"Honey is sweet, and so is knowledge, but knowledge is like the bee that made that sweet honey, you have to chase it through the pages of a book." This is a quote from Patricia Polacco's "Thank You, Mr Falker." Help us "chase knowledge" through a library of her books.
The 27 fourth graders in my class come from a variety of backgrounds.
They come from over a dozen countries and speak five different languages. This diversity creates a wonderful opportunity to learn from one another but also creates challenges because the students do not always have the same skills and background knowledge. An author study can help because it is shared experience that fosters reading and thinking skills that all students need to be successful.
My Project
The library of Patricia Polacco books will be used in a comprehensive author study aimed at helping students identify themes of books and make connections with and between books. Polacco is a local (Michigan) author and her texts describe events and settings from her childhood that many students in my class can relate to. Beyond her personal experiences, some books look at difficult historical situations such as the Civil War and Holocaust. Her books also emphasize important themes and lessons such as perseverance, acceptance of people who are different from you, and personal responsibility. There are many benefits of author studies including creating a community of readers with shared experiences, building critical thinking skills, and forging a deeper attachment to books.
This author study goes beyond reading well-written texts with beautiful illustrations.
It will help students see different ways a single theme can emerge in books, as well as how characters can be developed across events and change over the course of years. These books will help teach students valuable lessons about life in a modern and historical context.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Scovone and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
