Improve Reading Engagement with Book Club Books!

As a sophomore English teacher in an urban school, one of my most important jobs is to help my students discover the power and excitement that come from reading and sharing new ideas. In order to give my students a truly interesting and interactive reading experience, I am looking forward to using literature circles in my classroom. In these literature circles, groups of students read the same book independently, and then come together once a week to discuss it with each other. Throughout their individual reading time students are analyzing the story on their own as well as writing personal reading reflections. Another important aspect of literature circles is that students are given a wide variety of books that match their individual reading levels from which to choose. Allowing students the power of choice, and giving them the opportunity to share their honest thoughts and ideas about books with their classmates, truly helps students grow into engaged and confident readers. My students, who come from predominantly low-income households, often deal with a large amount of responsibility, including working to help support their families and caring for several siblings in addition to their academic responsibilities. These students have families who would love to sit down and discuss books, but who often do not have the time. These books that you are providing not only offer my students reading material, but also invite them to have high-level interactions surrounding literature. These interactions are one of the best ways to push students to think critically, which is a skill they will use far beyond my English classroom. By funding this proposal you will be providing my 150 students with a total of seventeen sets of book club books. This will allow my students choice in which titles they read, and also provide books for the wide range of reading levels we have our in our classroom. The beauty of books is that they can be used again and again, and your gift will continuously be given to the hundreds of students who pass through my classroom. Please help my students learn the excitement and enrichment that comes with reading and interacting with books.