If you peered into my small classroom in the small town of Presque Isle, Maine, you might see several students yawning because they were up early helping out on their family's potato or broccoli farms. You are likely to see members of the MicMac tribe of Aroostook County, or students of Acadian descent, or transplants from other parts of the U.S., like myself. These young people are vibrant strands of a tightly woven community that values hard work, dedication, and the wonderful things that can happen when they work together.
Another key element that my quirky bunch of juniors have in common is that, though many may deny it on any given day, they like to read.
It's a dirty little secret that many of them will most vehemently deny, but there you have it. I've seen the proof, the excitement when their worlds are split wide open by a work of fiction that they decried as detestable the day before. What many individuals lack, however, is confidence. They need someone to believe in them enough to place a book in their hand and say, "I saw this book and thought of you."
My Project
Through the addition of these books to my classroom library, I hope to continue to build up a cache of contemporary literature that enhances students' perceptions of their realities and the realities of those around them. My vision for my classroom library is one that has a wide range of novels ranging from classic to present-day, and I would love the ability to talk with a student and pick a book off the shelf that I think they would truly enjoy and have a meaningful relationship with.
These vital literature-individual relationships are, in my mind, crucial for expanding a student's ability to empathize with those around them.
It creates opportunities for discussions about important global and local issues and challenges all of our perceptions of our OWN realities and how those change given the information that we attain. One of my greatest desires as a teacher is to cultivate a love of knowledge in my classroom, and with your help, I can come closer to that goal.
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
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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 Mrs. Gochenour and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
