TEACH Campaign

On April 20th I was honored through the Mayor’s office and TEACH Campaign by Mayor Cory Booker, The United States Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan, and Congressman Donald Payne, for being an exemplary Teacher in Newark. TEACH Campaign is an initiative which hires 200,000 teachers a year and it’s main objective is to hire more minority teachers, particularly African American males, which currently only make up of 4,500 of those teachers hired.
I spoke about being a third generation Newark resident, having received all my education, primary, secondary, and college, here in Newark and then coming back and giving back to my community by teaching in it’s schools. I talked about my passion and joy for teaching and how it is such a rewarding, fulfilling, and gratifying career. It was soo exciting as well as a humbling experience to be in the presence of such great historic men!

Autism Awareness

Ms. Jennifer Lo Conti, Special Education Teacher, Autism Program 13th Avenue School Newark, New Jersey At 13th Avenue we celebrated “Our First Annual Balloon Festival for Autism”. We initiated with a brief introduction about Autism. The groups were formed by grade levels and were prepared with fun-filled hula-hoops and parachute activities. As we approached for our count down to spreading autism awareness to the world the students held the balloons along side their teachers, they were all very thrilled to let the balloons go at the same time. The spectacular sight was gratifying and with all the support of teachers, students, and parents more families nationwide can have an understanding of Autism and how we can spread more awareness and support. What Does Autism Mean? Autism causes kids to experience the world differently from the way most other kids do. It's hard for kids with autism to talk with other people and express themselves using words. Kids who have autism usually keep to themselves and many can't communicate without special help. They also may react to what's going on around them in unusual ways. Normal sounds may really bother someone with autism — so much so that the person covers his or her ears. Being touched, even in a gentle way, may feel uncomfortable. Kids with autism often can't make connections that other kids make easily. For example, when someone smiles, you know the smiling person is happy or being friendly. But a kid with autism may have trouble connecting that smile with the person's happy feelings. Autism affects many children in New Jersey and it is important even though we might not know someone with the disorder---we still should know what it is and how to support all our your local families within the community. We look forward to this becoming an annual event at 13th Avenue School. The autistic teachers are united!

Native American Project

During the month of March, students in the 5th grade researched indigenous Native American Groups. The research was then presented through three modalities:

• The design and Creation of a diorama, modeling some aspect of their chosen group


• Utilizing maps to describe and analyze the historical and geographical location of the group


• Construction of a Comprehensive Window to analyze and synthesize informational text

Students were guided by the Comprehensive Window Strategy (CWS), an informational text strategy that enhances comprehension during the process of reading and writing and includes the design and creation of an instructional prop. The strategy incorporates varied learning styles and allows for students independence in decision making and supports critical thinking.

Students were enthusiastically engaged throughout the process resulting in higher-order-learning outcomes: individual understanding and creativity, cooperative group culture and peer partnering culminating to motivate and transform students into active readers, writers and researchers. This Native American Project challenged students to interact with historical artifacts, understand topography, envision what life was like, and more, and finally present models representing their new knowledge.

Mrs. Anisha Muhammad, 5th grade teacher, is to be commended for engaging to enlighten students on a Native American trek as evident that a picture is worth a thousand words!

(Source) The Reading Teacher - Vol. 61 (7) - April 2008

Kick Our Reading Levels Up Literacy a Couple of Notches With Mrs. Cobb

The “Kick Our Reading Levels Up a Notch”, Program

The goal of the program is to increase the students reading comprehension through utilizations of the local library and increase parent and student reading collaboration.

The Program was a challenge to the students to increase their reading levels. Parents were incorporated into the learning process through a program I called “Kick Our Reading Levels Up a Couple of Notches”.

The program began in October 2010 with a breakfast kick off to invite parents into a partnership for student learning. This was followed by a Library Card party in November that required students to have their own Newark, NJ public library card which gave them access to a variety of literature (parents came and read stories to the students during the party). On Friday March the 4th 2011 in room 219 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, there will be a celebration of the students’ success, where awards will be given out to the individual students.

The first phrase - Student and parent buy in through students required to get a library card and participate in their local library as literally citizens

Second Phrase of the program required students’ participation in increasing their reading levels through home and community activities.
Third Phrase of the program is the student recognition certificate ceremony.

The fourth phrase of the program will be incorporated into the celebration activities to begin the second half of the “Kick Our Reading Levels Up a Notch”, program that would have began in February of this school year and end in May of this school year with a final certificate celebration in June of 2011.

Program create by Mrs. Cobb/ Room 219

Borders Book Store

Borders Book Store
Thanks to the generosity of New York and Borders Book Store customers, Thirteenth Avenue School was the recipient of over $8000.00 worth of new donated books.
Mr. Daniel Zelinski, store manager of Borders Book Store (Manhattan, N.Y next to Penn Station) told Ms. Laura Kelly, Special Needs teacher (his friend of 30 years) about their Annual Book Drive. With Ms. Kelly’s help, the books were distributed to some of the Special Needs classes and to the primary Lending Library (Rm. 102). Our students will enjoy many hours of reading!

Homework Hassle/Computer Training

On December 14, 2010 parents enjoyed breakfast while learning of ways to help their children with studying and homework hassles. They were able to go into the newly opened third floor computer lab and have Technology Coordinator Mr. Waymon Huggins show them math and literacy sites that they could use at home. For an added treat, the parents, with the help of VP. Dr. Kriss Graham, were able to make Christmas ornaments.

Make and Take

On December 2, 2010 5th-8th Grade Vice-Principal Dr. Kriss Graham presented a Make and Take session with parents. Parents first enjoyed breakfast while meeting support staff in an informal atmosphere. After breakfast Dr. Graham showed parents how you could make a scrape booking activity into a fun filled math activity with the family. As they watched her cut and measure you could see that parents were anticipating the chance to try their hand at this activity