Travel To The Four Corners Of The Earth Through Reading
My students need a variety of young adult novels to encourage their reading in my classroom. I chose Hispanic heritage, Asian, and Native American YA Literature....
I welcome my students with a sign on my door that says in colorful letters: "Ms. Street is currently reading..." with a large picture of the novel's book cover. Upon entering my classroom, their eyes fall on bookshelves full of exciting stories that take them out of the classroom and into the world.
My students come from a diverse spectrum of backgrounds.
I have many second generation Hispanic, Native American, and Asian students. I have intentionally chosen YA novels that are written by authors of these descents and address issues which affect children dealing with two competing cultures in the home.
I teach four classes of 9th grade English 1 and my students are therefore at varying degrees of reading comprehension skill. To reach each student at their individual level, I have chosen stories for lower level readers as well as more advanced ones. This way, I can be sure that every student will be able to find a novel that fits their needs.
I also have many students who live in low-income households and often must deal with issues of family hardship, drug abuse, and gang pressures. My book choices have also been made with these students in mind. I chose stories that might be familiar to them and speak of strength when faced with difficulty, optimism, and healing.
My Project
As my library grows, students will have more and more opportunities to check out and read the books they desire and find exciting. Each book I acquire will go straight onto my shelves and hopefully into the hands of a blossoming reader.
I let my students check out books whenever they wish and I provide time every day during class for reading. The library runs around two sides of my room and I have displays of the books over all the surfaces. This atmosphere of literary exposure encourages the students to gain interest in books and start reading.
Through literature, my students will gain interpersonal connection through the human experiences they read about and feel emotionally and academically.
Each story will broaden their perspective on the world and the issues we each deal with as we traverse this land.
The specific titles I have chosen deal with issues of cross cultural perspectives, coming of age, historical relevance, and international experiences. These stories will educate my students and affect them positively long afterward.
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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 Ms. Street and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.