Parents and educators talk about how reluctant students are to read. I have discovered that if you make contemporary text available that students will read. Novels from the canon are still relevant, but, as teachers, we cannot afford to be exclusive for fear of isolating students.
Over the course of 14 years, I have amassed thousands of books: traditional and contemporary. I purchased books from book and garage sales, received donations from students, and purchased books from Amazon that students recommended. Now that I have a budding, age-appropriate and grade-level library, I want to create a comfortable, inviting environment for reading. Having bean bags and other seating, in a designated area, really sends a message that literacy is important. If offered a literacy-rich environment, students can engage in conversations, and my presence in the area as an active reader can serve as a strong model for reading.
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Parents and educators talk about how reluctant students are to read. I have discovered that if you make contemporary text available that students will read. Novels from the canon are still relevant, but, as teachers, we cannot afford to be exclusive for fear of isolating students.
Over the course of 14 years, I have amassed thousands of books: traditional and contemporary. I purchased books from book and garage sales, received donations from students, and purchased books from Amazon that students recommended. Now that I have a budding, age-appropriate and grade-level library, I want to create a comfortable, inviting environment for reading. Having bean bags and other seating, in a designated area, really sends a message that literacy is important. If offered a literacy-rich environment, students can engage in conversations, and my presence in the area as an active reader can serve as a strong model for reading.
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