When a student is able to bring their own interests and knowledge into the classroom... that is when real engagement begins. I work hard to engage my students in this way. It's not always the easiest of tasks.
My students are the most engaged when they take an active role in their education.
This is especially true for my low level readers, many of whom have come to high school with reading levels far below their grade level. I work tirelessly to find ways to engage these students and help them to discover the joys of reading. Many of these young people have college aspirations, but they need extra help to achieve this goal. I try to help them by providing a variety of high interest, low level books, magazines, and other periodicals that are keyed to their reading levels and interests.
My Project
One area of literature that my students find endlessly interesting are magazines. As a teaching tool for independent reading, magazines can't be beat for giving a low-level reader a chance to gain some momentum at a skill with which they sorely need practice. Reading current reporting informs their writing and builds a firm base of knowledge for the future. One of the major reasons my students have trouble reading is that they have so little prior knowledge about the world around them. Discovering new things through newspapers and magazines is one way to expand on their worldview. Many magazines also appeal to the niche interests that are so often overlooked in traditional classroom texts. A student whose interests lie in science will connect with an issue of Popular Mechanics in a way that novels and other materials may not.
I am looking to expand my classroom library with some magazine subscriptions.
These periodicals will engage students, expand their vocabulary, and make them more fluent readers. These materials are a great first step toward more sophisticated literature. Your help will ensure that students like mine get every opportunity to discover the joy and excitement that can be found through reading. Thank you!
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