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This teacher needs your help!

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

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Fully Funded

Ms. Griffith's classroom raised $359

They Don't Like Anything---BUT They Like This Book.

My students need 30 copies of the spectacular book, The Amazing True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

Classroom photo
Ms. Griffith Gary Lighthouse College Preparatory Academy
Gary, IN Grades 6-8

My Students

This 8th grade class is notorious. Notorious for hitting teachers in the head with flying markers. Notorious for hitting a visiting parent in the head with a flying marker. They aren't excited about anything. But they're excited about this book.

This is my second year with this particular group of students.

Last year, they came to me as short, confused, sometimes deodorant-less 7th graders. They grew from overwhelmed underdogs to critical thinkers, questioning the world. They also became voracious readers, some for vampire books, some for social justice books---but across the board, these kids loved to read. After a summer of craziness on the streets of our deteriorating, urban, Indiana city, this group came back more jaded than expected. They've lost almost every privilege they had, yet the sassiness and defiance continued. "Ya'll trippin'! You the craziest teachers in the school!" Yet at the same time, I get glimpses of my once empowered, amazing 7th graders. I got a "Thank you for being an excellent teacher because you care" note once my desk. For the right activity, you can inspire a shushing match of wild proportions. And for the right book, you might just find yourself with undivided attention.

My Project

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a hilarious, raw, autobiographical novel by Sherman Alexie. It follows Junior through his journey from a cloistered life on his Spokane Indian reservation to attending the neighboring, all-white high school. As much as it is about Junior's Spokane Indian heritage, the book is also about poverty and the decision to leave your community in pursuit of education and opportunities that simply can't be found in your current culture. This message is essential for my raucous, book loving 8th graders to hear. So I copied about 12 pages from the book and used them this week with my students, having no idea the reaction it would stir up. "When are we going to read the whole book?" one of the boisterous boys asked. A "shut up!" match occurred when I promised to read them a chapter they hadn't read yet. I desperately want to bring them the message of this book: sometimes we have to leave behind the old to actualize into the new.

With this particular group, we fight the ugly beast of peer pressure every day.

The need to fit in easily trumps those hours of character education and team building. Pressure to not be a nerd or a square silences some of our most brilliant minds. This book opens the door to important conversations about culture, identity, and the decision to leave a place of belonging for a path of potential. The book that my kids so want to read may be the very book they need to hear.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

60 students impacted 6 donors
Ms. Griffith Gary Lighthouse College Preparatory Academy Grades 6-8

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Gary, IN View local requests

Nearly all students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

60 students impacted 6donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
The Absolutely True Diary Of A Parttime Indian • AKJ Books $8.87 30 $266.10

Materials cost

$266.10

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$3.99

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$305.09

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$53.84

Total project goal

$358.93

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $358.93

4 Donors

-$248.93

Donations toward project cost

-$211.59

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$37.34

match offer

-$110.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$93.50

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$16.50

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. Griffith and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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