Backpacking Across the World!

School:: Pinecrest Elementary
Subject:: Language Arts
Teacher:: Erica Rimbert
Students Impacted:: 140
Grade:: 2
Date:: July 26, 2017

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Suncoast Credit Union - $980.67

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 140

The outcome of this project was better than I could have ever anticipated. The backpacks, books, and stuffed animals were a HUGE hit with my students and their families! The local Florida company that I bought the backpacks from was kind enough to donate more backpacks than I had planned for and Barnes & Noble had many books on sale so I was able to reach more students and families than I originally planned for. I met with a few parents who were very thankful for the backpacks and said that they enjoyed reading with their children before bed. After school, a majority of our students attend an after school program. When they get home, it's usually after 6pm, they prepare for the next day and go to sleep. Oftentimes their parents work long hours, working hard in the fields or packing companies. When they get home, they are tired. The backpacks have allowed them a way to relax and bond with their children over stories before bed. This has also been a great way for the families to learn English together. When the students are home, at the afterschool program, finding themselves with a few extra minutes before school, or anywhere else and they don’t have an adult to read with, they’ve enjoyed reading the books to the stuffed animal characters from the stories and making the stories “come alive” this way. Many of our students are a year or more behind in their reading level, so having these resources available to them to practice reading has been a tremendous opportunity to help bridge the gap. It has made the students more interested in reading, increased their comprehension, and fostered a culture of reading and learning wherever they go. One of the most exciting parts of their project, for me, has been seeing siblings, cousins, friends, and peers come together to read. The older children have shared their favorite books with the younger ones, while helping them learn to read and creating lasting mentorships. In a unique school like ours, with a high migrant population, these backpacks have also proven to be practical; easy to transport and hard to lose. I’ve witnessed students having great conversations around these books and new friendships forming based on shared interests in the stories and characters.

Original Grant Overview

Goal

My goal is to provide my students with high interest books that are on their reading level and a reading buddy so that they can share their wonderful books!

What will be done with my students

Reading is an adventure! It is so much more fun when you can share that adventure with someone!
In the classroom, we have reading buddies that my students get to read to during the day; the students truly enjoy this time and it helps boost their reading achievement. What better way to improve even more than to provide students with access to books and buddies at home! Many of my students have limited to no access to books at home, or the comfort of a stuffed animal. When they check out a book bag, they will be able to share their reading adventures with someone!
Can you imagine reading a Clifford book to Clifford himself? My students can and they are fascinated by the idea!
Reading truly can take them on adventures all around the world and these backpacks can provide them with the opportunity to do so!

Benefits to my students

Oftentimes students feel discouraged about reading, think that it is too difficult, or think that it is boring. Their parents want to help foster a love of reading, but they do not always have the resources. Many of our students do not have anyone at home who speaks English, so they find it difficult to read together. Having these fun book bags will help empower the students, support the parents, and foster a love of reading! Inside of each bag will be a book buddy and books in a series to match. They will get to take turns checking out the book bags and reading to their buddy at home!

Budget Narrative

This includes 15 clear plastic backpacks from a Florida company to safely store and transport our reading books and buddies to and from school.
Also included are reading buddies (stuffed animals): Curious George, Dr. Seuss' Horton, Pete the Cat, Elephant & Piggie, Fly Guy, Clifford, Peppa Pig, Llama Llama, Olivia, Pigeon, and Bad Kitty.
Finally, the budget will allow for 5 books from each series in order to create book bags with a book and a stuffed animal character from that book to read to!
All books and reading buddies will be purchased through Barnes & Nobles.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	wisdom - clear view backpack - 15	$202.35
2	Florida state sales tax	$13.15
3	shipping	$49.26
4	6 books from each series + tax	$525.74
5	11 reading buddies (stuffed animals) + tax	$190.17
	Total:	$980.67

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