The Grant: An Overview

As you know, I have written a grant (a scholarship for teachers) and have been awarded the $1,000 maximum funding.  I have to collect data at all stages of this project in order to get 100% of the funding.  Below is an excerpt from the application form:

My project idea would be to have students choose the titles of novels to purchase for pleasure reading.  By being a part of the decision making, I believe students would take some ownership for the books we purchase, therefore engaging in the reading more than they have in the past.  Students would be involved in the researching phase, analyzing critics’ opinions of the novels, judging the literary merit of the text, determining the genre, reading level, etc., and evaluating any awards or prizes the text may have won.  The students would also be involved in the purchasing process: ordering the desired titles, budgeting for shipping or other fees, and following through with the purchase order. 

My hope is that everyone would be able to find a title that evokes his or her interest – a novel that would then be read, page by page, passionately, by the student.  Of course, as a class, we read classic novels together, but there is a lot to be said for pleasure reading.  When students read a novel of their choice they deal with topics that are relevant to their lives, they learn lessons appropriate to the 2011 teenager, and they improve reading fluency, stamina, and vocabulary in a pleasure read much more than they would an assigned read. 

After completing the literature, I would have the class design a “Reading Blog” where individually they would “critique” the novel: analyzing the genre, literary value, author’s craft, overall plot structure, conflict cycles, character development, point-of-view, etc.  Not only would students be reading passionately, but they would be writing for a global audience on the blog.  This blog would also be a place for students to go to find information on future pleasure reads. The opinions of their peers is always more effective than the teacher’s opinion.   After reading their second novel, students would be able to read the opinions of those who have read the same title, and they would have the opportunity to agree, disagree, etc. with that student’s opinions. They would be encouraged to “comment” on those opinions, offering their own analysis.  I envision this blog being helpful for students, librarians, teachers, and parents both inside and outside of our school. 

You have completed Parts I-V, now it is time to finalize this project. 

Grant Project Part I: Survey

Grant Project Part II: Browsing the Selection

Grant Project Part III: Determining Your Reading Level

Grant Project Part IV: Narrowing Down the Selection

Grant Project Part V: The Persuasive Essay

Grant Project Part VI: A Reading Blog