My students need 28 high interest grade-level books in my classroom library with titles from "Running With Scissors" to "Hero", to make them into lifelong learners!
"I have never read a book and you can't make me!" said one student as he entered my English class. My reply was "You just haven't found that special book that is so good you will beg for more time to read it!" That is what this donation will provide for my reluctant high school readers!
I teach high school students, many of whom are reading below grade level.
These students, for various reasons, do not see themselves as readers. My job is to change the negative ideas they have about reading. I need to get high interest books in the hands of these reluctant readers, books that will grab their attention from page one! Many of my students dislike going to the library because it makes them feel lost. If I had a classroom library of highly engaging books, students would feel they have a choice, which will help with their desire to read. Reading creates readers!
My Project
Among seventeen-year-olds, the percentage of nonreaders has more than doubled over a twenty-year period. On average, Americans ages 15-24 spend almost two hours a day watching television, and only seven minutes of their leisure time on reading. My students do not like reading, and they believe that they never will. I need to get interesting reading materials into these reluctant teens’ hands and inspire them to become readers! There is something magical that happens when a teen finds that book that grabs his attention from page one and he can't put it down! This grant would create a “book flood” zone in my classroom. The amount of time a student reads out of school strongly relates to reading achievement levels. I can't wait to have these books ready to offer my students because I believe it will change their lives. Students will journal daily about their books, create projects and then present them to the class.
My students need a chance to read two books at a time: one that requires me, the teacher, to be in the room, and one that is a high-interest, fun read.
Ignoring the recreational side of reading is a recipe for "readicide." I believe both sides of reading--the academic and the recreational--need extensive emphasis. With these high interest books in their hands, they will experience the joy of reading and become life long readers with a reading ability that allows them choices after graduation!
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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 Mr. Pforsich and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.