My students reflect the cultural richness of New York City - and they speak 34 different languages among them!
Our school is an academically rigorous, tuition-free high school and college associate's degree program.
Many of my students are the first in their families to attend college. They are very eager for the opportunity to earn two years of free college tuition at the time of their high school graduation.
It is incredibly rewarding to work with such curious, eager students. All students need is a little extra push from their teachers and librarian, and the added incentive of an author reading, and they will borrow armfuls of books from the library.
My Project
My Guest Writers class offers students the opportunity to read some of the most exciting literary fiction published today, and then meet the authors in a cozy round-table discussion in the library.
Students love asking authors questions and getting a behind-the-scenes view of a book they've studied.
Our next visiting author is Sigrid Nunez, who has written eight critically acclaimed novels, including an autobiographical novel about growing up in a Chinese-Panamanian German family, a novel about the Sixties, and a book about a flu pandemic. She also published a memoir about her friendship with Susan Sontag. The Guest Writers class will study a variety of Nunez's work, and their reading experience will be enriched by meeting the author in person.
Some students sign up for the course because they want to become writers themselves. They often ask the writers for advice about the process--from the first spark of an idea to drafting to revision to publication. Other students are passionate readers who have never met authors before, and want to know how books are made. The conversations with the authors are student-led, fueled by students' curiosity. Authors can be candid about their challenges. Sometimes they share stories of throwing out drafts of books or deleting whole characters. Students delight in hearing about all of the experimentation that went into the book they are holding in their hands.
When we meet authors and learn about the process of writing a book, students learn about persistence, goal-setting, and the work it takes to succeed at any important endeavor. Ms. Nunez, a professor with experience at several Ivy League colleges, should offer an illuminating and inspiring event that strengthens students' connection to literature. It is crucial in these times that we encourage the next generation to read and love books.
More than half of 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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