Past projects 25
"The Bell Jar" Novels for Seniors
Funded Nov 17, 2009A dramatic change has swept over my classroom this past semester. Students would be silently reading in their groups, and they would be excitedly discussing questions about the text. The reason for this change? The Bell Jar. This week, when I finally put The Bell Jar away (having finished the novel), I heard several groans. My students loved the book: the characters, the drama, and especially the fact that they were brand new copies.
My students related a lot to the main character and the problems that she faced. One student wrote "What I like the most about The Bell Jar is Esther recovered from all that she went through, and she got better and went on with her life." As you can see, many of them saw it as an inspirational story that really related to all of their lives.
This book also afforded my students the opportunity to really critically analyze a work of literature. Students came up with very interesting insights about the book: "To me this book starts to get interesting because of all the drama the girl is going through, it's like something is holding Esther back from being free and she takes her emotions out on things she should think about before she reacts to them. I had a good time reading this book in class." I had the pleasure of reading several very well written essays: my students enjoyed reading the book so much that they were really about to discuss it on a much higher level.
Not only was the book interesting for them to read and critically analyze, but they also simply enjoyed being able to hold actual copies of the book. With the last book we studied, we had to use old worn and ripped copies or photocopies, and my students frequently asked me when they were going to get "real books." To these students, being able to tangibly hold a brand new book was an exhilarating experience in itself; they were immediately thankful for this opportunity.
Overall, I enjoyed teaching The Bell Jar immensely. My students became so interested in the story, and we were able to have such rich discussions. Also, I was able to spend substantially more of my time planning for those discussions, rather than having to be in the copy room making copies of passages. I was so impressed with my seniors when I saw them hurriedly flipping through their books as they were composing their essays; they would enthusiastically ask questions about where they could find specific passages that they enjoyed reading. It paid off: they wrote fantastic essays. My students were really able to critically interact with this text (some for the first time), and they loved every minute of it. For that reason, I greatly thank all of the donors for giving my students the opportunity to discover this novel and for giving me the chance to discover just how much my students can accomplish. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stork
This classroom project was brought to life by The APSRC and Walton Family Foundation and one other donor.Exploring Self: Donate Barack Obama's Book to HS Students!
Funded Sep 19, 2009Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for your donation to our classroom. My students witnessed history a year ago when an African-American man was elected to be President of the United States. They felt the power of his election, but most did not realize the struggles their hero battled and overcame to gain this position of power.
Much like my students, Obama was without a father and living in near poverty. He also did not value his education until it was nearly too late. What my students were able to take away from this novel is that despite our circumstances, everyone has the opportunity to rise above. No one will hand them everything in life, but if they work toward success it may just happen.
Thank you for giving my students the chance to see that not all great leaders come from privileged pasts and that they too may join this elite bunch someday”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stork
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 7 other donors.Tears of a Tiger for High School Students
Funded Apr 8, 2009Who would have thought a simple blue book would create such a buzz about reading?! Our project started off a little slow, with a lone teacher attempting to convince a classroom full of stone-faced teenagers that this blue book would change their lives.
Ever the skeptics, my students stared at me with smirks plastered across their faces and "whatever" streaming through their minds. "Trust me," is all I could offer to these reluctant readers.
We opened our books to the crisp sound of new pages crinkling, and embarked on a month long journey through the eyes of Andy, our protagonist. The initial minutes turned to hours, and hours to days, that we spent with our noses buried into those deliciously new books. Andy soon became part of our lives; a person who had experienced a horrific situation, much like many of my students have endured. As Andy spiraled through depression, losing hope and his girlfriend, we felt his pain. And when Andy took his life, students felt as if they lost a friend as well.
It's amazing to see a group of students who rarely are willing to pick up a book have such a strong reaction to words on a page. Thank you for giving my students the chance to experience a novel the way that so many other students do. We appreciate your donation and will never forget the kindness you have exhibited to a bunch of students in the Arkansas Delta.
Thank you. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stork
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.Great Books for Great Students!
Funded Apr 7, 2009Approximately 300 students have wandered through my classroom since your donation last April. Many have come merely to gain an English credit, while others have searched for a deeper relationship with literature and language. Thank you for offering additional support, in the form of novels, to both of these groups.
My students who are reluctant readers tend to pick up short, lower-level books such as Freckle Juice and Journey to Jo'Burg. In these stories they are able to find a tale at their own reading level to be explored and enjoyed.
My students who thrive upon the arrival of new novels have looked to narratives including Walk Two Moons and the incredibly popular I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. These tales serve to delight and inspire the minds of my teenagers.
And finally, my students who are in search of a better grade are able to turn to the novels you have provided and complete an extra credit book report or pad their reading logs for the next grading period. Thank you for giving these students an educational way to raise their English grade, and their reading levels!
