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Research (and any teacher you talk to) will tell you that when students find books they feel they can relate to on a personal level, they are not only more likely to read them; they are more likely to perceive reading overall as an enjoyable and worthwhile activity. However, by the time they reach the high school level, many kids have become disenchanted with reading for pleasure because A. they perceive that it is no longer accommodated in school or promoted at home and B. they have self-identified as "non-readers" for any variety of reasons. The sad result of this is that they do not independently seek opportunities to read. My goal is to present reading to all students in my classes on a daily basis as an essential skill and a fun pastime, but more importantly, as a vehicle to imagination, self-discovery, and understanding. I will do this by offering free access to a thoughtfully curated classroom library and building independent reading time into every class period. Additionally, I want to present "featured titles" each month using a mobile cart placed in a highly visible area in the classroom and facilitating teacher- and student-led Book Talks to promote literacy and encourage exploration of a range of literary genres. This year, I am in a new classroom, and my classroom library is outdated and very small. Adding newly released young adult literature titles would greatly increase student interest in my collection. The books I have selected for this project speak to students with a wide range of interests, abilities, and backgrounds. My greatest hope is that every one of the teens in my classroom, especially those who have experienced trauma or adversity in their lives, can learn (or re-learn) to use reading to relate, cope, and empathize.
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