"I've never known any trouble that an hour's reading didn't assuage," Charles de Secondat -- The struggles of middle school life can be overwhelming. How amazing to be able to give students new worlds to escape to, with new friends who will be there for them long after the book has been closed.
My students are amazing, kind, wonderful, and happy young people.
They smile every day and give me a reason to smile many, many times a day. We have approximately 380 students in the school and around 110 students in the 8th grade. Every day I watch them focus diligently on their school work, strive to please themselves and their teachers with their work ethics, and commit wholeheartedly to learning the material being taught. There are very few discipline problems because of the respectful and polite natures of the students as a whole. They welcome new students with open arms and there is very little bullying because they are so empathic to the feelings of others. The school is in a rural area, close to urban settings but not all students have the means to travel to those areas for new experiences. Athletics are important to them as well. They love their PE class and many of the 8th graders play Junior Varsity sports for the high school. I am grateful to work with these kids each day!
My Project
"I hate reading!" - "Reading is boring!" - These are statements that I hear almost daily in my Language Arts classes from my students. Tired of being given books that don't appeal to them about subjects they don't care about, they have put a barrier between themselves and all novels. What most of my students do not realize is that loving to read starts with finding books that you love. It isn't about reading what will make the teacher happy or reading what they think they "should" read. Having high-interest novels, geared toward boys and girls the same age as my students, accessible and ready will foster a life-long love of reading. When students meet Roy in "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen or Susan in "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli, they will make life-long friends. Characters who have had similar experiences who will not leave them in times of struggle. They can return to these "friends" time and time again, creating bonds that are unbreakable.
It's true that when students read more they become better readers and writers and that is a valid goal for any teacher.
More importantly, though, I want my students to love to read - to know that reading is fun - to "meet" people from many different walks of life - to experience the customs of places they may never visit in real life - to grow an imagination that will take them to the far reaches of the earth and back. I want the entire world open to my students. Please help me open the door!
More than half 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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