My students are both rural and suburban and are a mix of reluctant and avid readers. We do independent reading during the first fifteen minutes of class everyday, and the students get to choose what they read. Many of the students have gotten back into the habit of reading and are enjoying it! Without any prompting from me, they will discuss their books and make suggestions to one another. It's refreshing to see them enjoy reading again. I also teach specific novels to the whole class and look for highly engaging novels to keep the reading enthusiasm thriving.
This is the first time that African American Literature has been offered in my school.
While I have ideas for which books I would like for us to read, I am also going to spend the first week or two discussing with the students what interests them and use their feedback to plan the class. I look forward to reading literature with them that will launch great class discussions and foster understanding among students, most of whom are getting ready to head out into the world.
My Project
These class sets of books are the first steps in creating our African American Literature class!! After reading many possibilities for a whole-class novel, I have determined that these two novels will be catalysts for incredible class discussion. The Promise of Change describes the day-to-day struggles of students integrating a high school just a few hours from us in Clinton, TN. Just Mercy depicts the injustices of the justice system and the complicated history and reasons behind it.
By reading this literature, students will gain an understanding of the ways in which African Americans have historically had to fight for equality and justice.
There are ample opportunities for quality discussions and reflections, and I believe both texts will inspire students to further research issues found within.
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