Supporting independent reading in the 9th grade, part 1
A variety of 15 age-appropriate quality books for ninth-graders costs $235, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
Reviewing the reading surveys filled out by my new ninth-grade English class at George Westinghouse High School in Brooklyn, NY, I realized just how important a role my classroom library will play in strengthening my students as independent readers.
While most students said they have a library card, only a few visited the public library on a regular basis. I would certainly like to instill the public library habit in my students. In the meantime, however, I need to get them hooked on enjoying good books that are "just right" for them. Then perhaps they will seek their own reading material on a regular basis. It is worth mentioning that about 72% of Westinghouse students qualify for a free lunch, and an equal percentage of entering freshmen are reading below grade level.
One of the goals of the comprehensive literacy class that I teach is to get students to read independently 25-30 books over the school year, a typical benchmark in literacy programs. Students in my 90-minute daily class are expected to read in class for a half-hour three times per week and every night at home. One way that I facilitate this is by providing students with access to books of high interest at their own reading level. In addition to whole-class minilessons on reading strategies for various genres, I confer regularly with each student about the book he or she is reading in order to monitor comprehension and guide him or her to suitable books. I also teach comprehension strategies tailored to the student's needs with an eye to helping him/ner navigate increasingly difficult texts.
An essential aid to fulfilling this mission is a substantial classroom library with a variety of up-to-date books at different levels spanning a wide range of genres and topics.
Budget allocations for classroom libraries are far from adequate. In my school, budget funds for classroom libraries must be shared between six 9th-grade classroom libraries serving about 250 students. Last school year we received about $300 per classroom library for new books. That amount is simply not enough to maintain a vibrant young adult reading library.
I am constantly researching young adult literature and adding to my wish list. The books that I would like to add to my classroom library right now include a mix of titles to interest a wide range of readers. They include the latest books by top young adult literature authors Walter Dean Myers, Sharon Draper and Sharon Flake, as well as some older titles that are popular with students.
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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 Ms. Z. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.