My students are curious, they are learners; they are questioners. They are wonderfully diverse, in ways both visible and invisible. Many - nearly half - of my students speak a language other than English at home. They bring an amazing mix of life experiences to our classroom each day, and they are eager to share their stories and lives with each other and with me.
When my students fall in love with books, they fall hard.
They want to see themselves and each other in the works they read. They want to love characters; they want to laugh and cry with them; they want to root for (and sometimes against) them. They want to learn about themselves and the world around them through the pages of engaging, diverse, authentic YA literature.
My Project
As an ELA teacher, I find nothing more rewarding than when a student rushes up to me and says, "I finished this book! I LOVED it! Can you recommend another one?" When students connect with literature, incredible things happen. Yes, students who are readers often experience higher test scores and greater academic successes. Equally important, though, is the fact that reading instills in students a sense of wonder and an ability to empathize with others. Through reading, students learn to question the world around them; they learn to consider other perspectives. These skills and abilities are invaluable... and books make them possible.
I want nothing more than to provide my students with books that will allow them to learn about themselves and others.
The vast number of quality young adult titles is overwhelming, and figuring out how to get these books in my kids' hands is even more daunting. I have added about fifty books to my library this year alone, using my own funds. While I know that this is only my third year of teaching and that my library will grow with time, I have amazing students who are hungry to read great literature now. They can't wait for my library to grow as the years go by. Please help me place the right books in students' hands. Help me open their eyes to literature that reflects the diverse, complicated world in which we live. I assure you it will make an incredible difference.
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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. Tecktiel and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.