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This teacher needs your help!

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

See what Ms. Lombard is requesting

Can We Please Read the Third Book?

My students need 75 copies of "Darkness Before Dawn" to complete their reading of the Sharon Draper trilogy that they began last year.

  • $615 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

"Can we please read the third book?" Last fall, I began 8th grade with the same students I had had in 7th grade. None of them asked me how my summer was. All they wanted to know was when they could read Darkness Before Dawn! Help them to complete the trilogy!!

My 75 8th grade students attend an urban, very diverse middle school with 60% of students receiving free/reduced lunch.

They come to our middle school from three different elementary schools, so they have the opportunity to make new friends as they begin 6th grade. Many are English Language Learners and Special Education students who love reading in the mainstream. In 7th grade, Tears of a Tiger and Forged By Fire were books which motivated even the struggling readers to want to read more. They love realistic fiction, even though the plot may have some dark twists. It makes them think and connect to the text. What would they do in the same circumstances the characters were faced with? My students love to have discussions about what they read and now respond, react and reflect willingly, a teacher's dream! These two books are responsible for that. How can I say "No" to Darkness Before Dawn?

My Project

Since we have been studying themes this year, they are now aware of the strong messages which books send. By reading about realistic situations and choices which they will all be faced with (underage drinking, doing drugs, abuse, and driving while intoxicated), students can question and form their own belief systems. They will learn about the importance of personal support systems and share this with their friends. They will create lessons they have learned in a video, "Life in Three Words, Lessons We've Learned," to be shown at the end of the year 8th grade celebration. Reading Darkness Before Dawn will provide the opportunity for students to learn the major culminating message which recurs throughout the plot.

It is important that these adolescents are able to experience the messages in all three of Sharon Draper's books, since they are progressive, and to come away from the experience with a sense of hope and faith that situations can get better.

It is possible to move forward with the right tools. Besides, how many times do students beg and plead with a teacher to read a great book? Opportunities such as these are rare. We'd love it if you could help us by providing these books!!

Ms. Lombard
Grades 6-8
  • Lincoln Middle School
  • Portland, ME
    • More than a third of students from low‑income households

    This project will reach 140 students.

    3 donors have given to this project.

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Darkness Before Dawn • AKJ Books $6.10 75 $457.50

Materials cost

$457.50

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $22.88

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.86

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$522.24

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$92.16

Total project goal

$614.40

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $614.40

3 Donors

-$614.40

Donations toward project cost

-$522.24

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$92.16

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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. Lombard and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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