Broadening the Stubborn Perspective of Troubled Youth Through Literature
Help me give my students a book that'll provoke interest in reading and will challenge them to open their minds to a multifaceted perspective of experiences similar to their own.
My kiddos come from one of the more troubled socioeconomic areas in our city. They are overcome with rough pasts, presents, and potentially rough futures, yet they still wear smiles on their faces. These teenagers prove me wrong on a daily basis; whether it be their limitations, their ingenuity, their experiences, or their personal aspirations, they are constantly showing me that they will surmount the expectations others have of them.
My students are hard- personally and socially.
They have encrusted themselves in ways that cause others to shy away from them, or to question their place in our society. Regardless of this, they are some of the most important human beings in my world. The challenges they present to me have caused me to change my outlook on the world around me, and it makes me want to do everything I can to do more and be more than just another teacher giving them notes while their internal battles are raging. I want to let them know that I see their battles, and though I haven't lived them, I recognize that their is more to their lives and who they are.
My Project
Encouraging my students to read becomes more difficult with every passing year, yet as I introduced "Long Way Down" to them, their eyes lit up and their ears perked. These kids don't read much beyond the latest gossip or text message that comes across their phone. We're having to incorporate the latest video games into our classes just to get the tiniest of response- with a book talk about Jason Reynold's novel, I was able to get students in my class to ask me to read the book themselves.
This book will introduce different perspectives on violence, loyalties, snitching, and more- whilst also exposing the students to the power of punctuation, sentences structure, word choice, and even the power of verse.
Gifting "Long Way Down" to this classroom, will allow my students to see the strong connections that can be found between novels and their own lives alongside understanding the way they can use their words to promote emotions and actions beyond their usual joking, being judgmental (they are teenagers), and latest game lingo and song verses.
This novel will hopefully challenge them, inspire them, and encourage them to do more with their words and their experiences and to read and write when doing so.
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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. Bailey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
