I teach English Language Arts to 7th and 8th grade students at the only secondary school in our small, rural community. My students have a lot of hometown pride and love the opportunity to learn new things and apply their learning to real-world situations. Most of my junior high students are enrolled in career and technical education classes like welding, construction tech, and STEM arts. Although my students have big dreams of growing up and continuing in these trades, they have one big barrier.
Most of my students still struggle with reading.
As fun, colorful, and exciting storybooks gave way to dense, threatening-looking chapter books, my students' confidence in reading plummeted. Many have simply lost interest. At some point, students who all loved story time in elementary school grew into preteens and teens who would rather do almost ANYTHING else other than read. Sadly, most of my students do not know the many joys that can come from a good book, including rich conversation, stimulating discussion, and endless curiosity.
My Project
When I told my middle grades students we would be reading a novel in class this year, eyes rolled amid the infinite sea of mumbles and grumbles. No one was happy about this revelation. Some students asked a teacher's least favorite question, "Do we have to?" while others complained, "But reading is so boring!" I asked them to trust me and told them I wanted to read just the first chapter of the book I'd like to read with them this year. Begrudgingly, my students settled into their seats, slumped forward, arms crossed. I could tell I had my work cut out for me, but when I started reading, something incredible happened.
One by one my students perked up, eyes wide and completely silent; they were hooked.
The first chapter of Nancy Farmer's macabre Science Fiction novel, The House of the Scorpion, is only three pages long. At the end of the preview, I closed the book. Students actually groaned and begged for "just a little bit more!" Unanimously, students agreed that they would be willing to give this book a chance. In fact, many students said they didn't want to wait to finish reading.
I was surprised but so relieved to see the book ignite such interest in passion in my students. Now I really want to be able to get a class set of books and a few extras for absent students. I already know the book has captured their interest. My goal with this project is to give them the opportunity to engage with a genuinely interesting young adult novel. Not only could this spark a lifelong love for reading in my students, but reading a novel as a class will surely prepare my students for the high school courses that lay ahead of 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. Lynch and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
