I have a diverse group of scholars that enter my room with a wide range of interests and reading skills. Some arrive as avid readers, while others need the right books to hook them. With all that goes on in their busy lives, my students need books that are true page-turners to keep them reading.
My 9th and 10th graders attend a public high school in a big city.
There are so many demands on their time, from school to friends to the lure of TV and video games. Reading, we all know, expands the mind, gives students the space to process life through someone else's experiences, and helps them slow down in the frenetic pace of the modern world. Plus, exposure to great books helps young people become critical thinkers and stronger writers.
My Project
When the boxes of books arrive in our classroom, students will get to enjoy a "book fiesta," a class period to pour through all the titles, read the opening pages, and check out a book that grabs them. Several books have enough copies for literature circles or book clubs, several are sequels to books we already have. Several of these titles will be inspiration for National Novel Writing Month, when students use their expertise as readers to write novels they would want to read. Students will get to do book talks to encourage others to read their books, creating a community of enthusiastic readers.
Students need to feel the quiet that comes when they escape the stress of everyday and settle in with a great book.
Students need books that help them live through someone else's triumphs and tribulations, and come out stronger for it. Getting a fresh stock of exciting titles reinvigorates the reading climate in our classroom. These books will grab my young readers and help them develop a healthy reading habit that will greatly impact their scholastic success.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Kight Witham and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.