One of my many passions in life is reading so I wanted to incorporate books into my curriculum; First Chapter Friday was born through this vision. FCF is when I read the first chapter of a new book that has a setting in the region we are currently studying in World Geography class. I’m growing my classroom library and introducing books and reading to my students weekly. Not only am I reading more, but my students are reading more too, while we study the world. When I started this, my goal was to foster their interest in reading and further the goal of inclusivity in my classroom. By using these First Chapter Friday encompasses middle grade fiction and nonfiction, as well as children’s literature, into the seventh grade World Geography course. The year-long course includes a study of six major world regions, along with skill building for research, writing, and project-based learning. Each week has a different read, and the books are preassigned.
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Kelly Zander Patterson, is in her tenth year of teaching at Charlotte Country Day School, however she has been teaching for a total of thirteen years. She was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston, where she received her History and Secondary Education degrees. She is a wife, mother, and sister, who enjoys spending time with family. She loves to read, bake, and she also has a passion for entertaining, whether it’s organizing a small impromptu get-together, or hosting a large social gathering. She enjoy the details of personalized stationery, beautiful gift wrap, and a handwritten note. She is currently teaching and advising seventh grade students, while also serving as the chair of the Social Studies Department at the Middle School.
