THE FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL Office Use Only

EDUCATION IN BULLOCH COUNTY GRANT#______________

___________________________________________________________________________

Innovation Grant Applications

Project Title 5th Grade Literature Circles________________

Amount Requested $1000.00

School Stilson Elementary

Name(s) of Applicant(s) Kim Exley_________________

Position/Subject/Grade(s) Media Specialist_(acting)___________

E-Mail Address kexley@effingham.k12.ga.us

School Telephone (912) 842-8480

(Primary Applicant/Project Manager)

Who can apply?

The opportunity to apply for The Foundation for Public School Education in
Bulloch County Innovation Grant is open to all Bulloch County School
System teachers, media specialists, counselors, or any combination of
teams within one school setting or among schools. However, only one
award per year project will be made.

Please check only one main category.

□ Arts
□ Career
□ Technology
XX□ Language Arts
□ Foreign Language
□ Math
□ Science
□ Social Studies
□ Health/Physical Education
□ Parent/Community Involvement
□ School Climate (attendance, discipline, character education)
□ Other___________________________
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1. PROJECT SUMMARY

Briefly outline the project you are proposing to enhance, enrich, and to expand classroom
excellence and communicate the need and key points (20 points).

Fifth grade students who are performing at grade level will be the target audience for this
project. The average student is often left out when it comes to intervention or enhancement
experiences. They are overlooked because they are meeting academic, social, and
behavioral expectations. They are not “squeaky wheels” that seek or require extra
attention.

The media specialist and grade level teachers wish to begin a literature circle reading group
program with these students.

2. PROJECT OBJECTIVES

List two major project objectives (aligned with school’s improvement plan and the Georgia
Performance Standards or QCCs) and indicate results you want to achieve. (10 points)

Project Objective #1 To equip students with the skills needed to read, comprehend,
analyze, and share a variety of texts through their participation in literature circles.

Georgia Performance Standards Objective(s) ELA5R2: The student demonstrates

comprehension and shows evidence of a warranted and responsible explanation of a
variety of literary and informational texts. ELA5R2: The student consistently reads
at least twenty-five books or book equivalents (approximately 1,000,000 words) each
year.

School’s Improvement Plan Objective To improve the percentage of fifth grade

students who meet or exceed in reading comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.

Project Objective #2 To acquaint students with a variety of literary genres, thus

allowing them to develop an increased understanding of the language/vocabulary
needed for middle school courses across the curriculum.

Georgia Performance Standards Objective ELA5R2: The student consistently reads at

least twenty-five books or book equivalents (approximately 1,000,000 words) each
year. ELA5R3: The student understands and acquires new vocabulary and uses it
correctly in reading and writing.

School’s Improvement Plan Objective To improve the percentage of fifth grade

students who meet or exceed in reading comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.

3. TARGET POPULATION

Describe the target population of learners and the total number of students served by this
project. (10 points)

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 The target population would include fifth grade students who are performing at
grade level in reading.
Eligibility will be determined by scores on STAR reading assessments
Total number of students in the target population will range from fifteen to
twenty (approximately 1/3 of the
fifth grade population.

4. PROJECT DESIGN

Outline the major tasks/activities (including timelines) to meet the project objectives. Grant
activities must be completed within the school year. (15 points)
Week 1:
Explain literature circles to selected students including expectations, procedures, and
contracts, send letters home to parents explaining literature circles. Place book order.
Weeks 2-16:
Literature circles will meet daily to read, discuss, and analyze selected text (titles listed
below).
Two literature circles will operate simultaneously with each group reading all titles by the
end of the school year.
Monthly:
Students, fifth grade teachers, and the media specialist will share selected readings by
writing reviews for the school newspaper

Titles:
My Side of the Mountain by Jean C. George
Peak by Roland Smith
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
Native American Myths by Robert F. Gish
Fortune’s Folly by Deva Fagan
Give me Liberty by L.M. Elliott
The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsbury
The Serial Garden: The Complete Armitage Family Stories by Joan Aiken
The Big Field by Mike Lupica
Science Fair: A Story of Mystery, Danger, International Suspense, and a Very Nervous Frog
by Dave Barry

All books are accelerated reader titles and cover various reading genres including humor,
fiction, short stories, mythology, sports, and historical fiction.

5. RESULTS AND EVALUATION

Explain how you will show that you met project objectives and your project benefited the
targeted population. (15 points)

Reading logs will be maintained

Accelerated reader quizzes for each book
Subjective assessment – discussion of the text and students’ responses to the text
Increase in scores on STAR and CRCT testing

6. PROJECT BUDGET

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Outline specifically how you will spend the grant funds, and itemize project expenditures.
(10 points)

Books – 10 titles, 8 copies each Approximately $900.00

AR Quizzes (10) Approximately $ 30.00
Cataloging/processing 80 books Approximately $ 70.00

Any additional copies of books needed for the program will be purchased using media
center funds.

7. COLLABORATION

Explain how you will develop partnerships within your school, with community
organizations, and other schools. Will you use volunteers and tap other resources/services?
(10 points)

Media specialist and teachers will collaborate to selects students for literature circles and
select texts
Media specialist and teachers will work with students to write reviews for school newspaper
Students will alternate with media specialist in fulfilling the role of reading facilitator
Solicit parent volunteers to assist with literature circles

8. DISSEMINATION AND EXPANSION

Establish how you will share results of this project with colleagues, the community, and the
Foundation. Examples include (but are not limited to) newsletter, website, local media, or
conference presentation. Discuss the possibilities for project expansion. (10 points)

Dissemination:
Media center display in which students and the media specialist highlight literature circle
books
School newspaper book review articles
Feature in local newspaper
Share literature circle ideas, lessons, and materials with other county elementary school
media centers

Expansion:
Increase the number of students who participate
Include parent volunteers
Include fourth graders who read above grade level
Perform skits or book talks to fourth and fifth graders
Write letters to book authors
Include new books of additional genres in literature circles