More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
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My students often say they can't connect or relate to the books that are assigned in most English classes. Though we do have a Shakespeare unit and occasionally read segments of other traditionally taught texts, new and engaging novels are necessary for student engagement nowadays. Providing my students with diverse novels for their virtual and in-person book clubs, that have a greater range of experiences and identities, is crucial for their development as critical thinkers and avid readers.
These books allow students to identify with certain characters, and to better understand the characters that diverge from what they know from their own experiences. For example, The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater centers around a hate-crime committed (accidentally?) against a non-gender-conforming teenager and the complex lives of both the victim and perpetrator. Young readers learn about inequalities of the criminal justice system, as well as injustices that people who are outside of gender "norms" are subjected to, promoting greater awareness and acceptance.
About my class
My students often say they can't connect or relate to the books that are assigned in most English classes. Though we do have a Shakespeare unit and occasionally read segments of other traditionally taught texts, new and engaging novels are necessary for student engagement nowadays. Providing my students with diverse novels for their virtual and in-person book clubs, that have a greater range of experiences and identities, is crucial for their development as critical thinkers and avid readers.
These books allow students to identify with certain characters, and to better understand the characters that diverge from what they know from their own experiences. For example, The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater centers around a hate-crime committed (accidentally?) against a non-gender-conforming teenager and the complex lives of both the victim and perpetrator. Young readers learn about inequalities of the criminal justice system, as well as injustices that people who are outside of gender "norms" are subjected to, promoting greater awareness and acceptance.