My students need a wide range of books that interest them and challenge them to see the world in new ways. Currently, our school and public libraries offer a limited selection for young adults, and our classroom library consists of several dozen volumes. For students to become engaged readers, they need a significantly larger supply of books at their fingertips. With your help, students will read texts of their choice both inside and outside of class this year.
In selecting books to start our classroom library, I have focused on the idea that books act both as mirrors and as windows for readers. A mirror shows the reader him/herself reflected; a window shows the reader a world he/she wouldn't have been able to access otherwise. Both are important for today's middle school readers, who are working to form their identities, find their places in the world, and develop empathy with people different from themselves.
I have selected books at a wide range of lexiles, since students come into my classroom with varied reading skills. I have also chosen a wide variety of subject matter, so that there will be plenty of books to interest every student. Additionally, I have worked to ensure that the books on the list reflect a wide range of cultural backgrounds. Many of the books on my list have received accolades or won awards.
I plan to use choice reading books to supplement class sets of novels, short stories, poems, etc. that we read and discuss as a group. Part of developing engaged readers is encouraging students to develop a one-one-one relationship with texts of their choice.
I hope to expand this library in the months and years to come, but need a starting place to be able to effectively use choice reading in my classroom.
About my class
My students need a wide range of books that interest them and challenge them to see the world in new ways. Currently, our school and public libraries offer a limited selection for young adults, and our classroom library consists of several dozen volumes. For students to become engaged readers, they need a significantly larger supply of books at their fingertips. With your help, students will read texts of their choice both inside and outside of class this year.
In selecting books to start our classroom library, I have focused on the idea that books act both as mirrors and as windows for readers. A mirror shows the reader him/herself reflected; a window shows the reader a world he/she wouldn't have been able to access otherwise. Both are important for today's middle school readers, who are working to form their identities, find their places in the world, and develop empathy with people different from themselves.
I have selected books at a wide range of lexiles, since students come into my classroom with varied reading skills. I have also chosen a wide variety of subject matter, so that there will be plenty of books to interest every student. Additionally, I have worked to ensure that the books on the list reflect a wide range of cultural backgrounds. Many of the books on my list have received accolades or won awards.
I plan to use choice reading books to supplement class sets of novels, short stories, poems, etc. that we read and discuss as a group. Part of developing engaged readers is encouraging students to develop a one-one-one relationship with texts of their choice.
I hope to expand this library in the months and years to come, but need a starting place to be able to effectively use choice reading in my classroom.
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