My students are mostly 10th graders who are just trying to figure out who they are. They love to talk about what, from their perspective, schools and teachers need to do in order to make learning a more interesting and fun endeavor.
So far this year, there have been some of those cool "a-ha" moments, but my favorite was the student who thanked me for suggesting that he read a memoir by the great Sydney Poitier.
The student went on to say that his life mirrored Mr. Poitier's in many ways, especially as an immigrant to the U.S. as a young boy trying to find his way.
This diversity in the school reflects that of the surrounding community and is one of our greatest assets. Students are proud to acknowledge their diverse heritage, but can also come together and support each other.
My Project
Since I first read the novel called Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, I have been excited to share it with my students. For many of them, it will be a brand-new experience (as it was for me). The novel is written in the form of many short poems that create one story about a boy who has a tough decision in front of him.
This book presents some honest and hard-to-answer questions about what is right and wrong and what motivates young people to sometimes do bad things, even against their own better judgment.
With this book, I want my students to find that reading a story (especially poetry) can be an emotional, gut-wrenching journey that can teach you a little about yourself.
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