My English students are energetic, funny, curious, and brutally honest. They began the school year by telling me that they don't read books. Our school is a Title I neighborhood school. We are the largest and most diverse school in the state of Alaska, and one of the most diverse schools in the country. Although they are excited to be back in school face-to-face, many of them do not self-identify as academic or "smart".
Despite their warnings about reading, I decided to implement a daily independent reading program with the intention of helping them discover even one book, author, or genre that they enjoyed reading.
After several months, I am blown away at the results! My students who generally struggle with self-directed tasks are beginning each class with 10-15 minutes of focused reading.
My Project
Many teenagers do not read for pleasure, yet research consistently shows the importance of reading for literacy development. Simply put, those who read more have broader vocabulary, better use of grammar, stronger reading comprehension skills and more. Aside from the obvious academic goals, I want my class library to help students jump start their interest in reading and their understanding of the world around them. To do this, it is important that students are able to choose their own reading material (on topics that interest them).
For many of my students, the pandemic has compounded the stress and isolation that already accompanies adolescence.
In creating a more diverse classroom library I hope to help all my students to feel seen while also allowing them insight into the lives of others. Help me fill my classroom with interesting, culturally relevant, age-appropriate books so that my students can continue to explore and develop their love of reading and their appreciation for diverse perspectives.
More than half 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
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Mrs. Kingsbery and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"AK","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":4,"name":"High School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":false,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/read-woke-classroom-edition/5988840/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":95,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. Kingsbery","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"332511555","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"photosPublished":false,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Anchorage","teachersOnPage":[2063444],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":true,"proposalId":5988840,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":49972,"schoolName":"Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School","authorIds":{"2063444":{"owner":"Mrs. Kingsbery","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[5988840],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2063444_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1638256842383","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":326516,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":[],"teacherId":2063444,"schoolCounty":"Anchorage","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"AK","name":"Alaska"}}
