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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Porretta-Baker from Rochester, NY is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Porretta-Baker is requesting

Sun In My Eyes

My 10th grade classroom needs 30 copies of both "Copper Sun" by U.S. author Sharon M. Draper and "Purple Hibiscus" by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

  • $871 goal

This project expired on January 15, 2009.

This project expired on January 15, 2009.

Classroom photo
Ms. Porretta-Baker School-Imaging & Info Tech-Edison
Rochester, NY Grades 9-12

I want to be a teacher who empowers my students to be more. In my 10th and 12th grade English classes, my students learn about themselves, and the world, through culturally relevant literature. Wherever and whenever possible, I try and connect their lives to the rich literature available, but not often incorporated, in the curriculum. My students use the learning generated from these pieces to think critically about the adversity they face in their own lives. A great majority of my students come from impoverished homes, from parents who do their best to be supportive, but who often have to work two and three jobs to make ends meet. What I strive to provide them is a world where they can see how adversity can lead to greatness.

If I don't know where I come from, how will I be able to know myself? Many of my students do not have a sense of their rich ancestry because most of the US history they learn begins with their ancestors' slavery in the United States; the history does not reach back to provide them with the cultural pride of the Queens and Kings of Africa, the powerful architectural structures designed and built by Africans, or even the fact that Africans produced the first written documents. I believe that if my mostly African-American students realized from where they came, they would move in leaps and bounds toward a highly successful future.

Sharon Draper, the author of "Copper Sun" asks students to think back to when you were born. From that time to today is your history, and it is important. You learned, you made mistakes, and you grew. The importance of knowing your own personal history helps each of us to grow from our past mistakes. This is why it is important to study historical information of a country and a people. The past can't simply be ignored, and through the two novels I am requesting, I hope to give my students a sense of their personal history in order for them to grow into their rightful, beautiful selves.

You will make it possible for this generation of students, to see themselves as people from a great and rich ancestral heritage. You will help them to gain a knowledge of their personal history that will help them to move forward and be the great architects, writers, builders, and leaders of tomorrow. There is no more room for failure for these children, they need to see the possibilities that exist for them - you will make that possible.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

50 students impacted
Ms. Porretta-Baker School-Imaging & Info Tech-Edison Grades 9-12

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Rochester, NY View local requests 50 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Purple Hibiscus: A Novel Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie • Barnes and Noble $12.55 30 $376.50
Copper Sun Sharon M. Draper • Barnes and Noble $8.09 30 $242.70

Materials cost

$619.20

Vendor shipping charges

 $61.92

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$15.48

Fulfillment labor & materials

$17.00

Total project cost

$714.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$156.73

Total project goal

$870.73

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

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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. Porretta-Baker and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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