I have a class full of hungry minds who are just looking for decent books to read. I'm a seventh grade language arts teacher of economically disadvantaged students who, year-in and year-out, read the same raggedy novels with taped spines and loose (or missing) pages.
Even though their minds are eager to read great fiction and non-fiction, our current classroom library is full of books that are either too worn to handle or of little interest to these students. In most cases, they are both.
I've selected a list of 20 well-written, grade-level novels that speak to my students' interests without losing literary integrity. I believe this will encourage them to stick with their books and further their reading progress.
Your help will put good books in the hands of good students who have yet to find a true love for reading - mainly because "Stuart Little" and "The Bronze Bow" will never speak to them. But novels by authors like Walter Dean Myers, John Feinstein, Ridley Pearson, etc., will hook them. It is my sincere hope that just a few well-written, high-interest books might change their negative feelings about the written word and awaken a love of reading.
This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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 Mr. S. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.