My students need 2-5 copies each of 21 high-interest and level-appropriate books, including "Number the Stars", by Lois Lowry and "Tears of a Tiger", by Sharon Draper.
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.
Imagine walking into a school built before 1907. What do you see? Do you see dilapidated facilities, broken windows, or a lack of resources? How about a black, 8 foot fence and gate encasing the building a child is supposed to love coming to? How inviting is that?
The picture in your mind is the safe utopia in their violence plagued neighborhood that I create every day for my 6th grade students. 100% of our kids receive free breakfast and lunch every day. Clearly, we are a very high-need community who does so very much with so very little.
My 6th graders have high potential, but getting them to realize that is difficult. I know how incredible they are, but many of them are too discouraged to believe me.
Most of the time, our reading class consists of stories in our anthology, which is not the most interesting. Clearly, they have few connections to it, if any, and not much prior knowledge. Their enthusiasm is minimal- until they hear of the "Teen Scene" books! All of a sudden, I have children who never wanted to even touch a book before arguing for who gets it next! One girl even brought it home with her so her mother could read it with her! There are actually books about African-American boys that MY African-American boys can understand.
My students could use these books as a Literature Circle during reading time. They will have interest in the book they chose, which will cause them to pay closer attention to what they are reading. The Discussion Director will be able to entice the group because they will have read realistic fiction that they can relate to. Each member of the Literature Circle can make a connection, and leave a lasting impression. I want these kids to realize that their lives can be impacted by books, and that books are not simply "for the test." I also want them to have their lives changed through the life lessons the teenagers in the books teach them.
You can play a significant role in my students' literacy improvement but more importantly, their lives! If I could take each one home and parent him and her for 24 hours a day instead of the 8 that I have them, I would. Unfortunately, I can't, but these books will help me do that job.
Nearly all 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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