Unlocking the Imagination

I am privileged to teach a first grade class in an urban city school district. I take great pride in it, as I am able to be a part of children's lives during a school year that brings about so many changes. It is my responsibility to further assist my students in discovering their individual strengths and promoting the development of their abilities. One very important educational milestone that takes place in the first grade is the students' transformation from engaged listeners to independent readers. It is incredibly rewarding to see the pride and excitement of a child who has read a book by him/herself. Therefore, it is very important to expose children to different learning experiences by surrounding them with a variety of good books. I also feel very strongly about making connections that will promote the love of reading not only at school, but also at home. Providing children with good books is like giving them a key to unlock their imagination. Unfortunately, in today's demanding world, many parents often have to make difficult choices in order to provide for their children. Very frequently, after sending home a monthly Scholastic book order form, I hear disappointed students say, "I can't get books this month, maybe next time." It breaks my heart. That is why I would love to have an opportunity to provide each student in my class with a $5 credit every month for the purchase of a book or books. The monthly cost would be $90 or $900 for the entire school year. Good books are a resource that can be used again and again. Not only would my students be able to bring home new books every month, they would also have the opportunity to pick out their own book. Therefore, the children could select a book based on their interests and gain a sense of ownership in the process. This sense of ownership would further encourage the desire to read the books, and facilitate the love of reading in general. In addition, by providing my students with the books, their siblings would also benefit from having this valuable resource in their home.