You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
Donate
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Your school email address was successfully verified.

See this teacher's page

This teacher needs your help!

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

See what Ms. Russo is requesting
Fully Funded

Ms. Russo's classroom raised $274

I Would Rather Read Than Check Facebook!

My students need a set of books for a classroom library - and the books need to be as diverse as they are! The 19 titles include "American Chica," "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," and "Fist Stick Knife Gun."

Classroom photo
Ms. Russo profile photo
Ms. Russo Boston International High School
Dorchester, MA Grades 9-12

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

Texts, Facebook, Twitter, IPod, XBox, IM - you name it, my kids have it, do it, and feel like they can't live without it. Being a student in the 21st Century can be difficult with all the distractions. I want to kick it old school and show kids that reading can give them simple pleasure.

Whenever I'm at a party and someone asks what I do, I tell them that I teach in an urban public school.

They then ask, "What grade?" When I tell them "seniors in high school," their mouths drop. They assume that my kids are checked out, difficult, and hard to teach. When I tell them that my kids are focused, engaged, resilient, and difficult (they ARE teenagers after all!) they get the point and back off. My students are all of the above - and more. Many have been marginalized by their community, but they have remained in school with the intention of going to college - all being the first in their family to do so. I have confidence that my kids understand and will accept the rigors of college, but my worry is that they need to feel the pace in which college operates. I have found that one way to teach this is to get kids reading. All. The. Time. My students need to feel as connected to a book as they do Facebook. I want a status message to broadcast, "Not now, I'm reading!"

My Project

My students need a diverse set of books for a classroom library. Our school does not have a library and does not have the resources to provide English teachers with books to create a classroom library. The secret to fostering a habit of reading, which will give my kids insight into the demands of just how much reading college entails, is to provide enough choices for students and to know students well enough to help them find that one book that will transform their experiences. I've witnessed former students take off and read book after book when provided with a protected space that is quiet and filled with reading. When this happens, the reading vibe in the room is so contagious that students influence each other to read and even reluctant readers become page-turners! Independent reading has the potential to give students a personalized path to explore literature and expression.

My kids are always the first to let me know about the latest fashion trend, funny movie, or rockin' song.

Please help me give them an opportunity to tell me about their favorite new novel - the one that kept them up all night and got in the way of them finishing their homework. I have no doubt that once my kids develop a habit of reading for pleasure, having a book in hand will feel as natural as checking email for the 5th time in an hour. Let's help them get ready for college!

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households

30 students impacted 11 donors
Ms. Russo Boston International High School Grades 9-12

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Dorchester, MA View local requests

More than three‑quarters of 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

30 students impacted 11donors

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Russo is requesting.

See our finances

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Fist Stick Knife Gun • AKJ Books $10.36 1 $10.36
In the Shadow of No Towers • AKJ Books $22.16 1 $22.16
Contender • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
Brave • AKJ Books $4.43 1 $4.43
Lights, Camera, Quince! • AKJ Books $5.91 1 $5.91
Teen Ink 2: More Voices, More Visions, Vol. 2 John Meyer, St • AKJ Books $9.58 1 $9.58
Bodega Dreams • AKJ Books $11.06 1 $11.06
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Junot Diaz • AKJ Books $11.10 1 $11.10
Purple Hibiscus • AKJ Books $11.06 1 $11.06
Blessings in Disguise • AKJ Books $8.14 1 $8.14
Pure • AKJ Books $12.57 1 $12.57
Down These Mean Streets • AKJ Books $10.32 1 $10.32
Twisted Head • AKJ Books $10.36 1 $10.36
American Chica • AKJ Books $10.36 1 $10.36
Enrique''s Journey • AKJ Books $11.84 1 $11.84
A Piece of Cake: A Memoir • AKJ Books $11.10 1 $11.10
Beats Rhymes and Life: What We Love and Hate about Hip-Hop Y • AKJ Books $14.06 1 $14.06
Strays • AKJ Books $5.91 1 $5.91
grl2grl: Short fictions Julie Anne Peters • AKJ Books $8.87 1 $8.87

Materials cost

$194.36

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$2.92

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$232.28

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$40.99

Total project goal

$273.27

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $273.27

8 Donors

-$273.27

Donations toward project cost

-$232.28

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$40.99

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

View complete list Show less

Project Activity

Project Activity
Back to top

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. Russo and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":false,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"MA","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":4,"name":"High School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/i-would-rather-read-than-check-facebook/743433/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":30,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Ms. Russo","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"337544717","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Dorchester","teachersOnPage":[2549],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":743433,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":74137,"schoolName":"Boston International High School","authorIds":{"2549":{"owner":"Ms. Russo","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[743433],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2549_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x216,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1563467990107","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":40123,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["NTQzMjIz","Mzk4ODc5","NzU3MDg0","MTQwODM4OA==","NzQ3MjQy","MTQxNDc5Mw==","MjgzMzM0","MTQxNjkzNw=="],"teacherId":2549,"schoolCounty":"Suffolk","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"MA","name":"Massachusetts"}}