Literacy Leaders for Life Long Learners

  Big Picture
Using the latest technology, high schoolers launch cross-school tutoring, connect with Learning Buddies from local elementary schools, and learn by teaching. With children as their audience, older students interact in a REAL environment and raise their own learning standards.
 
Details

Language Arts, Technology
Partnerships between High School and Elementary School students
Grades K-12
 
Highlights

Students prepare to step into teacher shoes
by learning to:
  Work with young children.
  Read-aloud selected children’s literature.
  Make oral and written presentations.
  Prepare curriculum and plan lessons. Technology insures successful communication with school-to-school visits, email, and teleconferencing. Participants welcome Learning Festivals where high schoolers plan activities and younger students see what high school is really like. Performance is assessed with "Did I?" sheets, "Take Home" learning packets, portfolios, videos, pictures, and essay reflections.
Mary Ellen Bower

Teacher Profile

Mary Ellen, a BPS Lead Teacher, has taught elementary and high school classes for thirty years. As School to Career Coordinator at West Roxbury High School, she leads a TeachBoston career pathway course. Community Service Learning advocate, Mary Ellen has received a Golden Apple and Harvard Book Award for teachers.

bowerme@aol.com


Books and Materials

Read Aloud Handbook
by James Trelease, Students as Teachers by Mollie Gregory; appropriate children’s literature, display boards, art supplies

Technology Tools

Computers, digital camera, scanner, TV/VCR, projection panel, HyperStudio, PowerPoint, Internet

 

Special #1
Book Buddies

Special #2

Working with Young Children

Special #3

Reading Aloud

Special #4

Young Authors Writing

Special #5

Learning Festival

Value

Motivation, preparation, mastery, and presentation skills grow dramatically as high school students become role models and acquire future parenting techniques. Exploring education and media careers, students develop portfolio products that reflect authentic Learning Standards assessments.