2008 Grant Proposal Details

Nonfiction texts   Eastside Elementary

Total: $2000

Description:  With the merger of Harris/Eastside, our demographic of kids becomes a micro picture of Eugene; they will be a diverse group of students, representing the descriptors of culture - ethnicity, mixed race, socioeconomics, family units, language, and other-abled, to name a few. It will be critical to connect groups of kids from both schools in authentic and engaging ways. The purchase of these books will allow kids to make new friends, read to their classmates across schools and classrooms, and have real conversations with their teachers and classmates about equity and diversity. ETA Cuisenaire is a publisher that has done its homework on culturally inclusive texts. These exceptional, nonfiction texts are all illustrated with full color photographs of real kids and families doing real life activities. The language is engaging and not 'dumbed down.' Appropriate for any emergent reader (K-2) but especially reluctant ones, these texts appeal to a large population of readers, among them boys and kids who are not reading at grade level. The concept of this project is for teachers to borrow and share the books with their classes and create reading buddies with readers across schools. At the same time the books are an excellent jumping off point for discussions about issues and realities of their students’ lives. Discussions about equity and diversity are sometimes difficult to initiate, and these books offer enough content to begin the discussions we need to have. No set of texts could be perfectly inclusive - all of us reflect our cultural views, and in the same way, every set of texts reflects the cultural views of those who created them. These books, however, have enough authentic substance to easily begin the discussions using a question-making format: “Who is left out?”; “Who do you see?”; “Does this look like your family?” “Have you ever been skateboarding? Why or why not?”; “Why do you think the photograph shows those kids?” “Do you see yourself and/or your family here? Why or why not?” Creating questions is one of the top strategies shown across research pedagogy to enhance comprehension; combining reading instruction with important cultural discussions is a natural combination. Sharing these particular books across the Eastside/Harris classrooms will provide an opportunity to meet and make new friends as reading buddies. It will also give teachers an accessible structure for having the important discussions we need to have in order to truly become an inclusive community. The medium is the message - and our message is that combining learning to read with discussions around genuine social issues is one tool in eliminating the achievement gap.

Why is this important?  One measure of a successful merger will be many opportunities to work across schools, and opportunities to begin discussions with kids, parents and staff around cultural inclusivity. This project provides one of those opportunities.

Who will be served?  The books requested are mainly for emergent readers, and in this case would serve (K-2) and readers in (3rd) who need additional support. The estimate is (200) kids who would benefit from this project, in addition to teachers having a forum for cultural discussions in the context of reading.

How will this be evaluated?  One measurable outcome would be growth in reading comprehension and fluency among kids who typically are not engaged in reading It is difficult to quantify other aspects of this project, however some measures would include that: you would begin to see open dialogue among staff and students around issues of equity and diversity you would begin to see the technique of question asking among students and staff

Does this build on existing programs?  The two schools are committed to creating a unique and outstanding program that acknowledges our cultural (in its largest definition) differences and commonalities. The focus on dialogue, engaged students and increased awareness for staff and students is a part of that process. In addition, increased success for reluctant readers builds on an already strong commitment to eliminating achievement gap issues.

Budget:  $1,456.40 total. Collection of Sun Sprouts and World Scapes leveled papeback books in sets of (6). (complete quote available upon request (seven pages total)

Proposal #:  50