Past projects 4
Books They Love, Books They Read
Funded Mar 30, 2023Often my students, even my most avid readers, do not have books at home. When a child loves a book, I don't ask them to bring it back. Then at least they will have one book on his or her shelf.
As a result, favorite books are often missing from my collection or the first book in a series is gone. That lack of a book is the difference between students reading more or less. Students worry about returning books to the library, so they sometimes are anxious about checking out books.
Donors Choice helps my students truly read independently, selecting what they want to read. Your money helps to replenish those books, so the next class can also read a favorite.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Russell Albach
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 4 other donors.Let Every Student Read
Funded Aug 24, 2020More than 35% of our student population are second language learners. Some students, as they learn English, become bilingual, graduating from the ESOL program. Other students come when they are older and can read in their own language, but not in English as well yet. Your gift of young adult novels in Spanish allow both types of students to read novels in their own first language. As a result, they can build literacy. When literacy is high, students can learn English more fully and successfully.
Equally important, my Spanish-speaking students feel valued and loved even if they never read one of the Spanish-translated novels, memoirs or graphic novels. The message that they matter enhances the relationship I can build with every student. Students can be incredibly savvy about whether adults care. Your donation helps to put action behind the words I say.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Russell Albach
Graphic Novels Storm the Classroom Library
Funded Feb 1, 2017Thank you for supporting my battle against "fake reading" and helping me put interesting texts into the hands of my students. My CP English 3, juniors, need a variety of texts to read since they come to the class with a variety of reading levels. While doing far better than their freshmen counterparts, the juniors still need to read consistently with varying texts to achieve their goals.
We use the graphic novels you provided in several ways to increase our independent reading. First, few of my students have access to a home library, so your donation provided them choice in books to read independently. We read 10-15 minutes in class each day and these books provided exciting new texts for them to choose. In addition, for my second or third language learners, graphic novels can provide them with greater background to appreciate the more difficult whole class learning. By supplying them with a variety of graphic novels, the students can use the visuals to aid in their independent comprehension. One third year ESOL student decided to read The Hobbit in graphic novel form, so we could understand the text more fully.
We share, trade, and enjoy books together. Together we have become not only a community of learners, but a community of readers. A sense of community means so much for all students, but remains even more critical when they are reluctant readers.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Russell Albach
Stop the Insanity: Pull Out a Book and Read
Funded Mar 9, 2015Thank you for supporting my battle against "fake reading" and helping me put interesting texts into the hands of my students. The students have selected various choices among the books to read for their independent reading. Recognizing that reading increases all their needed skills for college next year, these seniors appreciate a text that they can enjoy independently while learning at the same time.
We use the books you provided in several ways to increase our independent reading. First, few of my students have access to a home library, so your donation provided them choice in books to read independently. We read 6-12 minutes in class each day and these books provided exciting new texts for them to choose. In addition, each day my students or I present a book talk based on an independent reading selection. These book talks are critical for both high level honors students and lower level repeating freshmen. The book talks help guide them in selecting books for themselves. Because they have not been able to afford their own books, they have little experience selecting and buying books for themselves. The book talks help them identify what they, too, like books.
We share, trade, and enjoy books together. Together we have become not only a community of learners, but a community of readers. A sense of community means so much for all students, but remains even more critical when they are reluctant readers.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Russell Albach