Approve Agreement for Technical Services for Visiting Children’s Author, Alexandria LaFaye - $10,500 (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

We request approval of the Agreement for Technical Services with Alexandria LaFaye, children’s author, to visit fourteen (14) elementary schools beginning October 1, 2007, to discuss how writing connects with curriculum with the emphasis on historical fiction.

The author will explore the importance of research and touch on many topics relevant to social studies standards (research methods, frontier life, and reconstruction period); the writing process and elements of fiction in the readings relevant to language arts standards (symbolism and figurative language); and answer common questions about the economics of being a writer which addresses math standards (percentages, multiplication, and real-life applications).

Each elementary school had the opportunity to sign up to have Author LaFaye visit and provide two large group presentations per school. The twenty-eight presentations will impact 6,000 students and 1,400 teachers, administrators, and parents. The fourteen schools include: Baycrest, Bryant, Cahoon, Carrollwood, Chiles, Colson, Essrig, Folsom, Lockhart, McDonald, Seffner, Summerfield, Woodbridge, and Yates Elementary Schools.

Ms. LaFaye, wrote Worth, which is a 2007-2008 Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award Book and 2007-2008 Battle Book.

Goal 1 – The percentage of students scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT reading will increase a minimum of 5 percentage points.

Funds of $10,500 will be paid out of school funds from fourteen elementary schools at $750 per school.