This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
I teach 5th grade Reading to a very inquisitive and delightful group of students. They enjoy reading much more than any other group I have ever taught and they especially enjoy reading novels. Many of these children cannot afford books of their own and simply have blossomed into amazing readers this year. I try to provide them with books to choose from in many genres and every time I buy some books and bring them in, they just go crazy over them.
You have to understand that many of these children are from low socioeconomic groups, broken homes, and situations that would tear your heart out. I think many of them enjoy reading because they can "escape" for a bit into a world within a book instead of the harsh reality of their own homes.
The book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, is one book that my students are dying to read but we only have one copy in the classroom. It is a fairly new novel by the author, Kate Dicamillo who wrote another of their favorite book, Because of Winn Dixie. When a teacher finds an author that children enjoy reading selections from, we get VERY excited! As teachers we have to compete to get and keep our students' attention and THAT is a challenge when many students would rather play video games, talk on cellphones or do other activities.
When I found out that my students WANTED to read this book, I just knew that I had to try to get it for them. I told them that I would use DonorsChoose to try to get the novel and they immediately said, "Oh PLEASE tell them to pick us to help out." So, here I am asking YOU to please pick our classroom to help out with this endeavor.
We need 21 copies of the novel, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and YOU have the opportunity to put that compelling novel into the hands of these eagerly awaiting 5th grade students. My students can use this novel to further understand the elements of literature: setting, characters, plot, theme, conflict, resolution, etc. This novel is also the perfect example of "voice" which is a trait that we strive to instill in the students.
If they can read great works of literature such as this and experience an author's voice, then they have a good idea of what their own writing should be like as they put their individual voices into their writing projects. This book also has a beautiful theme about changing and becoming a better person on the inside as you learn to appreciate the people in your lives. Isn't that just a beautiful lesson for children to learn? I think of these children and the lives they live now; the hardships they endure every day and I can't help but hope and pray that lessons they learn from inspiring literature are filling a void in their lives and touching their hearts in a way that will help them become more productive and caring adults in the future.
I promise you that they will treasure this book. I wish you could see how carefully they handle books and find every spare moment in class to read! I don't have to give my students things to do when they finish their assignments......I already know that each of them has a book that they have picked out and it is tucked in their desk just waiting to brought out and enjoyed. How many teachers can say that? Yes, this is a wonderful group of kids and I hope that YOU will help me bring this book to our classroom and into our Reading program. Be a hero to my kids and make a difference in their lives.....you know you WANT to! We sure would appreciate it!
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. Appleton and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
