Books to Encourage Environmental Education!

I teach 9th grade English 1 at a high-needs high school in northeast Maryland. The school is extremely under-funded and lacking many basic classroom resources and books for English classes. Though the school is Maryland's "School of Environmental Science," because of the lack of funding and the focus on high stakes testing, many students have little exposure to environmental science content. Also, the school has yet to infuse the study of the environment across disciplines.

As an English teacher at a school of environmental science, I can facilitate critical thinking about environmental issues through literature. The book "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings is a novel that addresses many of the environmental issues that face Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay today, including the loss of the crabbing industry and urban sprawl. In this novel, Cummings creates a harrowing portrayal of how these environmental issues can affect individuals. As the plot unfolds, the main character, Brady, is faced with a very serious moral dilemma.

By following Brady through his personal struggle, students will have the opportunity to think critically about human interaction with the environment. Moreover, each student will be able to have their own copy of the text! They will learn how to interact with the text, write in their books, and become closer and more active readers. Because many students are below grade level in reading when they enter 9th grade, reading and annotating "Red Kayak", written on a middle school level, will help them develop good reading strategies and give them the confidence that they need to tackle more challenging texts later in the year.

Your generous donation will not only make a difference in a child's education, but it will also raise environmental awareness thereby empowering youth to make a difference in their world. Please donate to make it possible for students to have the books and the interdisciplinary English class that they deserve!