My students are struggling and reluctant readers. This trilogy by Sharon Draper is a long-time favorite of my students. We read the novels over the course of two years, finishing the last one just before the students graduate. This past year, there was much grumbling because all the books are falling apart, missing covers, even entire chapters. My students already struggle with feeling valuable, and my colleagues and I have learned that a new book, or any new school item, often makes all the difference in how a student responds to instruction.
Students love these books because the characters are high school students going through many of the same struggles my students face. Their comprehension skills improve dramatically while reading Ms. Draper's books, and they are able to make inferences, analyze characters, and evaluate actions and decisions in the book, and then apply those skills to other texts, and real life. For many, reading a book by Ms. Draper is the first time they have found any purpose in reading.
My students work hard. They are unique, funny, caring, brilliant young people. And they deserve books that are not in pieces.
About my class
My students are struggling and reluctant readers. This trilogy by Sharon Draper is a long-time favorite of my students. We read the novels over the course of two years, finishing the last one just before the students graduate. This past year, there was much grumbling because all the books are falling apart, missing covers, even entire chapters. My students already struggle with feeling valuable, and my colleagues and I have learned that a new book, or any new school item, often makes all the difference in how a student responds to instruction.
Students love these books because the characters are high school students going through many of the same struggles my students face. Their comprehension skills improve dramatically while reading Ms. Draper's books, and they are able to make inferences, analyze characters, and evaluate actions and decisions in the book, and then apply those skills to other texts, and real life. For many, reading a book by Ms. Draper is the first time they have found any purpose in reading.
My students work hard. They are unique, funny, caring, brilliant young people. And they deserve books that are not in pieces.
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