Students can't browse a classroom library when the books are packed in boxes, nor can their lives be changed by that one book I hope to help them find. With no way to display the books in my classroom library, my students are unable to benefit from it.
I teach a very diverse group of students at a rural public high school in Ohio.
My high school is a racially and socioeconomically diverse school with a very high poverty rate. Many of my students are very reluctant readers, and solving this problem typically involves suggesting books that appeal to their interests and backgrounds. These students often come from homes where literacy is not a focus, or from families who do not have the financial ability to purchase books. These students rarely have the time, ability, or willingness to visit the public or school libraries, so the responsibility falls on my shoulders to select a book for them and physically hand it to them. I often purchase books for individual students in order to encourage reading, and I have received other books through grants.
My Project
For this project, I am requesting two steel bookcases, which will provide the space needed to display my classroom library and give students access to it. The bookcases will last for years, giving students the quality library they deserve. In addition to the standard curriculum that I follow when teaching courses, I also require out-of-class reading in an effort to get students reading and to help them discover that reading for pleasure is not an oxymoron. On the first day of class, I have students fill out a survey about themselves and their reading histories. A day or two later, I present each student with a list of at least five book recommendations personalized to match their interests. I try to choose books that match the interests and abilities of my students. With an organized classroom library, I can ignite a passion for reading that may not have existed before and provide students with the resources they need to be successful.
In order for students to thrive academically, they need to be exposed to a literacy-rich environment, something many of my students do not have.
By providing shelving for an in-class library for my students, you can help foster their love for reading, which will in turn improve their comprehension, writing ability, vocabulary, and more. My library will help pave the way to a bright, literacy-rich future for my students.
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Wylie and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
