Voice and Choice in Reading

by Liz
Many of us may know about the most recent rash of book ban efforts across the United States. In a recent conversation with a 7th-grade library patron, as well as in class discussions continued from the fall, it is clear SGS students understand that these challenges to books in schools and libraries often target BIPOC and LGBTQ+ voices.

In 7th and 8th grade Language Arts, students have been undertaking “almost” free choice book units - the “almost” referring to criteria of expanding our knowledge of diverse authors and characters. In the 7th grade, students wrote an essay about their books and participated in a “Bid Kids Story Hour,” selecting and reading aloud passages and then indicating which books we’d like to check out next. 8th-grade students have just selected their books, ranging from novels like Pride by Ibi Zoboi to volumes of poetry like Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman. 8th graders will sharpen both their analytical and creative skills by regarding their chosen book as a mentor text for their own writing.

I am proud of our SGS students for exercising their intellectual freedom and exploring why reading choice matters to their learning!