Around a Word in a 180 days

School:: Lely Elementary
Subject:: Language Arts
Teacher:: Brittany Crouss
: Denise Carlson, Todd Zuk, Candice Collins, Wendy Brooks
Students Impacted:: 100
Grade:: 1
Date:: August 31, 2017

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Suncoast Credit Union - $678.54

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 100

Students were given the chance to study and break apart 180 different words in the English language. We were able to find the origin of the words, study them, and use them in everyday writing.

We used our maps every day. We were able to look at where the words came from within our world by using our world maps. We posted them in the back of our room. We used the internet and computers to research the different areas on the map. We would use a sticky note arrow to point out where the words of the week were from.

The students used the passports (Picture space composition book) to write and use the words we studied in everyday writing. It allowed the students to really understand what the words meant by using them in sentences. Journaling them every week helped practice how to use correct sentence structure in their writing. It also started great conversations on the different types of sentences that they were writing (declarative, interrogative, imperative).

The students used the journal (primary- lined composition book) to break words apart and write down their origin. This was also a great place to use the words and show many different parts of grammar. This was also useful in showing different phonetic rules that went along with the words.

The students were able to use their 180 day experience to learn more about places in the world and their connections to the English language. They were able to make connections between English words and words of their home language. We celebrated the different areas and children who came from those areas.

grant photo

Original Grant Overview

Goal

Couple the fact that 96% of English words are loaned from other languages and the fact that Lely Elementary School has a diverse group of students whose home language is not English, and you get a unique opportunity for students to learn about words in a way that celebrates the cultural diversity of the English language and of our students.

Playing off the classic novel, Around the World in 80 Days, first grade students from Lely Elementary will travel around the world learning about words, their origin, and applying phonetic skills to each of the words in their writing.

What will be done with my students

All in all, students will study 180 words... one word each of the 180 school days. Of the 180 words studied, some words chosen will be cognates (words that are similar in different languages because they are from the same original word) in Spanish and Creole. Research has shown that a great way to help students acquire the English language faster is to teach students words that are similar to the words in their home language. Some words chosen will be based on their origin; in order to highlight the ethnic background of our students. Still other words chosen will be sight words; words that are important to be recognized quickly in everyday reading.

Each student will be given a Passport (Picture space composition book) and a journal (primary-lined composition book), as well as a laminated world map.

Students will explore 1 word a day. Teacher will write the word on the board and students will copy the word down in their journal. Teacher and students will use resources (iPads and computers) to discover the word's origin. Students will write this information down in their journal and pinpoint the location on their world map while teacher marks the origin of the word on the dry erase classroom world map. Teacher will celebrate any students, relatives, and friends known from the area of the word's origin. Students will draw the word's origin location in their Passport (Picture-space composition book) and write about it's location. The teacher will "stamp" their Passport indicating the student has traveled there! Students will also write the word in their journal (primary-lined composition book) and apply their phonetic skills to the daily word to prove its pronunciation. Finally, students will journal about the word in their journaling/journeying book. Journaling will focus on enhance writing skills, grammar, as well as sentence structure.

Benefits to my students

By journeying/journaling their 180 day journey of the world/word, students will learn learn more about places in the world and their connection to our English language, learn English more quickly by making connections between English words and words of their home language, celebrate the diversity of the English language and themselves, all while practicing their phonetic and writing skills.

Budget Narrative

Each student will need two composition books in order to document their journey/journal around the word/world (Picture space and primary-lined composition books)
Lamination will be used for each of the student's world maps. The larger, adhesive dry erase map will be for display and use in the classroom. Passport stamps are to help create an authentic travel experience for the students.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Picture space composition books x 100	$219.00
2	Primary-lined composition books X 100	$229.00
3	Scotch - Letter size thermal laminating pouches, 3 mil, 11 1/2 x 9 - 50/pack for student world map X 2	$27.52
4	Passport stamps-Set of 24 Passport Stampers on Amazon.com x 5	$106.22
5	Teacher - RoomMates World Map Dry Erase Peel and Stick Giant Wall Decals	$96.80
	Total:	$678.54

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