My challenge is not only to teach WHAT happened on 9/11 but also to get my students to consider WHY.
Teaching 9/11 to the next generation of Americans is becoming increasingly more difficult because most students today have little to no first hand knowledge of 9/11.
I teach in a small, rural public school in Pennsylvania.
Our district encompasses approximately 167 square miles and serves 1,878 students, approximately 610 in the high school.
About 35% of our students are free/reduced lunch eligible. About 16% of our students receive Special Education services.
I am proud to say that despite our higher than average poverty rates and special education population, our school has consistently beaten the odds by scoring above average on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment(PSSA) tests and we were recently one of only 53 school in PA to receive a Bronze ranking from US News and World Report high survey among 21,000 high schools across the nation.
My Project
I am in need of additional copies of a book for a very successful unit that focuses on the history and political consequences of the events of 9/11/01. The primary book I use for this unit is called "The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation".
This 120 page graphic adaptation is a very accessible version of the 700+ page original 9/11 Commission Report It is a perfect introduction to the events of 9/11 for any American...especially reluctant readers.
Despite being presented in comic book format, this book is definitely NOT a "dumbed down" version of the original 9/11 Report and frequently follows the original word for word. According to the Amazon review the "stunning artwork powerfully conveys the facts, insights, and urgency of the original...the 9/11 Report puts at every Americans fingertips the most defining event of the century."
The vast majority of my students really enjoy reading this book and it definitely opens their minds to consider the events that led up to 9/11.
Unfortunately I currently only have a classroom set of these books so I have to spend a great deal of instructional time having the students read in class.
If I could get enough books so that each student could have their own copy I could increase the rigor and relevance of this unit by freeing up more class time for discussion and lessons that will further develop their critical thinking skills and spark their curiosity for this incredibly significant event in our world's history. Thank you!
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