I am currently teaching 93 middle school students a day (grades 6-8). Teaching ELA consists of reading, writing, and grammar, which is not always the most glamorous subject according to teenagers! Reading and writing seem like impossible tasks for the average middle school student because at this age, expanding their interests, activities, and social circles tends to be a huge priority. Reading seems to take a back seat to all the other activities that are now offered. My genuine hope is that I can plant the seeds of life long reading, and their journeys will continue to grow and develop long after they leave me.
Even though my students struggle to stay engaged in the reading process, the momentum achieved last year was staggering.
Coming off a goal-shattering first year in middle school, I have the energy and commitment to continue working on my goals even though they look much different from the years I spent in elementary. Watching my students grow as readers spurs me on to tackle the next step.
My Project
My personal goal is to offer my students a library worth talking about and one worth visiting. Each year, I continue to invest my own money to make this goal a reality. Thrift store scrounging has also become a talent of mine - one that tends to pay off in the end.
I am fortunate enough to have my students for three years in a row, which allows me to know my students and their reading interests and habits quite well.
The challenge is acquiring a diverse selection of novels that will keep them digging and selecting books from my classroom library. Yearly expansion is desperately needed to keep them engaged. By the time they advance into my eighth grade section, they have been using my library for two years already.
I am a firm believer that books need to be visible within the room and easily accessible by all students. The most important part about my job is teaching students how to "select" books that interest them and one that they can relate or connect to. In order to do this, book shopping and book recommendations are a priority in the very short time they are with me throughout the day. Our classroom library is where we bond and grow as readers. There is no other gift or resource more precious to a reading teacher than this!
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