Poetry Suitcases: For Poems that Move! – Granger Middle School

School: Granger Middle School
Number of Students: ~300
Amount: 1082.25

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  • Grant Info

    Grant Title: Poetry Suitcases: For Poems that Move!
    Submitted By: Jessica Walsh
    Co-Writers: Kelly Mulhern, Jennifer Scinto, Alison Janacek, Robyn Winters, Barbie Barnett, and Michele Nowoj (Granger 6th Grade ELA)
    School Name: Granger Middle School
    School Address: 2721 Stonebridge Blvd, Aurora, IL 60502
    Principal Name: Allan Davenport
    Other Grants Awarded: IPEF Teacher Innovation Grant "Hands on History" (2021-22)
    Other Grants Applied For This Year: IPEF Teacher Innovation Grant "Hands on History" (2021-22)
    Number of Students: ~300
    Grade Level: 6th
    Dollar Amount Requested: 1082.25
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    Applicants Beliefs About Literacy: As teachers, we believe that the written and spoken word can change the trajectory of children’s lives. We have experienced this firsthand. The power of poetry, specifically, can unlock places in children’s hearts and open doors to the world. Through a rich and varied literacy experience, children's academic and social emotional needs can not only be met, but cultivated. This includes regular access to high-interest, inclusive texts; daily, uninterrupted time to read; and a community that supports and fosters a love of literacy. We are grateful to be part of a community that provides opportunities such as the Jeanine Nicarico Literacy Fund that supports these beliefs.
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  • How does this grant promote the development of literacy for learners?Word play, close study of craft, and creating in community not only lead to strong literacy development, but inspire a lifelong love of words and creativity. Poetry cultivates these habits in ways that other forms of the printed and spoken word cannot. Repetition and rhyme can develop fluency and comprehension, but best of all, it nurtures curiosity and it's just plain FUN! This grant provides a variety of rich opportunities for young readers and writers to build language skills, hone vocabulary and word choice, and commune with other poets to share and celebrate poetry.
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  • Does this grant provide professional development opportunities for educators (resources for programs and staff development)?Two of the requested materials include instructional resources for teachers, including ways to teach, scaffold, and structure poetry lessons, whether as a standalone unit or embedded throughout the year. We have also identified online professional development webinars provided by Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell on how to best implement poetry instruction in the classroom. These, along with the instructional materials will serve as our professional development plan and book studies as a PLC (professional learning community).
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  • Please clarify your personal belief system about literacy and learning that is reflected in your practice?A life rich in words and story is the kind of future we hope all of our students can enjoy. Some of the ways we cultivate this is through well-curated classroom libraries that include hundreds of titles. Immediate access to fresh, inclusive titles are one of our highest priorities. Daily book talks, First Chapter Fridays, and book tastings are some of the ways we highlight new titles for our readers. Our instructional practice also includes word play, book clubs, writer’s craft study, read alouds, and real-world writing experiences and audiences.
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  • Does this grant develop a deeper understanding of the reading and/or writing processes?Listening to, writing, and performing poetry hit at multiple levels of the reading and writing processes, which is why we feel this project is so important. As young poets study craft, draft, revise, perform, receive feedback, and revisit this process, they are experiencing these processes in a low-stakes, accelerated way that cannot always be achieved in longer, high-stakes modes of writing. We love poetry as a way for students to experience the reading and writing process, especially as we strive to provide rich literacy experiences that some students may not have had since the onset of the pandemic.
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  • How does this grant lay the foundation for creating life-long readers, writers, and learners?Reading poetry, studying craft, and partaking in and enjoying the performance aspects of poetry lay the foundation for so many future experiences that show children that the page or the stage can be a source of joy, well-being, and community. We know that positive experiences rooted in joy will last a lifetime, and what do kids (and all of us) need right now more than joy?
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  • Does this grant provide opportunities that link literacy at home and school?We are so excited that the physical materials and objects listed in the materials request are for a take-home Poetry Suitcase! Families will be able to request a Poetry Suitcase filled with (sanitizable) objects to spark creativity at home! This sturdier suitcase will include a binder with Powerplay activities from Poetry Friday Power Books and a Flipgrid QR code for viewing and sharing poems. Families are encouraged but not required to record a reproducible or co-written poem using the included objects and add it to the Flipgrid board for other families to enjoy. We hope to see the digital board fill up with joyful poems as the suitcases travels from home to home.
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  • Assessment PlanAs a PLC, we will create a pre- and post-survey that centers around the skills and attitudes we hope to see this project develop, including but not limited to: -Attitudes about reading and writing poetry -Knowledge of diverse poets -Knowledge of poetry elements -Attitudes about performing and speaking As a team, we will ask our students to complete these short surveys at the onset and conclusion of the project.
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  • Itemized & Detailed Budget(Also uploaded/attached as Excel file) Book (Title/Author), Item Quantity Cost Each Subtotal Student texts Here We Go: A Poetry Friday Power Book by Vardell & Wong 7 $11.99 83.93 Neighborhood Odes by Gary Soto 7 7.99 55.93 Poetry 180 by Billy Collins 7 10.59 74.13 Instructional Texts The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School by Vardell and Wong 7 $29.99 209.93 Inside Out: Poems on Writing & Reading Poems with Insider Exercises by Marjorie Maddox 7 $15.99 111.93 Items/Materials Poetry Suitcase 7 $10 70 Take Home Suitcase 1 $66 66 Metaphor Dice 7 $20 140 Paint Chip Poetry 7 $15 105 Magnetic Poetry 7 $13 91 Shark Plush 1 $8.97 8.97 Chef’s Hat 1 $6.99 6.99 Kool-Aid Plush 1 $10.99 10.99 Tropical Flip Flop 1 $4.99 4.99 Mac and Cheese Plush 1 $11.99 11.99 Skeleton Keys 1 $10.99 10.99 Treasure Map 1 $9.99 9.99 Popcorn Plush 1 $9.49 9.49 TOTAL 1082.25
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