With these funds I will be able to create a more authentic library with comfortable reading space for students to enjoy their books. This school year our focus is on independent reading and creating more authentic reading experiences for students to choose books that they want to read and enjoy reading on their own. Too often we teach students to read for a purpose to respond to a question or write to respond to a prompt, but we've lost the joy in picking up and devouring a good book. With these funds, I will be able to continuously provide my student with high quality children's literature that they like and want to read. I am constantly giving them Scholastic magazines with books to choose from, but they can never buy any for themselves. While our school has provided us with a library to get us started, I know that my sixth graders are going to need for the library to be restocked several times throughout the school year. Unfortunately, the books that I can provide for them are not of the best quality and are not very interesting looking. I typically purchase books using my own money from thrift stores, but the books are typically old, worn and boring looking. In order to instill a love of reading, I want my students to be able to read crisp, new novels that are interesting to them. With the funds I'd like to stock my library with more graphic novels, boys geared towards boys, books about sports, complete series of books and current popular children's books to engage my students. In our book talks, I share out with students books that they might be interested, but can only give out the book to one student at a time when I have more than 60 students total in two classes. I would like to be able to purchase multiple copies of popular books so that students can have authentic conversations about books that they are currently reading with their friends. Reading should be fun, enjoyable and relaxing! My students come from high stress environments where they deal with poverty and often violence. I want reading to be their escape to establish their hopes, dreams and goals like characters in their stories. In order to do this, I need comfortable furniture for students. While my classroom has a carpet, I'd like to get more comfortable pillows and chairs to make students able to kick back and enjoy their book. I know when I read, it's usually on my couch or in a beach chair so I'd like to transform my classroom into a more relaxed atmosphere during independent reading time.

Back Up Plan