My students need 40 copies of "Speak" for a unit I plan to teach during the 2nd 9 weeks of this school year. We are not allowed to ask our students to buy books for class.
Many of my students do not like to read, because they have not been exposed to books that are relevant to their life. I believe Speak will "speak" to them. It's modern and easy to read, and it tells a story that they need to hear. It is a chance for them to really enjoy reading. Reading should be FUN.
My students live in a small town with a high poverty level.
They have so much potential, but a majority of them do not get a lot of parental support. I am so proud of this school and these students and I want them to be able to accomplish all of the things they dream of. Unfortunately for most of them, dreams will be denied if they are not properly stimulated and encouraged in the classroom. MY students will get that stimulation and encouragement in my English class because THEY DESERVE IT! My school is in a small town in Mississippi where most of the kids don't have much to do except hunt or fish. These are good kids. They need that little extra push to see that there is more to life than what they've grown up with. If they can see beyond this town, they will be able to achieve anything. For many of my students "home" is not a happy place, and this is why it is all the more important that school be a place where they WANT to be.
My Project
I believe that teaching the book, Speak, in my classroom will show my students that reading is more than work. The book is modern and contains situations that these students will most likely find themselves in at some point in their lives. The content is relevant to their lives and easy to understand. The information contained in this book will not only teach them life lessons, but also arm them with the tools to make better decisions in life. I plan to use the book as a way to open dialog among the students about the issues they read about. I want to use this book to teach them to look beyond a person's reputation. The activity I want to do is to have the students keep a journal throughout the lesson. I want them to write down their thoughts as they read. They will be asked to write letters to the main character telling her how they could help her. I believe this activity will help my students learn empathy for others.
PLEASE help!
Your donation would make a huge impact on my class. This book may reach a student going through a tough time. This book may change the heart of a student. This book may help a student make a better choice in the future! This book may show a "non-reader" that reading can be interesting and fun. The possibilities are endless. I believe that this book is a good choice for my classroom and that it could have a positive impact on my students. They deserve the chance to read it.
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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 Mrs. Heathcock and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.