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E-mail contact
Mary Ellen Bower
bowerme@aol.com
Teacher Bio
Mary Ellen Bower, a Boston Public School Lead Teacher, has taught
elementary and high school classes for more than thirty years.
As School to Career Coordinator at West Roxbury High, a Massachusetts
Service Learning Leader School, she leads a TeachBoston career
pathway course. Mary Ellen has received a Golden Apple and the
Harvard Book Award for teachers and frequently conducts literacy
and career workshops. She and her students, recipients of Fleet's
All-Stars 2000 award for community service, have testified before
the Massachusetts State Legislature and present at statewide Department
of Education conferences.
Subject Areas
Language Arts, Technology, Career Education
Grade Levels
K- 12
Students
Partnerships between High & Elementary Schools
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Literacy Leaders ~ Cross-School Mentoring
| Authenticity |
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Key Question
How can high schoolers create a Service
Learning program of reading to younger children?
Overview
Using the latest technology,
high schoolers launch cross-school tutoring by scheduling
five Read Aloud sessions with their elementary school Book
Buddies. With children as their audience, older students interact
in a REAL environment to raise their own learning standards
and learn by teaching. Reflection Journals help them understand
the mentoring experience. A Literacy Poster Contest, and a
Teacher Shadowship Day open doors to literacy competencies
and teaching as a career.
| Active
Exploration +
Applied
Learning + Adult
Connections |
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Classroom
Activities
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Community
Activities
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Career
Activities
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Investigate,
practice & critique each other's read
aloud techniques. |
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Search
appropriate literature on Internet & complete
Literature Review on six children's books. |
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Create
Reflection Journals addressing books, materials,
student profiles, & activities. |
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Write
a reading letter to parents of young children.
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Identify
school & schedule Read Aloud sessions
with students via e-mail. |
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During
Read Aloud sessions, stress importance of
reading to children. |
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Share excerpts from Reflection Journals with
children. |
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Encourage
them to reflect on books they read. |
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Share
Reading letters with parents of younger children. |
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Present
computer slide show during Parents' Night
& statewide Service Learning conference. |
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Plan
a schoolwide Teacher Shadowship Day. |
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Collaborate
on letter
requesting permission to visit classrooms. |
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Respond to Key Questions after classroom visits. |
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Reflect
on teaching as a career in journals. |
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Adapt
School-to-Career
Competencies for elementary students. |
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Plan
& host activities for faculty during Teacher
Appreciation Week. |
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Academic
Rigor
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| Learning
Standards English Language Arts |
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Understand
and effectively employ the writing process. |
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Conduct
effective discussions. |
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Employ
different uses of technology to complete and enhance
work. |
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School
to Career Competencies
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Develop
Communication and Literacy Skills. |
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Communicate
and understand ideas and information. |
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Use
technology. |
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Initiate
and complete entire activities. |
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Act
professionally. |
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Take
responsibility for career and life choices. |
Assessment |
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Students
and teacher share Reflection Journals and Literature
Review Did I? Sheets
after each session. They use rubrics to evaluate
Key Questions, products, and presentations.
Software
or Materials Used For
literature on mentoring Read Aloud sessions: Read
Aloud Handbook 1995: Penguin Books by James
Trelease; New Teachers Handbook and Experienced
Teachers Handbook By Teachers For Teachers,
Teachers Network; for Read Aloud sessions and
poster contest: assorted children's books, journals,
art supplies.
Teacher
Developed Materials Guidelines
and rubrics for Literary Poster Contest, Letter
about Teacher Shadowship Day, Literature
Review Did I Sheet and Rubric, Rubrics for
scoring Key Questions, products, and presentations.
Student
Developed Materials Hints
for Reading Aloud, Computer Slide Show, Reading
Letter to Parents, Reflection Journals, Adaptation
of School to Career Competencies, Literature
Review of children's books.
Web
Sites Kathy
Schrock's Guide for Educators, The
Teachers Network, American
Library Association Notable Children's Books,
Future
Educators of America, New
Teachers Resources
Final
Words This project
addresses literacy - how students become life
long learners, how they communicate the importance
of reading to younger children, how they acquire
parenting skills for a future generation of readers.
The Teacher Shadowship Day easily transfers to
other careers.
Teacher
Tip Time management
skills are important when working with cross-school
projects. Faced with scheduling and organizing
Read Aloud sessions, students show improved communication
skills.
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