African Library for High School African History Class

My students need to pass a high-stakes reading test, but to do that they need to be inspired and motivated to read. I teach a dual-enrollment survey course of African History. My students are in grades 10-12 and will receive college credit for taking this course as part of a partnership between our high school and a local university. Our school is a high-poverty, high-needs school in Florida with an illiteracy rate of 90%--reading is our number one priority.

90% of the students at my school are not grade-level proficient in reading. In this college-level African history course, being able to read and analyze texts is basically a prerequisite skill, so building their reading skills is an absolute necessity in ensuring that they meet the standards for the course. I think this course offers my students a unique opportunity to expand their vocabulary and build their comprehension and analytical reading skills, because the foreignness of the material has inspired in them a new curiosity. I want to capitalize on this curiosity and encourage my students to read as much as they can about Africa--in doing so, we can both learn more about African history and culture and reinforce much-needed reading skills. If my students were on a college campus, they would have access to an extremely robust library of materials and resources on African history and literature. As is, their access to new material is limited because we do not have a library of Africa-related literature.

My students need access to Africa-related literature, both fiction and non-fiction. This class library will give students the resources they need to complete research projects, supplement required readings, and broaden their understanding of and interest in African history and literature. Because many of the books are college-level historical non-fiction, this class library will push my students to meet college-level expectations for this dual enrollment course and help them build the vocabulary and comprehension skills they will need to be successful in college.

My students want to read. They want to learn more about Africa. They deserve to have the resources to meet these needs. Your help will make it possible for my students to expand their understanding of African literature and begin closing the literacy gap that exists between them and their peers at affluent schools. As Nelson Mandela said, "Education is power." Please, help me empower my students by bringing fascinating tales of African history and literature into their lives.