b. Read on-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and
expression on successive readings.
c. Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and
understanding, rereading as necessary.
LAFS.3.RI.1.2 Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how
they support the main idea.
LAFS.3.RL.1.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring
explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
LAFS.3.RL.2.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text,
distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
LAFS.3.RL.3.7 Explain how specific aspects of a text’s illustrations contribute to what is
conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a
character or setting).
 

 

Benefits to my students

Independent reading programs enhance students' knowledge and skills. The book trailers will help motivate reluctant readers. Students will learn the importance and power of the voting process when they vote for their favorite SSYRA title. They will practice good citizenship skills when discussing the books with their peers and learn to appreciate the views of others about which is the best book. The students and classroom teachers will benefit by having the 5 quality titles easily accessible in their classroom library. The books will be collected at the end of the year and organized together to create literature sets for future reading groups and lessons.  

 

Budget Narrative

This school year I am assigned to two different school libraries, Lavern Gaynor Elementary and Herbert Cambridge Elementary.. I am requesting a classroom set of Jr. Sunshine State Young Reader Award titles (5 books) for both schools, so you will see two separate requests. One for each school.
The books will be collected at the end of the year and organized together to create literature sets for lessons that will benefit students for years to come.  

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 4 copies of Smell my Foot $42.00
2 4 copies of Truman the Dog $26.00
3 4 copies of Frank & Bean $53.00
4 4 copies of The Quiet Boat Ride $49.00
5 4 copies of Happy Fell $23.00
  Total: $193.00

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Special Thanks to Our Presenting Partners

Suncoast Credit Union