My students are 10th and 11th graders in a rural high school. They have spent the last two years gaining a strong foundation for analyzing literature and informational texts.
This year, my students have the opportunity to go further with their learning; they become critical thinkers and learn how to question information.
My students see the importance of analyzing information from what they see on social media and in the news; they just need the chance to learn how to dissect, analyze, and draw conclusions from that information.
My Project
My goal is to provide the opportunity and resources for students to engage in critical thinking, see various perspectives, and build empathy. This project aims to diversify my classroom library. These novels would also provide the opportunity for my students to assess those perspectives while engaging reluctant readers.
For students to successfully navigate our modern society, they need the skills to engage in meaningful conversations about controversial and sensitive topics.
Our young teens need to be leading these conversations in preparation for their responsibilities as active citizens. Research has shown that reading fiction can help readers learn to empathize with others. I am to add books to our current classroom library that will create an opportunity for my students to become critical thinkers and participate in these conversations through exposure to diverse storylines and characters.
My students will engage in these meaningful conversations starting in the classroom. Through reader's cafe days and discussion within the context of our course content, my students will begin to have these conversations in an environment that invites them to hear other's perspectives and analyze those perspectives.
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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 Ms. Baker and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.