Everybody knows that the book is always better, but students often skip reading the book and just see the movie. I want to start off with the novel and THEN inspire kids to see the movie.
My students are awesome, but I am frequently amazed by how many of them don't own a single book.
The few times I've been able to put books in their hands--books they can keep--the smile I've been rewarded with is . . . well, indescribable, really. So this year, I want to get a class set--enough books to for each kid so that when we read the book, they can KEEP the book. Ender's Game is a great book to get them started with since it's a series--if I can get them hooked, they'll stick with it and keep on reading.
Many times students come to me telling me they have never read a book. I want to turn these kids into readers. Reading a book as a class is a great way to start but being able to GIVE them a book goes a long way with these kids.
My Project
Reading is key. There is no question about the value of a good book or how readers have vivid imaginations and a love for language. As a seventh grade Language Arts teacher, it is my job to inspire my students to love reading, to love books, and to love language.
I think that giving the kids books is something like having treats at a boring meeting. They may not want to read (in the beginning) but the idea of actually keeping the book is the hook, the donut that sucks them in. But then--the plot wins them over and before they know it, they're hooked. They are readers!
Ender's Game is a fantastic novel with something for everybody. Having the book in their hands lets them have some ownership. They get to underline parts of it, put sticky notes in it, dog ear pages, and carry it with them. It is theirs to keep, and that can make all the difference. My students will learn to love to read, and this book is the first step.
Why is this important?
Because it will help get kids reading. Kids NEED to read, and they need to LOVE to read. In a time where they have so many flashy types of media vying for their attention, reading is still important. They need to have just as much access to books as they have the Internet and their cell phones and their MP3s. This will help. Please help! Thanks!
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