Native American students do not have enough opportunities to explore Native American culture!
I teach senior English at a public high school where nearly every single student is Native American. The school is isolated in a very rural area, and the students have limited access to resources and opportunities outside of what the school provides.
Many of the students have identity issues because they are struggling to balance mainstream popular American culture with the traditional culture of their elders. At the school, there are very few resources on Native American culture. The school, the district, and many of the students' families lack the money to provide the students with the tools they need to understand their own culture and achieve in school.
In the past, I have copied short stories on Native American culture for the students, and it is amazing to see the students’ faces light up when they have the chance to read about topics and issues that are relevant to their lives. There are several current Native American writers who really speak to the students, and Sherman Alexie is one of the best.
Sherman Alexie recently wrote "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," his first book intended for young adults. I bought the book and lent it out to some of my students last year, and they really enjoyed it. In addition, a teacher at a neighboring school taught it with great success to her students.
Having a class set of this book would provide my students with a text that is meaningful to them and relevant to their lives. The opportunity to read a book that is both interesting and significant would foster an appreciation of reading within the students and hopefully cause them to continue to seek out books as a source of both knowledge and comfort.
Your help will make it possible for these Native American students to realize that they are not alone in the world. It will give them a culturally appropriate resource that will aid them in their identity struggles and help them build an appreciation for reading that will last long after the book is closed.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Schenk and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
