I’ve been blessed with a teaching career surrounded by middle school students. Their energy and puppy-like awkwardness make for an exciting and interesting day that is always different from the next. In a 6th through 8th grade middle school, my 7th grade students are at a unique point in their academic career. They have a year of experience, yet another year still full of wonder, giving them the perfect mixture of confidence and curiosity.
As a 7th grade ELA co-teacher, my classroom is the melting pot of readers and writers.
My students come from all different types of socio-economic, cultural, and learning backgrounds, however, they are all seeking adventure and looking to escape the ordinary day-to-day. They are on the hunt for new ideas and role models for inspiration and goals to strive for.
My Project
During my first year as a teacher, I did a class read-aloud with the book, Of Beetles and Angels, by Mawi Asgedom. During these read-alouds, every student was engaged. Often times we'd lose ourselves in the memoir and be startled as the bell rang, not realizing how quickly time went. Conversations between students buzzed with amazment over Mawi's incredible journey from a refugee camp in Sudan to a graduate of Harvard University. Questions continued to pop up over new information that students never imagined were real. I quickly learned that nonfiction books were a golden ticket for student engagement and igniting a passion for reading.
To get my students to become great readers AND amazing people, I need to surround them with books that will blow their minds.
Mawi's book will forever impact my teaching. From his story, I have become more aware of how teachers can significantly impact the trajectory of a student's life. From one nonfiction book, my mind was blown. I now want to build a classroom library filled with books like Mawi's. Books that will make reading exciting, and positively change the way a child thinks about their world and the people around 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 Mrs. Wolf and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
