My students are resilient and determined. Many of them have challenges such as learning disabilities, ADHD, Autism, and mental health challenges. Several of my students have experienced trauma that affects their lives on a daily basis.
Despite challenges, my students continue to come to school each day and keep trying.
They often show kindness and compassion to those that are different from them.
My junior high is located in central Utah. We are in a small town that is rapidly growing. Fishing, hunting, biking and Fortnite are popular activities. Many of my students don’t read much outside of school but are working to discover their reading identities.
My Project
I plan to use these picture books in my junior high special education English and reading classes for #classroombookaday. We will explore theme and they will have a chance to build background knowledge about the world around them.
Picture books will give my students access to lots of different ideas and help them build identity and empathy.
Already this year, my students have experienced what Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop calls books as "windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors." They have seen themselves represented in books as mirrors and have glimpsed into the lives of others through books as windows.
Living in rural Utah, my students don’t experience a lot of diversity so these books will help them do that. After their independent reading each day, I take 5-10 minutes to share one of these books before we move into small group instruction. I’m excited to continue sharing books throughout the school year.
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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. Barber and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
