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Ms. Deaton Landen’s Classroom Edit display name

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Last year I began letting my students choose their reading instead of forcing all class novels that put them to sleep. We started reading 20 minutes a day from my classroom library to 50 minutes in a sitting. Many students said that they had never finished a book on their own. Several students came in after class to check out books to take home. Some even purchased their own books so that they could get the next book in the series. I have never been more excited about bringing books to my students. I've spent hours at the Good Will and garage sales sorting through books to find protagonists that look and talk like they do. Every time a student found a new book that (s)he got into, I would search for ten more. They put videos of book reviews on flipgrid to share with other students, and this year we're going to share on Goodreads too. Students are having amazing conversations about literary elements, discussing their protagonists and conflicts, characterization and imagery. It's so inspiring. I spent over $1200 of my own money in addition to asking neighbors on Nextdoor for donations. Kids are reading and learning new vocabulary and discussing literature. They are gaining new perspectives about themselves and other cultures and coming in to talk to me outside of class about other books they find. Now I just want to keep finding more titles to feed their hunger. It's working, and my colleagues of students who I had last year have even told me that the kids are still talking about choice reading. We're on a roll.

About my class

Last year I began letting my students choose their reading instead of forcing all class novels that put them to sleep. We started reading 20 minutes a day from my classroom library to 50 minutes in a sitting. Many students said that they had never finished a book on their own. Several students came in after class to check out books to take home. Some even purchased their own books so that they could get the next book in the series. I have never been more excited about bringing books to my students. I've spent hours at the Good Will and garage sales sorting through books to find protagonists that look and talk like they do. Every time a student found a new book that (s)he got into, I would search for ten more. They put videos of book reviews on flipgrid to share with other students, and this year we're going to share on Goodreads too. Students are having amazing conversations about literary elements, discussing their protagonists and conflicts, characterization and imagery. It's so inspiring. I spent over $1200 of my own money in addition to asking neighbors on Nextdoor for donations. Kids are reading and learning new vocabulary and discussing literature. They are gaining new perspectives about themselves and other cultures and coming in to talk to me outside of class about other books they find. Now I just want to keep finding more titles to feed their hunger. It's working, and my colleagues of students who I had last year have even told me that the kids are still talking about choice reading. We're on a roll.

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