I am blessed to teach a diverse group of ninth and tenth graders. My students are creative, kind, thoughtful and eager to learn more about the world around them. Located in the foothills of San Diego, we pull from very rural areas, populous suburb, and even Mexico.
I have a mix of both avid and reluctant readers looking for literature that reflects their upbringing and background.
Our school has a growing number of African American and Latin students that are hungry to learn, but currently, do not see themselves reflected in our reading materials.
My Project
Offering choice to my students is a top priority of mine. Through choice, I can help students self-differentiate their learning so work is more appropriately challenging. I can also combat student apathy, helping students connect with their strengths and interests and giving them more autonomy, power and control over their work, boosting their intrinsic motivation. These additional novels will provide another high-interest option for student choice.
Teaching my students to find material that speaks to them so that they enjoy reading, is the single most important way to bridge the achievement gap in my classroom.
These novels will provide a new high-interest novel choice to an under served population of my classroom. Not only will students see themselves in these stories, but they will provide a great jumping point for conversations about today's society in regards to race. Thank you for your consideration in helping me to inspire and teach today's youth!
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