My students need a classroom library that is high interest, but at a level that they are able to independently read. It is important that this library is diverse in character backgrounds.
I am lucky enough to teach in a school where my students feel like family to me. I am not only their teacher, but their counselor, "school-mama", nurse and confidant. My students look to me for life lessons, not just education in reading and writing. These are hard-working young adults. These are students who work two jobs after school to help with their family's bills. These are students who join every sport and club they can, with hopes of earning scholarships, because they know their parents will not be able to afford to pay for their college.
The students at our high school come from a very diverse population.
This is sometimes challenging in the English classroom, as some students come from a household that primarily speaks a language other than English. Currently, 56.4% of our student population identifies as "economically disadvantaged", and 51% of our students receive free and reduced lunch. This unfortunately effects student learning. Our students truly want to better themselves, and see education as their opportunity to excel. This is hard to do when obtaining educational supplies is difficult.
My Project
I am teaching a new class next year, entitled "Readers Workshop". I am hoping to birth a new library in my classroom, which holds high interest reads for my students. So often, we assign novels to students, and they are given zero choice in the matter. This unfortunately reduces engagement.
I want to create a library with diverse backgrounds so my students choose books that they WANT to read and can relate to.
This library has such an array of backgrounds, and will expose my students to new perspectives. "I Am Malala" and "Chains" are a few examples of novels that will enrich student knowledge.
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