It is my first year teaching at this particular school, and I have quickly realized that I am fortunate to teach 125 of the world's most phenomenal 8th graders! My students are intelligent, thoughtful, and absolutely hilarious. I feel so lucky to be their teacher.
My students have a variety of educational needs; some see middle school as a stepping stone to higher education, while some see it as a place where they can simply stay warm and dry or feel loved.
I love all of my students, and I enjoy hearing each individual's story. I am excited and eager to watch them all grow throughout this year.
My Project
In my ELA classroom, I seldom assign homework--other than choice readings. I ask that students read 15-20 minutes each night, using any book of their choice. My students are growing in their love for reading as this year progresses, which is exciting to see. That being said, I started my job at this school in December, and so I'm working to build up a relevant and engaging YA library rather quickly! The young adult books on this list are award winners, written by acclaimed authors, and/or requested by students. These books will help to form a classroom library, which students can use to check out books to take home. I have seen the changes that choice reading can make in the lives of these kids...they don't even consider it homework now because they're truly enjoying themselves!
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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. LaBarge and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
