Acting on an Idea

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"I could have simply considered this to be a powerful classroom lesson and left it at that. I'm glad that I didn't." - Tami Shields

As teachers, we all have those moments when you have a thought about trying something a little bit different. But how often do we follow through and see where those thought leads us?

If you’re like me, you probably talk yourself out of those ideas because they might require more time than you have available, or you’re just not sure if the outcome will be worth the effort. Well this year I followed a thought. (To be honest, my students gave me a very big nudge!) The results were fantastic for the students and for our entire school.

Inspired by the READ 180 rBook Workshop "Stolen Childhoods," my classes planned and managed a school-wide fund-raiser for Free the Children, an organization dedicated saving children from poverty and exploitation. I think we all learned something from the experience. We learned what life is like for other children around the world. We also learned a little about ourselves, and the positive things we can do. So here's our story about the READ 180 lesson that we'll remember for a lifetime.

READ 180 Educator Tami Shields

I've been teaching for three years now, having just completed my second year of READ 180 at Spring Hill Middle School. We’ve had some great successes with READ 180. In fact, my classes of 6th, 7th and 8th graders have averaged 120—150-point Lexile gains. So the program has really been wonderful so far, and the rBook lesson on stolen childhoods took learning to a whole new level.

We began the lesson like any other by watching the anchor video. If you’re familiar with it, you know that it tells the story of Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani boy who was forced to work as a slave laborer at the age of four. Six long years later, he escaped from the work camp and traveled to the United States and Canada, sharing his story with other children. Iqbal eventually returned to Pakistan. However, his efforts to help stop child labor made him a target of those wanting to maintain the status quo. As a result, he was tragically shot and killed at just 12 years of age. But Iqbal did not die in vain. His legacy lives on. During his time in the U.S., Iqbal inspired other children who went on to form Free the Children.

As we continued our rBook lesson, my students learned more about child labor. We read about young children in other countries who are forced to sew soccer balls by hand. My students thought this was just horrible. One boy even said to me, "Mrs. Shields, we have to do something!" I wanted to do something. But since I'm still pretty new at the school, I just didn’t know what to do, or how to go about it. This was my moment. Would I pursue the idea or let it fade away?

I knew that this could be a great opportunity to bring the lesson to life. So with the urging of my students, I asked around and found out that the principal and student council would need to approve any special activity or fund-raiser. Next I spoke to some of the READ 180 students who were most interested in doing something. I asked if they would be willing to present the idea of a Free the Children fund-raiser to the student council. Some got really nervous, but they rallied together. My students showed the rBook anchor video and they made a great speech. The members of the student council were very moved—and they approved our idea right away!

With the help of the student council, our students began creating the "Pay to Play" fund-raising event. The name described the fund-raiser’s premise: Students from the entire school would have the opportunity to pay $1 each to play games during homeroom (which is normally a study hall period). Our school's gym teachers helped create the games and set up stations with activities like four square, scooters, and tug-of-war. Normally the student council would be in charge of promoting a school-wide event like this. However, my students were so enthusiastic that they created all the posters themselves.

What impressed me so much was how hard my students worked. They were so involved and demonstrated skills that I had never before seen. I think they really enjoyed taking on the leadership role. In fact, I really had to force myself to step back and let them run the show.

"Pay to Play" was a big success throughout the school and we hope to make it an annual event. Yet my students were a little disappointed that we had only raised about $300. This led to something else that really impressed me. On his own, one of my students Googled "Pakistan" to find out how much $300 would really be worth. He came back and informed us how far $300 would go to help children in Pakistan. We mailed our check to Free the Children and enclosed a letter explaining that what may seem small to us can make a big difference in the lives of children in other parts of the world.

The kids really learned so much from the whole experience, including how to think outside of themselves. I believe that as they grow to be adults, this experience will have an impact. I honestly feel that it has changed them forever and hopefully they'll be more likely to volunteer or help out in some way in the future.

The rBook lesson really touched me as much as it touched the kids. There was that moment when I could have considered this to be a powerful classroom lesson and left it at that. I’m glad that I didn't. I'm proud of my students for pushing me to do something with the feelings that we all had. Sometimes a subject like child labor makes you feel powerless to do something. We realized the opposite to be true. We do have power. It's just up to us to make the choice to use it.

So I hope the next time you face one of those teaching moments, you'll make the choice to do something different. If the students are engaged, do more than just ponder that idea. Take it and create an experience that your students, and hopefully you, won't forget.

READ 180 Community Newsletter - Summer 2009
Nothing Else to Say But Thank You! With summer rapidly approaching, we at Scholastic and READ 180 want to thank you for what you do every day to raise reading achievement and turn around the lives of students. What you accomplish is incredible. Thank you!

A Conversation with Dr. Marilyn Jager Adams and Dr. Ted Hasselbring, Principal Scientists for System 44
A Conversation with Dr. Marilyn Jager Adams and Dr. Ted Hasselbring, Principal Scientists for System 44, appearing in the READ 180 Community Newsletter, Fall 2008.

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