We close each class period with the Vlogbrothers' sign-off: "Don't forget to be awesome!" In order to be truly awesome, my students need access to engaging texts that challenge their perceptions of literature and the world and deepen their understanding of human behavior.
My students need opportunities to read outstanding work that reflects their lives and passions, and this unit is one such opportunity.
Our students are from all over the area — some live in the city, while others make their home in the suburbs. The socioeconomic divide here is as wide as the region's.
Our International Baccalaureate school serves a high poverty community, but boasts a 100% graduation rate, acceptance to prestigious universities and programs, and a top ranking among all public schools in our state.
That success is due to the impressive commitment of both faculty and community. Students at this high poverty school understand the difference an excellent education will make in their lives and the dedication it will take to earn it. They spend their free time serving in the community and finding increasingly challenging and meaningful learning opportunities.
As IB learners, we are principled and open-minded, and this project helps us pursue those ideals.
My Project
My International Baccalaureate Literature students need copies of this compelling, high-interest memoir so we can analyze nonfiction while learning about a variety of issues, including tolerance, racism, poverty, and more.
In Between the World And Me, acclaimed writer Ta-Nehisi Coates writes, “The classroom was a jail of other people’s interests; the library was open, unending, free.”
Opportunities for independent learning are essential for students' growth and investment in their education, and getting these books means students have another chance to choose what they want to learn more about. I hope to use this unit to offer more "open, unending, free" space to learn in this class.
During reading, students will have opportunities to talk and write about what they're learning, linking to current events and directing their own learning as they explore these social justice issues. We need to seize every available opportunity to learn and grow to be as prepared for college and career as possible. A well-planned study of Coates' work will not only afford students the chance to develop skills essential to success on the IB exam, but also gives them a chance to study and refine their own personal writing skills as they submit essays for colleges and scholarships. We'll enjoy added opportunities to show off reading skills and develop inferential thinking, and build from that excellent foundation so students can earn college credit for our course.
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 Ms. Trieschmann and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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