I’ve been blessed with a teaching career surrounded by middle school students. Their energy and puppy-like awkwardness make for an exciting and interesting day that is always different from the next. In a sixth through eighth-grade middle school, my seventh-grade students are at a unique point in their academic careers. They have a year of experience, yet another year still full of wonder, giving them the perfect mixture of confidence and curiosity.
As a seventh grade ELA teacher, my classroom is the melting pot of readers and writers.
My students come from different learning backgrounds and have many unique learning styles; However, they are all seeking adventure and looking to escape the ordinary day-to-day. My students are on the hunt for awesome ideas, friends, role models, and inspiration to make life and school fascinating.
My Project
Rudine Sims Bishop has impacted the world of education with her wise metaphor of books being mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. Books allow people to see themselves, see others, and experience the world around them. As an educator who is challenged with motivating 7th graders to be readers, it is crucial for me to be placing relevant and inspiring literature into their hands. Most importantly, I need to be providing literature that serves as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors.
By providing relevant books with Lantinx and Chicanx authors and protagonists, more mirrows, windows, and sliding glass doors will be available for my middle school students.
These books are powerful and relevant to what teens are going through in today's society. These books will allow students to feel seen and heard, as well as gain empthay for others.
My students are given time to read on a daily basis and they are given the opportunity to choose their own books. Our classroom library is the heart of our reading community. We take care to make sure everyone is represented on our shelves.
Each book from this project will be introduced to the class to discuss it's power. I am anticipating much excitement over these books for the next school year!
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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. Wolf and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.