How Can I Become A Better Teacher and Motivator

Dear Friends- as the new 2007-2008 School year approaches, I will begin my sixth year of teaching middle school eighth graders (Magnet Arts) Language Arts, Reading and perhaps, Speech. Today was my first day back in the classroom. As I looked around the room, my eyes focused on so many books, so many wonderful black authors of history, literature, music, art, dance, poetry. Each year I spend hours going through the list of books that I recommend for their summer reading list. Each year as I register the next group of wide-eyed wonders and I ask the question: "What did you read this summer?" Or, "How many books did you read?" "Where did your reading take you" "What did you experience?" "What lesson can you take with you forever? How much fun did you have reading? How many different genres did you read from? Friends, I am disappointed every single year. Of the 4 classes of Language, 30 students per class, I might have 10 students who read 1 or 2 books. I am not frustrated, I am not detoured, but I need to find some other ways to get my students to explore reading. I have offered bribes, incentives, prizes, free homework passes, everything- and reading is mandatory. I have taken workshops for the last 3 years to help students become better readers - but I feel that effort is after the fact. How can I get them interested and movtivated to WANT to read? I believe this begins in the home at a very young age. So many of their parents are incarcerated, on drugs, in the street - and yet here is an offer for them to rise above their poverty line and they are so unmoved. I have reading groups of various styles, and I sit with them and get them to explore their own personal experiences. I try to connect their thinking skills, reading and writing because it works together. I use every 'trick' in the book- from the very simple to the problematic. I offer comic books, history, fiction, non-fiction, information - every genre possible. This year I am offering an after school class (tutoring) which will be a reading club. I want to also try and involve parents. I had a couple parents tell me they did not know how to read and were unable to help their kids. That's another issue that I plan to tackle, but I want to do something to stir up the reading gifts in my students. Since many of you are possibly still in college - I would love to hear from you with regard to suggestions, ideas, any good books that you think 8th graders might be interested, websites, anything! I am determined this year that my goals for reading and writing will increase for my students by at least 20%. We are high on the "No Child Left Behind" list and our students do excell in many areas however, I am in the business of helping to change attitudes, directions and help these kids learn to function OUTSIDE the box. I am not the 'traditional' teacher. I try to incooperate many different ideas in my students learning experience. I also include many of the learning styles. Plus with the fact that these kids are motivated in the Arts - I am always using that platform to encourage, motivate, etc. I'm open to the younger set - (ya'll) Let'er rip!

Thanks,

Paula