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As enjoyable as reading is, the unfortunate fact of the matter is many kids don't like it. Outside of the novels read in ELA class, I find that a growing number of students have never finished a book of their choice, on their own. My goal is to change that. This year I am piloting a new reading initiative in my classroom that will give students the chance to explore and fall in love with independent reading! At the start of every class, students will get ten minutes of sustained silent reading time to enjoy a book of their choice. Research has shown that there is a strong connection between daily independent reading habits and overall student performance. Students who read independently become better readers and score higher on standardized testing across all subjects. My hope is that through this initiative, students will develop and strengthen their independent reading skills. Comfortable learners are engaged learners! Having comfortable seating available for students to use during sustained silent reading time and other classroom activities would have a huge impact on student buy-in and participation. By donating to this project, you will be helping to establish and foster a natural love for reading in a low-income, urban middle school.