I Cried, You Didn't Listen and Blue Rage, Black Redemption
My students need to have the books they are reading instead of our broken down set of binders and blurred old pages made years ago. These two books, "I Cried, You Didn't Listen: A Survivor's Expose of the California Youth Authority" and "Blue Rage, Black Redemption: A Memoir" are INVALUABLE in my classroom.
My students range in age from 14 to 19 years old and often have had very unsuccessful histories with school environments. Some have avoided school for two or more years, surviving on the streets of our cities.
My hope is that when exposed to my classroom they are awakened to the fact that it is OK if you hate being taught, but you must struggle and work to discover the JOY of learning. My work is to find and develop curriculum that engages them and speaks to their issues, concerns and realities.
These two books, "Blue Rage, Black Redemption: A Memoir" and "I Cried, You Didn't Listen: A Survivor's Expose of the California Youth Authority" have proven themselves by fire. Both are very important tools for further development into literacy and also a prime opportunity for our work on social skills and the choices we make in life.
Your help means a student who may have fallen through the proverbial cracks has now the opportunity to engage themselves in a learning environment with the tools they need for this journey. I know it seems like a small thing, but in my world, these students really are affected by things like actually holding the book we are reading, by having access to the tools of learning. These kids do not need to be reminded that no one wants to fund their learning. I do not want to reinforce that by not having the actual books and merely have them read from old xeroxed pages. That vital esteem is developed step by step in the classroom and actually allowing the kids to possess the tools while in my room is immeasurably valuable.
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