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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. M. from is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Fully Funded

Ms. M.'s classroom raised $275

The Power of the Pen: Books that Fight Back Against Gangs

My students need 6 copies of "Shadow of the Dragon" by Sherry Garland, 6 copies of "Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida" by Victor Martinez, 6 copies of "A Hero Ain't Nothin but a Sandwich" by Alice Childress, and 6 copies of "Rain is Not My Indian Name" by Cynthia Leitich Smith.

Classroom photo
Ms. M.
Grades 6-8

There's an old saying: show don't tell. I believe that, when it comes to helping my Middle School students negotiate the tough decisions involved in attending a school with a large gang population, this saying rings true. I teach seventh grade language arts in rural New Mexico, in a small town located between Navajo and Zuni land. My school serves a diverse range of students culturally and linguistically, although our students are united in their poverty: and provides free and reduced lunch for 99% of the student body. Our school is located in an area with active gang activity, and gang membership often begins during the Middle School years.

What is the best way to combat gang membership? Well, I am not sure that there is one best way, but I believe that excellent literature, featuring protagonists that students can relate to, and whom face similar decisions, goes a long ways. My students need to decide for themselves how to interact with the gangs at our school and in our area, but through reading, writing, and discussion, I can help them to make smart and safe choices for themselves.

The four book sets that I am requesting will provide my students with resources that help them to grapple with the consequences of the gang lifestyle for themselves. Each of these books features an adolescent protagonist who lives in an impoverished community (urban or rural) and has to make some hard decisions about friendship, family, drugs, and gang membership. I believe that reading these books will provide my students with powerful and genuine role models. With six copies of each book, students will be able to read in small groups - the perfects size for both intimate and honest conversation, and also maximum reading level growth. Book groups help students with reading fluency and comprehension, as they read out-loud, discuss books with peers, and journal independently. This is a proven model for reading achievement.

Your support of this project will help to combat a true tragedy - young people losing themselves in cycles of violence and poverty. This project combats this cycle in two ways: first by providing positive role models and alternative life choices for students to consider. Second, by creating the opportunity for students to improve their reading levels so that they will have other options in life besides the gang lifestyle. I hope that you will support this powerful cause, and take a stand against both violence and poverty within our country's high-needs communities.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

100 students impacted 7 donors
Ms. M. Grades 6-8

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

100 students impacted 7donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Shadow of the Dragon Sherry Garland, John Hanley (Illustrator), Designed by Lisa Peters • Barnes and Noble $6.29 6 $37.74
Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida Victor Martinez, Steve Scott (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $5.39 6 $32.34
A Hero Ain't Nothin but a Sandwich Alice Childress • Barnes and Noble $5.39 6 $32.34
Rain Is Not My Indian Name Cynthia Leitich Smith, Lori Earley (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $15.29 6 $91.74

Materials cost

$194.16

Vendor shipping charges

 $19.42

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$2.91

Fulfillment labor & materials

$9.00

Total project cost

$225.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$49.39

Total project goal

$274.39

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $274.39

6 Donors

-$274.39

Donations toward project cost

-$225.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$49.39

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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Project Activity

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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. M. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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