Reading Because We Have To or Reading Because We Want To?

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

I teach 5th grade in Connecticut in a school where 95% of our students receive free lunch. I teach in a wonderful dual-language program. As a result, my students spend part of their day learning in English and part learning in Spanish. Even more exciting is the representation of countries within my room. I have students that have recently immigrated from the Congo, Bangladesh, India, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Kosovo.

This is my first year teaching and imagine my surprise upon receiving my schedule and seeing, hmmm...no library time? Of course this must be an error! How can my students not go to the library? Unfortunately, an error it was not. There is not enough time in the week nor library staff/space to accommodate all 1200 students in our school. As a result some classes just don't get to go. As a first year teacher, my library collection is pitiful. Though I have been scavenging Goodwill, tag sales, and my own basement, I have not been able to come up with either the scope of interests nor levels that my students need. Additionally, our school has set a goal of reading 50,000 books by May. If we do, our principal will shave his head. My children are DYING to be a part of that!

I administered a book survey to my students and found out all sorts of wonderful interests they have and books they like to read. As a result, I have selected many books that I either know they will enjoy or that they have specifically asked me to find for them. This will allow them to have new and interesting material during independent reading, read with a partner, and generally develop a love of literature. Not only will these books serve my students this year, but will continue to serve students in years to come!

It is up to you! Your help will make it possible for my students to develop a love of reading that will empower them for many years. Developing fluency and comprehension will be made simple with these materials. I loved to read as a child and if you did too, I'm sure you can empathize with the excitement of sitting down with a brand new book on something that interests you. If you didn't love reading, please remember why. Then give my children the opportunity to bypass that 'why' and begin loving to read.