We have entire book cases that are empty. Our students often come in wanting the newest books and it's heartbreaking to tell them that we aren't able to get it yet because we just couldn't afford it.
We are at a rural high school in Virginia.
There are nearly 1300 students. My library users are split into two different categories. I have my avid readers who have already read nearly every good book we own. Then I have those students who don't read because we do not have the type of books that they find interesting.
Unfortunately, our public library also has an extremely dismal young adult collection.
My Project
Each of the books were very carefully chosen from student requests. I chose a variety of the fiction books that would engage different type of readers. A few of the books are classics such as Tom Sawyer or Treasure Island that we no longer own a copy of. Others are new books by the authors they love. Yet others are books that are missing in a series -- frustrating my students.
Contemporary books offer students access to a world where they can relate to the characters. Students will have more books to choose from when doing book clubs or literature circles. They will learn that they are not alone in the world. Through reading books like Matched, they can learn about freedom of choice. Let our students have the experience of sailing down the Mississippi with Tom Sawyer. Give them the opportunity to read Lockdown about an inner city youth who is trying to escape his hopeless future by making a good decision.
This will help a large number of students.
Years of budget cuts have taken their toll. We should have 10 books per student and we only have six.
We already know that getting kids to read is important but I know that they WILL read --- IF you have materials available that they are interested in.
Getting these books into the hands of our kids will thrill them. This will allow our students to experience worlds not normally available to them.
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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. Moody and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.