Our population hails from numerous countries, speaks more than a dozen first languages and experiences every walk of life. These adolescents have left their countries, cultures and sometimes the only family they have ever known. They are facing challenges that range from family reunification to learning a new language, restarting school after an extended period of interruption to social and emotional adjustments. Such huge changes can be pretty traumatic in the best of circumstances.
Most of my students' only relationship with reading is a negative one.
For the vast majority of my students, reading is like washing dishes, a chore, an assignment, work. They don't have any positive connections to reading. The majority of these teens come from cultures that do not celebrate reading for pleasure. Many of my students have never had a book read aloud to them.
My Project
The materials selected for this project are all paperbacks or magazines that should fit in any teen's back pockets. These additions are requested by students, our most reluctant readers. With this project, we will provide books that can travel with them so that they can read on the bus, during their work break, at home, and at school. Students are learning to read for pleasure. As we continue to establish a culture of reading in our English classroom, students will develop a love for these books and an intrinsic motivation to read more.
These books will provide students the opportunity to create a culture of reading in their new school and language.
By increasing their reading interest through student choice, we empower students to improve their reading abilities. This skill will serve them for the rest of their lives and improve their communities through a more educated and creative, young adult population. These kids are the future of our community and country. Let's give them the best foundation possible!
More than half 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 Ms. Reamer and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
