Who are my kids? I work on the North Slope of Alaska. I teach about 50 7th and 8th grade students ELA, Math and Social Studies. 100% of our students receive a free or reduced- price lunch because most families in our village live a subsistence lifestyle. What does that mean? For most of their food, the people of Tikigaq hunt and fish. These kids are extraordinary! How, you ask?
My students are Native Iñupiaq kids in a village in rural northern Alaska.
That's right! It's bush Alaska! We live in a fly-in village of about 700 people. No roads out of town, only planes! It's a poor community in wealth, but rich in community and culture.
My students work hard and play hard! I asked them what to tell you - and they want you to know that they LOVE sports and sledding...not to mention whaling, hunting, and fishing!
My Project
Some students are naturally drawn to reading. I'm one of those people, too. There's nothing I enjoy better than to snuggle in a warm, inviting place and get lost in a captivating book. Most of my students are not so inclined, though, and it's my responsibility as a teacher to motivate them to read so they can gain the benefits of reading.
That's the purpose of this project: for my students to read it and reap (the benefits).
This project will make a difference to my students, because they will finally have a place to go and relax with a book when they get done with classwork. When they are relaxed and reading, it makes a huge difference in their approach and comprehension.
Since every reading nook begins with a couple of things: books, bookshelf, and a rug, I went ahead and got those! I ordered a bee-you-tiful rug.
I'm repurposing a bookcase that will create the third "wall" of the Reading Nook. And the books? Oh, I've collected several hundred age-appropriate ones over the last year.
However, I need a bit of help getting the comfort to the Reading Nook. I'm asking for three fluffy backrest pillows, genre posters, and a motivational saying. Like J.K. Rowling, I feel that words ARE magic - and I want my kids to feel that too!
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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. Hawley and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.