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Money Well Spent


I am often asked where do I get the books I give to my students to read. Sometimes they are given to me, but more often than not, I buy them. If I am lucky, I find good books at yard sales and secondhand stores. Book fairs are also another resource. My collection is quite extensive. Unfortunately, that collection is 1800 miles away. I couldn’t wait to figure out how to get them into the hands of my students. I had to find a way to pair them up with the perfect book. Amazon filled that need. Over $100 later, the box arrived.

I brought the books into school today. Books bought with specific students in mind. Books on cutting, suicide, steroids, racial relationships, girl fights, and jail. Books written by Tupac, Alicia Keyes, Walter Dean Myers. Books that barely made it out of the box before students were asking for them. Students not mine approaching me asking to borrow a book. Before I knew it, all of the new books found themselves resting in the hands of students. My heart began to sing when I saw two of my students reading books at lunch! When given the opportunity to go outside and play football, many students turned it down to continue reading.

My classroom is being remodeled. My students and I are creating a ‘Book Nook.’ We are designing it together. Slowly adding books to a classroom library. I am redesigning the structure of my teaching. My 8th grade class will be run as a reading/writing workshop. I am not sure yet what it will look like, but I know it will be something incredible. 

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    Mrs.Victor!
    I'm soooo glad that you're teaching your current students to read and write just like you taught me!,,and I have to say I am VERY THANKFUL for that. I am now addicted to reading and it's pretty much thanks to you! I remember how you made us read and do the weekly writing. At first it wasn't that much fun,but after a while it was such a good way to write down my feelings and it just helped me so much!
    Now,that I'm back in Mexico every time I go to El Paso,TX I get as many books as possible,,and read them all on the way here and it's not that far away(3 hours),which means my reading has improved! My dad has a limit of money I get to spend on books since I could easily spend $100.
    But anyways I just wanted to thank you for everything you taught me when I was there! You were such a great teacher and one of the best! Keep up the good work,as always and NEVER stop telling your students how important it is to read and write!
    Take care,
    Paola(:

    ReplyDelete

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