Help Students to See Themselves in Great Literature!
Help me give my students critically-acclaimed, contemporary works of fiction by writers who look more like them. The canonical classics are important, but I want my students to see themselves in great works of literature.
My students are driven to succeed in school and are actively working towards college, even if they're not sure about what the future holds. They take rigorous courses, participate in many extracurricular activities, volunteer with community organizations, compete athletically, and some maintain jobs. They are multitasking personified!
Because of their focus on academic success, many of my students have lost the love of pleasure reading; many of them are disillusioned by not seeing themselves, their cultures, and their histories represented in the fiction they have available to them.
I want to rekindle this passion and let them know that who they are is important in the world and that I (and others) see them. Reading increases our understanding of ourselves, improves empathy, and gives us insight into others' experiences. These things, along with students feeling they have a place in the world, are as important as their academic skills.
My Project
These books will help me rekindle (or foster) a love of reading in my students. Students will participate in Independent/Choice Reading Projects, with a focus on contemporary, multicultural, and high-interest novels, such as the ones on this list. I want students of all reading levels to be able to find books that suit their talents and their interests.
With such a variety of new books available for students to read, my students can physically engage with the books, see themselves and aspects of their lives reflected in the books, and be excited about their reading!
These books can show them new ways of looking at the world while also reflecting some of their own experiences and interests, which is how lifelong readers are made.
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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. Gregorio and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
