Past projects 2
No More BORING Books!
Funded Apr 26, 2017We'd like to share some quotes from our peers who have enjoyed books you helped bring into our classrooms. As you will see, this grant has brought a lot of reading happiness to the school!
-"We liked the book When Friendship Followed Me Home because it talks about love and losing it."
-"We liked Wonder because it is talking about health issues that a lot of people can connect to."
-"I really liked the Bone comic I read. I want to read the whole series!"
-"I got to read one of the Big Nate books and it is amazing!"
-"I read the book Wonder. The character Auggie is great - I can't wait to see how they turn this book into a movie."
-"The book Burning Blue was actually fun to read!"
-"My class and I really like Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It's interesting and easy to read. We recommend it if you're upset. You can entertain yourself and forget about your problems."
Writing this grant was a good learning experience. We learned some patience (it took a bit longer than we thought to complete the project) and we learned just how many interesting books there are out there!
Thank you again for improving the reading experience of this middle school. We had the chance to say what we wanted to read and it made a positive difference for so many of our peers.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bayer
Prepping for a Literary Rock Star's Visit!
Funded Apr 17, 2011I am thrilled to report that several students read and enjoyed the selection of books by author Paul Volponi this spring, thanks to your generous donations. Many of the students who took part in the book clubs did not initially identify themselves as readers, meaning a person who chooses to read during free time. However, as a result of their participation, I have seen evidence of a shift in their self perceptions. Because these books are filled with action, gritty (but not gratuitous) language, and simply excellent story-telling, the kids were engaged. It is my belief that from this collection, more than a few students found their "home run book," the work that sends them on a lifetime of reading for enjoyment and to satisfy their personal curiosity. Many students realized for the first time that there are books written for young adults that reflect their personal interests and concerns. What a wonderful discovery to make just before the long summer vacation. You can be sure that the book club members will seek out books from their public library, fully expecting to be entertained and enlightened.
Another discovery the students made was the joy of sharing a book with peers face to face. Although the virtual world offers students the opportunity to connect with others in ways previously impossible, it could be argued that young people are spending idle time in front of a glowing screen when they could be talking with a real person. The students really enjoyed these marvelously old- fashioned chats devoid of ringtones and keypads. They debated the merits of characters' decisions, proposed alternate endings and shared their overall rating of the books. Needless to say, the lunchtime meetings were a welcome respite from the din of the cafeteria, where grappling with universal themes is not exactly the norm.
Many thanks for getting these riveting titles into the hands of our students. I know a buzz was created around this activity, which means even more students next year will be asking for and enjoying the books in the fall. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bayer
This classroom project was brought to life by Townsend Press and 2 other donors.