Imlay After School Migrant/EB Program Increases Student Engagement Through Science Discovery
Last Updated Dec 2011
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Some of the 4th-6th grade students pose for a shot outside with their teacher.
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With generous support from the District's Migrant Grant funds, ten Migrant/Emerging Bilingual (EB) students in Grades 4-6 participated in an after-school program to increase their engagement and understanding in reading, writing, and science. Instruction focused on vocabulary enhancement using Robert Marzano's model, writing for a purpose through scientific observation, and fostering excitement for school.
The students loved the hands-on learning and their attitudes were reflected in a statement as shared by one of the enthusiastic fourth grade students: "I wish I could be in this class forever...I mean, I want to keep coming every day."
Students were supported by teacher Kandi Hess and Instructional Assistant Sharon Persons. In studying weather cycles, students created barometers, anemometers, tornadoes, and kept weather journals to chart weather patterns and write key vocabulary from their studies. Finally, the students designed weather slideshows to build their technology skills, which were then shared with their teachers and parents during a celebration on November 29.
In January and February, students in Grades 1-3 will be working on reading, writing, and science in conjunction with English Language Development skills and knowledge. Their curriculum focus will be the study of non-fiction literacy skills taught through hands-on science activities and experiments, as well as non-fiction reading and writing. Specific topics will include the water cycle and animal/plant cycles.
From February through March, the 4th-6th grade students will continue their non-fiction writing and science exploration. Students will focus on improving sentence fluency as well as using the non-fiction writing genre.