My students need appealing books at their reading level as part of our classroom library, such as The Chariot of Queen Zara and a Junie B. Jones boxed set..
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Bogie's classroom raised $543
This project is fully funded
I teach 7th and 8th grade English and ESL in East Oakland. I'm in my second year of working with Teach for America. My students are predominantly low-income, and all are African-American, Asian-American, or Latino. They come together to learn at our comprehensive middle school from many different neighborhoods, and they present many different needs.
At the beginning of the school year, my students took a reading test which told me they are reading 3-4 grade levels below their actual grade. We had an honest conversation where I shared their group and individual reading levels. When I shared a class goal that I set of improving their reading levels 1.5 years over the course of the year, most of them stated that they plan to improve even more than that. My personal goal is that they become lifelong readers who carry books with them everywhere they go, and know that there are things they can get from reading that you can never learn from television and video games.
They will "grow" their reading abilities through a format called reader's workshop. Students choose books that they are interested in but which are still at their level. I teach them many strategies that strong readers use while they are reading, and they use the strategies in their own reading.
While we do have a library at school, I am working to build my classroom library so that students have constant access to books that interest them. I have begun a library by picking up free and low-cost books from various sources, and I have friends who are also helping me in this endeavor.
To continue to build my classroom library, I want to add books that are at a lower reading level but of high interest to my students. I chose a selection of books partially based on the cultural diversity of my classroom—my students are Latino, Asian-American, and African-American. The literature choices for a diverse classroom are expanding, but many of the books are still new and not available at the places where I get free or low-cost books. In order to build these books into my collection, I need to buy them new.
Your help will ensure that my students this year, and in years to come, become lifelong readers. You will help them to be the kind of people who can understand whatever they need to enjoy a story, solve a problem, or research a new idea. Reading is one of the most crucial skills they need to help them succeed in life. They are so excited about their goal; you can help make that goal a reality.
Nearly all 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. Bogie and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
