I teach at a small Title I high school in central Texas. A mixture of English 2 sophomores and AP juniors and seniors, I have a wide mixture of high-performing, as well as struggling students. Overall, they are extremely diverse (both culturally and academically) and a large number of them come from low-income and single-parent households. Despite their hunger to learn and grow, they often do not personally own books, and are not encouraged to read at home. Changing this has been my primary goal in the classroom.
My Project
Each semester, my students participate in book clubs or literacy circles. This means that students meet in small groups once a week to discuss a novel that they are all reading together. The books included in this project are all novels in verse that include characters of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles, intended to give my students choice in what they read, as well as add engagement and relatability.
Novels in verse are a great way to engage students, especially those who are reluctant readers.
Novels in verse are books that are written similarly to a collection of poems, but they read like a story. Since each page has a lot of white space, these books do not seem overwhelming and are less time-consuming to read. However, they still include elements that are important to literary analysis, and enable students to have a meaningful and intellectual conversation about a book without feeling overwhelmed by reading an entire novel.
To conclude, donating these books to my classroom will enable my students to find a book they find engaging, and give them the resources and interest they need to have successful book club meetings with their peers.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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