Every day I go into my classroom with the goal of fighting word poverty.
Every day I give my students time to read something of their own choice, write about what they read, and listen to me read.
Research shows that kids need to read, so we read.
My students are 8th graders in a Title I school district.
Over 70% of our students are eligible for free/reduced lunch, and the only access to quiet time to read is in school.
Many people told me that my students wouldn't read on their own, but those people were wrong. My students love to read, and they are constantly asking me for more books for my classroom library. They give me authors and titles and genres they want to read about.
They are hungry for books.
My Project
All books donated to my classroom go into my classroom library for my students to check out and read. I give students 15-20 minutes of reading time three times a week. They get to choose what they read, but are responsible for keeping a Reader's Notebook. In their notebooks they keep track of the books they read, the books they want to read, and their responses to the books.
Books are cared for by being cataloged in an online database, while students use a precise check out process to check out and return the books.
Adding books to my library increases the choice my students have.
All the titles I am requesting were put on the list by my students. They are ones they say they want to read. I cannot think of anything more life-changing than a great book!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Sluiter and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.