2008 Grant Proposal Details

Literacy Grant for Novel Sets   Arts & Technology Academy

Total: $2000

Description:  The Arts and Technology Academy at Jefferson staff would like to purchase novel sets for use in classrooms. In addition to adding to the novel set collection at ATA, teachers would also like to catalog existing novel sets and establish a storage system. Teachers are working across curricular areas to provide reading opportunities in all areas, including math.

Why is this important?  Increasing novels for students and cataloging the existing novel sets is important. By increasing novel sets, teachers at ATA will be able to use different reading strategies to engage, motivate and support all readers. Increased novel sets allow teachers to use best reading practices, such as literacy circles, on a more frequent basis. Finally, increasing the novel sets provides students with more choices, increasing their motivation and desire to read. In addition to increasing our collection of classroom novels, teachers would also like to inventory and catalogue the existing collection. Many teachers are finding it a cumbersome chore to locate and access some of the existing novels. This grant would also allow the teachers to create a system to facilitate teacher’s access, use, and storage of existing novels.

Who will be served?  Students in grade 4-8 will benefit from the grant. As of September 19, 2008, there were 452 enrolled in grades 4-8. Classroom teachers have indicated novel sets they are interested in purchasing with this grant.

How will this be evaluated?  ATA will evaluate the success of additional novels sets through data collection and teacher observation. DIEBEL scores will be collected, evaluated and monitored for all students in grades 4-5. DIEBEL scores will be collected, evaluated and monitored for at risk students in grades 6-8. In addition, teachers will track observational classroom behavior. Teachers will observe students’ interest in new stories.

Does this build on existing programs?  Adding more novel sets does build on existing reading programs established at ATA. Currently grades 4-6 are using Treasures reading program. The novel sets added at grades 4-6 will allow expansion of the reading curriculum. Currently grades 7-8 are using Holt Elements of Literature reading program. The current program includes one set of novels for literature circles. The additional novels will allow teacher to run additional literature circles.

Budget:  $1700 for novel sets -- $300 for storage system/bins

Proposal #:  5