My students fit the criteria of what it means to be "Iowa nice." We are a community of learners who have the great benefit of being close to the big city within a small town school district. We love to read, and read every day, not for academic reading but for the sake of book love. Reading allows us to escape the small town, to learn about other cultures, to connect to other cultures, to learn new skills, and to simply explore.
D.E.A.R.
stands for drop everything and read. I don't care what genre or subject my students choose. Graphic novel? OK. Book about World War II? Fine. Informational text about taxidermy? Not my cup of tea, but if you are interested, go for it. As a junior high teacher, I simply want my students to keep reading for enjoyment in their busy lives.
My Project
Free reading books within a classroom library allow students to often escape their own lives but also help them explore the problems they cannot escape.
These books will allow students to explore the issues that surround race, gender, sexuality, orientation, faith, and mental health in a safe environment.
Their presence in a free reading classroom library also supports the idea that these are issues to talk about and to not hide; that these issues are not specific to them but issues that others preteens and teens face today. Please help me fund this project to get these books in the hands of my students.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. G. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
