Completed:Imagination Is Your Preview Of Life's Coming Attractions
"The title refers to a quote by Einstein that guides my teaching practice. Reading is the number one way I know to feed the imaginations of my students.
Our school is a K-8 in a predominantly Hispanic, poor urban neighborhood. My kids are hard working, bright, and curious, but they lack the resour...
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"The title refers to a quote by Einstein that guides my teaching practice. Reading is the number one way I know to feed the imaginations of my students.
Our school is a K-8 in a predominantly Hispanic, poor urban neighborhood. My kids are hard working, bright, and curious, but they lack the resources to get them excited about the written word. Our small school library is focused very much on younger kids and I want my junior high students to understand that books don't have to have pictures to be colorful and packed with riveting images.
I am the reading teacher for all 120 of our junior high kids. I've attempted to build a modest classroom library with my personal books and some from library sales. However, I need some new, exciting titles and classics to really move my young readers forward.
Some of the titles in this batch of 40 books are: The Golden Compass series, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series, The Harry Potter Series, Harry Potter #1 en Español, Lord of the Flies, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Secret Life of Bees, Stargirl, Hoops, Hatchet, Jacob I Have Loved...
I selected these titles based on my own love of young adult literature, the recommendations of my former students, librarian recommendations, and teen book lists from around the net.
Junior high students are thirsty for escape from their own lives; they need to be able to look beyond their situations and realize how wide and bright the world can be. You can show my kids how the written word can carry them through life with a secret strength by donating to this project.
My students need these 44 captivating novels, including a good blend of classics and current interest books, from "Harry Potter" to "Flowers For Algernon" to "To Kill a Mockingbird".
I am truly in awe that our project was funded so quickly. I was touched by all your words about the importance of reading and I will share them with my students. Thank you so much for your donation and for reaching out to my students. I have already seen enthusiasm for reading increase this year, and this will help by leaps and bounds.
One of my quiet 8th grade girls has been flabbergasted by how much she loves The Outsiders. She confided in me in hushed tones, "This is the first book I've ever actually read." Her friends told me she's read it at least three times since we started it in class. Included in the materials you donated to are the rest of S.E. Hinton's books, and I'm sure she and the rest of my students will be thrilled.
I love reluctant readers like this because you can appeal to their logical side. "So you liked this one book? Do you think, given how many other books there are in the world, there might be others you will like?"
Thank you again for filling our minds, hearts, and bookshelf!
"In memory of my little sister, who loved so many of the books on this list, and for our mother, who encouraged (some would say "enabled") our love of reading. Some of my very favorites are on the list -- I hope you enjoy them!"
"Knowing great literature--and the great writers that created it--was out there got me through the difficult years of middle and high school. You are not alone, no matter what you're going through; it does and can get better, and a great book can make anything and anyone's nonsense disappear. Get out there and change the world!"
"Motivated by your truly inspirational words and project, I hope your students know how lucky they are to have such a dedicated teacher. Also inspired to help by Tomato Nation, my favourite website. Good luck from across the sea, a London reader."
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Karen L. (volunteer)
on Oct 6, 2008
