It is common to hear adults criticize the youth of today and to hone in on what is wrong with this generation, but I feel privileged every day to work with today's youth and this generation of teenagers who are thoughtful, caring, and preparing to serve as competent and informed leaders in our communities, nation, and world. There is so much "right" happening in this generation, and my students are prime examples of this.
My students are creators, makers, thinkers, and collaborators--they just don't always know it yet.
They come from diverse economic backgrounds, and many live in poverty. Most of them have never experienced an English/language arts classroom that requires them to ask the important questions, to control the direction of the course, to learn how to manage their time, and to use the design-thinking model to uniquely respond to the world in which they live. However, this experience is exactly what they find in my classroom because it is important that they learn the skills, practice the skills, and feel confident in these skills to make a positive life for themselves and a difference in the world. After all, this generation is going places!
My Project
To become lifelong readers, adolescents need both time to read and engaging books at their fingertips--books with compelling covers, titles, and subject matter. My classroom library is a great way to bring readers to books, but I have a population of students entering my classroom in August made up of more reluctant readers than students I've had the past few years. Therefore, the available titles need some depth to provide reading that will hook these students, too.
This project will bring brand new titles to my library, including graphic novels, high/low books, art books, nonfiction, and high-interest fiction suggested by former students.
My students self-select their reading through most of the school year and set rigorous reading goals toward developing a reading life because reading is one of the most important factors in preparing them for success in school and in their post-secondary lives. In the interest of the 180 students that come to my classroom every day, my classroom library must continue to expand to meet the wide variety of interests and needs represented by these individuals. Thank you for personalizing learning for my students through great books!
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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. Solt and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
