Remember how you felt when you used to wake up and go see what you had under the Christmas tree? Well, that is how my students act every time I bring new books into our classroom!
Virtually every culture of the modern world is represented in the school district that I teach in.
There are more than 45,000 students enrolled and more than 80 languages and dialects are spoken. It is safe to say that I teach in one of the most culturally diverse areas of Texas.
My 5th grade class is 40% gifted and talented and 60% talent pool. Most of my students are on free or reduced lunch, and they live in a neighborhood of high poverty. All but three of my students are English Language Learners. A little over 3/4 of my class is first generation American. They are on fire about learning and most of them are self-motivated.
My Project
I plan to use Lions of Little Rock, a book set in 1958, one year after the Little Rock Nine attempted to integrate the formerly all-white, Little Rock Central High School as the spring board to our multicultural unit. Secondly, we will read The House on Mango Street, a book about a Latino girl coming-of-age in Chicago who is determined to leave her impoverished neighborhood behind.
I feel certain that my students will have plenty of connections to these 2 texts and will be highly engaged in them.
I would highly appreciate if you would help me to get these 2 books into the hands of my students before they finish 5th grade.
My hard-working, diverse, wonderful students deserve the best!
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 Mrs. Stasney and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.