Books & Nooks So Our Reading Cooks!

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

Frederick Douglas equated reading with freedom. He knew, just like many of us avid readers, that reading not only transports us to different worlds, but literally liberates us as we become more educated. I crave this type of liberation for my scholars!

Although words cannot describe the Class of 2016, I am going to attempt the impossible.

If I had to use one word to encapsulate this group, that word would be AMAZING! Have you ever watched a miracle unfold before you, one that caused your mouth to drop open in awe? I am quite fortunate because I get to experience this each and every day when I interact with my scholars. Many of them live far below the poverty line, almost all of them will be the first in their family to graduate from college, 25% of them speak a language other than English at home, and all of them come to school each and every day, looking at us to fulfill the promise of a high quality, no excuses, the sky is the limit, educational experience. These scholars attend a school where the days are longer, the school year is longer, and the work ethic is unwavering. They and their families make this commitment because they are determined to walk across a college graduation stage and create a legacy for their families.

My Project

Picture twenty to twenty-five students sitting in a room, turning the pages of their respective books, in a peaceful, relaxing environment, for thirty straight minutes. Now, multiply that by four. This is the scene that I am a part of everyday. Imagine the sighs of satisfaction as these same scholars finish a book-for many of them, their first book ever. Visualize them sharing what they have read with their teammates, with their teachers, with their families, and with their neighbors. With the new books we are requesting, this cycle of magic could continue for the entire school year. These books will be used to fortify our classroom library, and become the literary building blocks to create a strong foundation for learning in our classroom. Vocabularies will increase, smiles will widen, and the love for reading will be realized as my scholars are exposed to interesting texts. My scholars will use these books to practice reading strategies, reflect, and discuss great literature.

Do you remember the exact moment you picked up a book you could not put down?

Do you recall the feeling of elation as you read the very last word, on the very last page, of that book? And then you were hooked! And reading became like a reliable friend-one you could go to to make you laugh, cry, cringe, and feel! Some of my students have experienced this literary ecstasy, and some are yet to feel that spark. Your contribution to this project will be embraced by myself and my scholars forever.