Class Library to Support Literacy Growth and Love of Reading

My Students

Teens today report reading less than any other age group, yet research shows they are consuming media 9 hours a day. I want my students to be strong readers, and the amount of time they spend reading is key to their success. To help them love reading, I need to offer them a choice of great books.

Our school serves diverse youth of low socioeconomic status.

My 9th graders are 94% students of color, primarily of Southeast Asian, East African, and Latino heritage. Many are the children of first-generation immigrants, or have immigrated recently themselves. Therefore, over half of my students' families are not native English speakers, and many are still English Language Learners who are working to develop the literacy skills needed to be college ready. Over 68% of my students come from low-income families and they live in a part of the city known for poverty, crime and lower-academic achievement compared to more affluent areas of the city. A decade ago, less than half of the school's students graduated within 5 years. As a teacher there today, I must work hard to keep students interested in wanting to improve their reading and writing. Engaging, high-quality books are essential to support this work and will help us close the opportunity gap for these underserved youth.

My Project

To promote the value of reading for my students, I will provide daily, free-choice reading time using the books requested here. I need books they WANT to read in my classroom for this to be successful, yet my school has no funds to supply new books. The books I requested are the hottest, current titles for young adult readers, and they will motivate my students to improve their reading. I will be able to conference one on one with them, and help them boost their reading volume and skills, using these books as the fuel for their literacy growth. The grammar, writing, and vocabulary reference books will be invaluable in creating accessible, fun, and much-needed lessons to help them become proficient writers and readers. My school has no instructional resources for grammar and vocabulary, and yet for ELL students it is a critical matter of social justice issue to offer explicit instruction in these areas, so my students have an equal chance of success in their college and career lives.

These materials will help close the opportunity gap for students by sustaining high-volume reading and writing, which is the most effective way to see gains in literacy.

When you look into my room and see students absorbed in great books, it will challenge the notion that teens don't read. These materials will rekindle their authentic love of reading. The writing and vocabulary guides will strengthen their academic English skills, allowing them to pursue colleges and careers of their choice.