Reading is Fun!

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.

My Students

Sometimes, all it takes is a book. Here in Providence, we are building a community of academia and thirst for knowledge. I am pioneering an Advanced Placement Language and Composition class, and as it is the first of it's kind in this school, we are in need of novels.

Our school has been labeled "Persistently Low Achieving" by the state of Rhode Island, and as a faculty, we are doing everything in our power to change this image.

Since taking on the first AP ELA class in a very long time, I have been working towards obtaining the materials my students need to be successful in the course, pass the AP exam, and earn college credit while still in high school. The students enrolled in our AP Language and Composition class are all very bright, motivated, and have the thirst for knowledge we wish to see in all of our students. I believe cultivating this ideology is paramount to our success as a school, and as a community. Most of our students come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and have become complacent in the idea that nothing will ever be given to them, and their opportunities will always be limited as a result of their financial situation. As their teacher, I would like to show them that sometimes, if we ask, we can get what we need to be successful.

My Project

All three of the books I am requesting have been integral in my education, and subsequently my life as a scholar. I want to share these experiences with my students, and give them the chance to explore their history-and possible future-through books. "Slaughterhouse 5" was first presented to me in 10th grade, and Vonnegut's story truly made me realize the impact wars have on the individual, and not just society. The 20 years he spent writing this masterpiece were characterized by PTSD and he found solace in his writing. "Invisible Man" is about the struggles of the African American post-slavery, and pre-civil rights, who's insecurities lead him down the wrong path. We are focusing on African-American Literature, and this novel gave me a perspective I had never had before. Finally, "Brave New World" is a staple on any dystopian-lover's bookshelf. The AP exam has asked students to compare and contrast the worlds of this novel and "1984", and I believe a background in both is important.

For young people with little opportunity, reading is truly a window to the world.

My students need a stronger background in literature than we have provided them as a school. When I asked for funds to buy these books out of our budget, I was allowed to see how little a budget we have, and had to choose another avenue. Having these materials will give me a chance to raise students' awareness of the world through literature, and to add to the list of full-length novels they have read and can talk about.