My ninth graders definitely keep me on my toes, which is what I love about them! They can be enthusiastic, funny, and creative, or sometimes they're simply tired or frustrated by the things they see happening around them. But they're always willing to try new things and discuss big ideas. This open-mindedness is what makes teaching exciting.
I believe firmly that every child can love to read.
If they don't, they just haven't found the right book, yet. Some of my students can't read enough, while others can think of a million things they'd rather do than pick up a book. My job is to provide to surround them with great books and provide an environment that encourages reading.
My Project
Empathy is described by Dr. Michele Borba as, "seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another." Empathy is thought by many to be the key to forming healthy relationships with friends, family, and colleagues in the work place. Research shows, however, that through reading fiction, students can have increased empathy. They are able to make connections between the characters they read about and the people in their lives.
In this project, we will build community and develop empathy in our students through a shared reading experience.
Students will read novels, research topics that stem from these texts, and present their findings to their peers in a symposium type setting. The students will have an increased ability to infer thoughts and feelings of others.
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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 Mrs. Stewart and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.