Third-grade teacher Stacey Culver stands in her classroom at North Hamilton County Elementary.Thanks to a Junior League of Chattanooga mini-grant, third-grade teacher Stacey Culver is sending her North Hamilton County Elementary students home with a “Bag of Knowledge” each week.
“I’m creating literacy bags and each bag has a theme,” Culver explained in regards to how she is using the grant money. “They include books, games, activities and texts – fiction and nonfiction.”
Every week, each of her 21 students takes a home a different bag. The bags all have different themes, with sources on topics like Dr. Seuss, the state of Florida, or even bats.
The Dr. Seuss bag, for instance, might contain some of his whimsical books, a biography about the author, a tall red-and-white-striped hat, and more.
“It will enhance the curriculum that’s being taught in class; this is so much more meaningful than sending a worksheet home,” said Culver. “My goal is to engage their families. They are more successful whenever their families are involved.
“And when it comes to social studies and science, it will actually be integrated into their reading,” she added.
Culver first discovered the learning tool years ago while she was in college at Tennessee Tech. Her class took a trip to visit a school in Overton County where she met a teacher that used the method, and it stuck with her.
When Culver was writing her JLC grant application, she said she had a hard time coming up with an appropriate name for the project. Her 12-year-old daughter Ashley was the one who thought of calling it Bag of Knowledge, she said.
“It will be continual; we will use these bags year after year,” said Culver. “I’m very thankful that our community cares about every child’s success and is willing to give the money for these children to engage in learning at home as well as at school.”