Novels for All!

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 34

The grant that Publix granted for our fifth graders created quite an experience for all of our students. Two, brand new novels made this school year extra special. City of Ember gave our students a glimpse into a dystopian future. Because the novel takes place underground, we read the book in the dark, using flashlights. Champions for Learning connected me with a past Golden Apple winner who also uses City of Ember for a classroom novel study. She gave me the idea of the dark classroom and using a dripping faucet sound clip to give the students a more authentic feel while reading. Our students have LOVED this book. I have never seen students eager to get a classroom set up to read! 

I am David gave the students a heartfelt perspective into the life of a young boy who lived during World War II. With David being so close to their age and the fact that the book starts with David escaping from a concentration camp, it gave students an eye opening experience compared to the one that they live in. There are times that it is challenging for students that come from so much privilege to understand other points of view but the book, I am David, did just that. 

Both books impacted our students in different and valuable ways. We are grateful for the opportunity that Publix gave to us.