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Our Classroom Teacher Mrs. Wong

School: PS 42

City/State: New York City, NY

Grade(s): 1

Format(s): Interview(s)

Subject(s): English Language Arts, Visual Arts

Project Overview

This book was written and illustrated by 1st grade students at PS 42 in New York City, New York as part of an interview project about their teacher.

Each page contains a question a student asked and the teachers’ answer, both of which were handwritten by that student. Each student also created a drawing that corresponded to the teachers’ answer.

The simple, yet appealing format, allows young children to simultaneously get to know their teacher while practicing interviewing skills, writing and illustration.

The idea for this book is not inventive; its value lies in the quality of writing and illustration, which is done with a level of care unusual in most schools.

How This Project Can Be Useful

  • A very simple project, similar to those in many schools, done with more care and quality than usual; it can raise the bar for student craftsmanship. Students draw and color many things in school; this can be a powerful model of care in drawing, and density of applying color
  • Asking young students what they notice in the illustrations is a wonderful way to draw their attention to the great attention to detail in the drawings
  • Shows student handwriting instead of word processed text, which allows for a real sense of each student’s work
  • Highlights a way for students to get to know their teacher better
  • A product that through the range of writing and illustrations shows the work of the whole class – no one page tells the whole story it by itself
  • The structure of the book allows for individual accountability within a group product

Common Core State Standards

Standard Long Term Learning Target
W.1.2
  • I can include an ending to my informational text.
W.1.8
  • With support from adults, I can answer questions about things I’ve done or learned about.
L.1.1
  • I can use grammar conventions to send a clear message to a reader or listener.
L.1.2
  • I can use grammar conventions to send a clear message to a reader.
L.1.6
  • I can speak using words I hear in books.
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