I teach at a small Title I high school in central Texas. A mixture of English 2 sophomores and AP juniors and seniors, I have a wide mixture of high-performing, as well as struggling students. Overall, they are extremely diverse (both culturally and academically) and a large number of them come from low-income and single-parent households. Despite their hunger to learn and grow, they often do not personally own books, and are not encouraged to read at home. Changing this has been my primary goal in the classroom.
My Project
My primary goal as an English teacher has been to help my teenaged students discover a genuine love of reading. I have discovered that a great way to do so is by allowing students choose a book to read with a small group of peers (or even just a partner), basically creating mini book clubs in the classroom. Instead of having students write an essay about their book, or do a time-consuming project, book clubs allow for students to read for pleasure and simply discuss the reading with their classmates.
Due to book clubs, my students will have occasional "discussion days", class periods in which they will meet with their groups to discuss what has happened in their novels thus far.
This project will help me fund resources through TPT for my students to use on these days: fun and relatable discussion questions, character autopsies, and unique literary analyses. In short, these resources will turn discussion days from bland, forced conversation into one that enables students to have fun while also diving into an intellectual, analytical discussion about literature!
More than three‑quarters 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
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 Mrs. Rodriguez and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
