Cracking the Spine: The Benefits of Choice in Reading
Help me give my students an opportunity to read diverse, current, high interest, and culturally relevant works. Ones where they can hopefully see a bit of themselves and our current society within the pages.
My students are readers; however, they did not start out that way. I teach all levels of sophomores and a class of seniors. When I was able to implement the idea of choice reading - my students become true readers of books, instead of fake reading their way through required novels. For twenty minutes each day, my students get to take a breath, take a break, and read a book. No assignment, no expectations, no paper, no study guides. Just read.
My students are kind and honest and invested in their education.
But many of them are not able to find the time to read on their own. Many of my students tell me they haven't read of book of their own choosing ever. I decided if I want my students to be readers, I needed to provide them contemporary and diverse books and the time to do so.
My Project
My goal as an English teacher is to help foster and develop a love of reading and novels. Many of my students have not read a book of their own choosing ever.
Students who read contemporary, high interest, and culturally relevant novels will find more enjoyment in the words and connection to themselves.
Reading just 20 minutes a day increases vocabulary, reading stamina, and helps on standardized tests. My students and book club members will be so grateful to get their hands on these novels.
I have also started a Project Lit book club in my high school and these novels will be used for that purpose too! The goal is to foster a book club with students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community member all sitting around and discussing the same novel.
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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. Decker and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
