Past projects 5
Teens and 21st Century Literacy!
Funded Sep 5, 2021Thank you for supplying my classroom with the novel "A Long Walk to Water."
My students loved reading this book because it was so different from other novels we have read. They liked the structure of the novel because of the two main characters alternating sections. Also they liked that part of the novel was nonfiction and the other was fiction. The novel demonstrated good examples of leadership through difficult situations, and helped my students understand other people in the world do not have the advantages we do. For example, something as simple as clean water to drink.
After reading each chapter, my students would complete a quick quiz with 3 questions. Our novel discussions would center around those 3 questions. The students also completed a foldable based on plot elements. Again, this activity promoted some great discussions about the Civil War between North and South Sudan and the terrible struggles the two main characters had to endure.
My students completed an end of novel activity. The students were allowed to choose one of the two main characters and complete a body biography project on that character. Students discussed and work collarboratively to complete the project.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Caban
Graphic Novels to Attract Reluctant Readers!
Funded Sep 25, 2017Thank you so much for supporting our project. When the graphic novels arrived, my students were so excited! They immediately wanted to start checking out the novels, especially my boys. I have many boys who have difficulty finding a novel they want to read. Graphic novels are perfect for my boys. They are shorter reads so that is a plus for my boys. Also, even though the boys don't realize it, graphic novels are packed with great vocabulary! These graphic novels will add variety to our reading. We are living in a world where students use visuals daily. Graphic novels have great visuals and if the text is difficult, my students can look at the pictures to help their comprehension. My students will learn to pay attention to the dialogue and the illustrations in order to infer what the author didn't share with the reader. My students are going to have hours of fun filled reading and learn important skills at the same time.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Caban
Wild about Reading and Technology
Funded Dec 31, 2016My students love the new chrome book! We have been using the chrome book for research.
In reading class, my students read novels. For example, in my 5th grade classes, we read a novel about the Holocaust. In 6th grade, we read a novel that took place during the Dust Bowl. There were many historical events in both novels, and having the chrome book allowed students to be mobile and work together in groups.
The students love the mobility the chrome book offers them. Some students find it difficult to sit for an extended time for assignments such as research. The chrome book allows those students to research these events, move around the classroom and to work with different students.
Students are more engaged in the classroom with the chrome book. When I made the research assignment, students became very excited because my students love technology and so does their teacher!
Thank you again for your donations and caring about my students' education!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Caban
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 3 other donors.Projection and Access for the Whole Class
Funded Oct 17, 2016I would like to share with you what your generous donation has enabled my students to accomplish in the classroom. Since computers have been installed in my classroom, some of my students could not see the Smart Board at the front of the classroom. This became a problem when I would introduce a new reading skill or wanted to model a reading strategy for the students.
Thanks to your generosity, we no longer have this problem! When I use the Smart Board in the front of the classroom, all information is duplicated on the TV in the back of the classroom.
The TV allows all students to become actively engaged in the lesson. Also, the students were excited because they are able to watch a video, news report, or interview while taking notes or collaborating in groups!
On behalf of my students and myself, thank you for caring about students and being an active participant in educating them.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Caban
What Would Life be Like with a Different Government?
Funded Aug 22, 2015My class read the novel, Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix to explore the concept of a totalitarian government. Students watched videos about the one child policy in China because the novel is somewhat based on that concept. Students were astonished at how the government controlled every aspect of their lives. Some of the skills used during our novel study was reading, research, classrooms discussions, and learning about the types of government in other countries.
The students were constantly engaged with the text. Students would beg me to allow them to continue reading. They had so many questions, sometimes we would stop in the middle of a chapter just to discuss the events occurring in the novel. While we read the novel, students would verbally react to the text.
This type of text engagement makes reading fun for everyone!
All my students enjoyed reading the novel. Just the premise behind the novel kept them excited and eager to learn more about the governments of other countries. At the end of the novel, we discussed what it would be like with a different government in our country. As we read, we discussed how the shortage of food, and overpopulation could lead the government to take action. Would our government react to these issues like those in the novel? My students had no reservations in sharing their opinions on these issues. This novel provided my students an inside look into some real world issues and how these issues affected the people.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Caban
This classroom project was brought to life by Economics Arkansas and 6 other donors.