My students love the smell of books; that deeply inhaled whiff is part of the immersive experience of reading a book they love. They have also found that some (not all) books are best enjoyed when they get to talk about them. With guidance, the have learned to discuss plot, character traits, settings, and point of view. They know how to make connections between their book and their lives, other books, and even movies. They understand how to look for deeper meaning.
It is my goal to put a copy of the same book into the hands of each one of my 26 precocious sixth graders so that we can read, learn, and enjoy together.
They are a diverse little community that is intent on finding both the joys and new smells of books.
My Project
My students need to follow our classroom novel studies at their own pace. They should be able to open their own book to look for vocabulary, to explore cause & effect relationships, to make connections, and to simply enjoy. I cannot ask that they purchase their own materials as many do not have the ability to do so.
Currently, they have to compete with other sixth graders for these resources, and we must delay our learning until the resources become available.
Often, there is no longer time to fully engage in our novels.
More than a third 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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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Langley Sikes and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
