Help me give my students culturally relevant classroom library books that are at their reading level.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. C.'s classroom raised $574
This project is fully funded
My Students
I teach English to newcomer students who have been in this country anywhere from 1 week to 3 years. They come from various language backgrounds, speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese, Thai, Russian and Tigrinya. These are some of the most vulnerable students in our schools. Not only do they need to learn a new language, they must navigate a new school, culture and educational system. Some are reuniting with family that they haven't seen in years. Others have left behind loved ones that they may never see again. Most carry on with little support at home as families do not speak English and adults struggle to survive economically. Yet, on any given day in my classroom, students are looking at dictionaries, translating for each other, struggling to speak and express themselves in English, making mistakes and laughing. They practice in pairs. Sometimes, they are loud and other times, quiet, nervous and fearful.
Despite all of their challenges, however, students and families have high hopes for their future.
They, more than anyone else, deserve the best.
My Project
For newcomer students, it is difficult to find books that are at their reading level. They are in middle school, yet they may be reading at the 1st-3rd grade level in English simply because they are English language learners. That is why I need to fill the classroom library with books that are interesting for their age and that my students can read independently.
I want to increase the number of books in my classroom library to reflect diverse histories and backgrounds.
I want to include books that talk about the immigrant experience. I want to have books that deal with untold histories, of injustices that are often missing in a traditional school setting. That is why I have chosen books about refugees. I have chosen books about segregation, about the Japanese internment experience. I have chosen books about people who stood up for their beliefs and made a difference. I want books that my English language learners can connect with and care about. When there are books that students are interested in and when there are books that students can access will I be able to help them build a habit and love of reading.
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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