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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

More options are coming to one classroom library at Chilton County High School thanks to a Bright Ideas grant from Central Alabama Electric Cooperative.

Angela Tignor, an 11th grade English teacher, has received $750 to purchase class sets of books for her classroom.

The books are a mix of classics and more modern titles to have a variety and get students excited about reading.

“No book is right for every student and classroom libraries provide additional opportunities for teachers to work with students as individuals to find books that will ignite their love for learning, answer their questions and improve their lives in any of the multiple ways that only literature can,” Tignor said in her grant application.

The titles to be purchase with the grant will include “The Red Badge of Courage” by Stephen Crane, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriett Beecher Stowe and “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison. Classroom sets of 35 books are purchased to ensure all of the students can read it at the same time.

“I teach American literature, so I had to look at the year ranges of the early 1900s,” Tignor said of the classics included on her list.

Tignor said “The Bluest Eye” was a recommendation from school librarian Jennifer Blencowe when Tignor said she was looking for a modern book to add to her list.

She said having additional titles will help students read with the goal of learning new things as well as reading for pleasure.

“When students possess the skills necessary to assess, select, use and effectively evaluate their reading materials, their ability to become engaged members of their communities and productive citizens is enhanced,” Tignor said in her grant application.

The books will be used for novel studies and independent reading.

This grant builds on what Tignor was able to purchase with a Bright Ideas grant that she received last year.

Tignor has been in education for 19 years. Prior to CCHS, Tignor worked at Clanton Intermediate School. When she made the switch to teaching high school, Tignor chose English as her content area because she had always enjoyed it.