We need lots of books in the library, especially when requested by students. We request more books by Walter Dean Myers and Juan Felipe Herrera as well as graphic and manga book.
Our continuation school serves students grades 7 through 12 and is located one block from city hall. Students from many areas of the city are identified when they experience difficulty, allowing the focus to be on intervention rather than remediation.
For the most at-risk students, those with habitual truancy, significant behavior issues, and histories of suspension and expulsion, the goal is to change behavior so that these students will stay in school and earn enough credits to graduate. We established the first school library in 2014 and we are including popular urban lit, graphic novels, and books about the justice system.
Reading for pleasure is a valuable activity for our students. When they select a topic, theme or genre they are also validating that their personal choices are valuable and important.
Students also enjoy the school garden & cooking programs and come to the library to extend their learning. It is important that students feel confident to request new and favorite books for our library. As they enjoy books in the library they are also building life-long habits of reading and library usage. When students finish reading their requested title, they often will recommend to peers, too! And the reading cycle continues!
In Their Own Words
I asked Ms. H if she had the book Homeboyz. When she looked in the library catalog, she said it had been checked out but never came back. So I wrote the title in our library request binder. Jose
I think we need more books by Walter Dean Myers. Even if I read one of his books, I want to read again sometimes. Elijah
If we can get books that other kids requested, it will be great in the library because we want to read now, not wait a long time. Ms. H said we can help write the grant and ask for these books. DaMarcus
I will help catalog the books with Ms. H. She let's us help put the books in the online catalog and stamp and process the books. That way I can also read the books first! Elijah
I will help make a display of the new books. Also we have morning announcements and I will let everyone know that the new books are now ready to read!! Jose
I think this is a great idea and if we get this grant I will talk to other students and see if we can write more grants. DaMarcus
Sometimes it is hard to get to school and also there is sometimes stuff happening at school. But when I go to the library it is quiet and there are bean bags and I can relax. I have read most of the graphic books and want to read more. DaMarcus
I really like to learn more about using the herbs in our garden. We only have a couple garden books right now. Also we need more cookbooks and I like the idea of making recipes from RAP stars. These books will be read AND used right away! Leon
I like poetry and Juan Felipe Herrera is the first Latino Poet Laureate. So I think it is important that more students can read his poems in our library. Jose
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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. H. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
