Help me give my students books that have characters that look like them, and that deal with issues that are common to their community, by authors of color.
As a teacher in a low income/high poverty school district, I work with students who are faced with several challenges, both in and out of the classroom. Despite the many challenges they face, I want my students to know that they are valued and I want to provide them with creative and meaningful learning experiences!
My scholars enjoy coming to school every day, and each day they are eager to learn something new!
They like to move, they love to read, and they are eager to seek positive attention. From the minute they walk in the door of the classroom, I am determined to focus on their potential and academic growth. I may not be able to control their home lives; however, I can certainly help foster a nurturing environment and engaging learning experiences for them. By creating a love of learning I hope to inspire my scholars to continue on a path of academic excellence!
My Project
I teach 5th grade English Language Arts in a high-needs community in Charlotte, North Carolina. My school is a Title I school, so resources- particularly literature that is of value and is of high interest- are hard to come by. Additionally, I teach students whose abilities and reading levels traverse a large spectrum. This makes it particularly challenging to stock a library that is adequate to meet all of their needs and interests. However, with your help, I can be well on my way to accomplishing that difficult feat!
Sadly, many of my female students are reluctant readers.
In fact, many of them simply aren't reading at all. This terrible fact, I feel, is mainly on account of the fact that they have not encountered literature of quality that engaged them- literature with real life resonance and lessons that also fits with their knowledge of the world.
The answer is clear- to equip these students with books they will want to read, but also with books that are valuable in terms of their identity and their life experiences. The books that I have included in this book list are just that; they are written by authors from impoverished backgrounds who overcame all odds to reach success. They are also by authors (one a minority) who discuss real life- whose experiences are much like their own.
I urge you to help my African American female students succeed in the classroom and ultimately in life by funding this vital project. While a few books for a classroom sounds petty, I would challenge that belief. I have seen what the power of one or two of the "right" books can do for a child; And you can help make that happen by helping to fund this project.
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