Fair Trade Festival

One of my classes employs a Scholastic program, Read180. While I appreciate the possibilities of this program, the technological component and the leveled texts for independent readers, my colleagues and I noticed there was something missing ; writing! One of the challenges of planning for this class is extending the learning the kids do in their R-books, beyond the book and connecting it to the real world. (This is a challenge for any class, really.)

The students finished a section of readings on international child labor. We started discussing what kind of legislation it might take to help combat the problems they read about. The students created legislation in the language of the Preamble to the Constitution. (They were learning about this in Social Studies) We took it one step further in class and discussed the idea of Fair Trade, providing laborers with the money earned from the sale of goods they helped to produce. The kids produced Public Service Announcements to speak out against child labor and promote their legislation. Some of the students created campaigns in the form of posters and presentations to "pitch" like ad- executives. We presented all of this to our principal and other supportive staff members.

This group of kids often gets the short end of the deal. Their curriculum can get so modified, they claim they don't get to "do anything cool." This is one of the first times since teaching Read180 other kids were asking to be in the class.

Students need to see their work related to the real world. They need that explicit connection. Asking them to reflect doesn't always do the trick. They need to get their hands dirty and go beyond the text and really learn about what is going on outside of their small town.

Our next unit in the R-book has to do with peer pressure and the effect it can have on students of all different creeds. I'm still brainstorming ideas and projects to help promote the material... Any ideas?

Lastly, Merry Christmas to anyone out there who has ever checked out the blog and those who haven't.