While we are separated by distance and semi-anonymity, I want to thank you for the immense impact you have had on me and my students. Not every child will read every book, but I take comfort in knowing that most every child will read at least one you have donated this year. Thank you for giving a piece of yourself to us; we hope that you enjoy the pieces of ourselves included in our thank you notes that will soon arrive! ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stork
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Classic Literature for Uncommon Kids!
Funded Mar 24, 2009Wow! What a difference 30 novels can make in the lives of high school students! After spring break my students began a 1-month-long independent novel unit where the novels you provided were among the options my students had to choose from. I gasped a little as some of my struggling readers picked up "The Crucible" or "Macbeth," but they assured me they were committed to reading, understanding, and finishing these difficult books within 4 weeks.
A funny thing happened- certain novels began to develop a cult-like following. I began to hear students jab at each other with allusions to novels, rather than the typical insults. When one student wasn't following along in class, one of my most difficult students turned and said "Come on Lenny, quit day dreaming about your rabbits" and other students actually laughed! As horrible as it sounds, I was excited and energized to hear this conversation- not because my students were picking on one another, but that they understood a classic novel like "Of Mice and Men" to the level where they could play around with the ideas and bring them into their own lives.
This week my students are writing analytical essays based on their independent novels. They are using the symbols, imagery, figurative language, and tone of their books to support the overall theme they determined from the works.
The resulting efforts of my students are far beyond anything I thought they could produce when I posted this project in December. Thank you for helping my students exceed my already high expectations. I hope you enjoy their forthcoming thank you notes and bask in the joys of knowing over a hundred students scoured through your donated novels this year alone!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stork
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Reading in Comfort
Funded Feb 24, 2009Thank you for your generous donation to my classroom! You wouldn't think that a bunch of fourteen to eighteen-year-old students would get excited about a bunch of bean bags, but they are truly excited every day that they race towards that pile of denim and pellets.
My students almost sprint into my classroom, trying to beat one another to a bean bag. I finally had to start restricting how many days students could sit on them so everyone could get a chance.
My calm and quiet students love to snuggle up on a bag and read a good book. They enjoy the comfort and "squish" as they settle in for sustained silent reading or partner reading.
My hyper students love to sit back and enjoy the attention they receive from being crowned "king or queen" for the day and getting the privilege of determining who sits in the bean bags.
Thank you again for giving my students this great opportunity. Even if they don't love essays, novels, and tests, the bean bags you donated are helping to get them into the room everyday!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stork
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.Stephen King Novel for Literature Circles!
Funded Jan 20, 2009Thank you for donating a classroom set of books to me and my students!
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a novel that captured my attention years ago. I was lucky enough to have a few copies laying around my classroom to see my students' interest in reading it, and I found a lot of the boys were looking for something to catch their interest. The additional copies you gave were used during the fourth quarter when my students were able to focus on a book of their choice. So many students chose The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon because of Stephen King's reputation for terror. They were not disappointed!
I really enjoyed sharing a favorite book of mine with my kids. It meant a lot to the students to have a variety of novels to choose from as well.
Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stork
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 4 other donors.Writings for Reluctant Readers
Funded Jan 6, 2009Thank you so much for your donation towards beginning my classroom's literature library! I was incredibly excited and overjoyed to see this project receive funding so quickly. Currently some of my students see a novel as a chopped down tree with some letters strewn upon it. I hope these new books will help them to develop a new-found love of literature. I cannot wait to use them daily during literature circles, independent reading, and as extra credit for those who and want to grab a good book and raise their grades. Thank you again for your donation- it truly means the world to me and my students”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stork
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 4 other donors.Literature Library for Lethargic Learners
Funded Jan 1, 2009Thank you so much for your donation towards beginning my classroom's literature library! I was incredibly excited and overjoyed to see this project receive funding so quickly. Currently some of my students see a novel as a chopped down tree with some letters strewn upon it; I hope these books will help them to develop a new-found love of literature. I cannot wait to use them daily during literature circles, independent reading, and as extra credit for those who and want to grab a good book and raise their grades. Thank you again for your donation - it truly means the world to me and my students”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stork
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Great Books for Great Students
Funded Dec 31, 2008Thank you so much for your donation towards beginning my classroom's literature library! I was incredibly excited and overjoyed to see this project receive funding so quickly. Currently some of my students see a novel as a chopped down tree with some letters strewn upon it; I hope these new books will help them to develop a new found love of literature. I cannot wait to use them daily during literature circles, independent reading, and as extra credit for those who and want to grab a good book and raise their grades. Thank you again for your donation - it truly means the world to me and my students”
With gratitude,
Ms. Stork
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.