My students need 27 copies of "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Meyers, 27 copies of "Sunrise over Falluja" by Walter Dean Meyers, and 27 copies of "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli.
$1,087 goal
This project expired on October 27, 2009.
This project expired on October 27, 2009.
I teach 6th grade English. Most of the students come from the neighborhood. Though the demographics of the neighborhood are changing, most of our students still benefit from assistance like the city's free lunch program.
Literature study is an important part of our class, but we do not have very many class sets of novels. The ones we do have are great, but they lack one thing — male protagonists. Since roughly half my students are male, this sometimes prompts complaints: "We get to read books about girls, why don't we have more books about boys?"
As any parent or teacher knows, younger students are more likely to read and engage with a text, especially if it is complex or challenging, if they can identify with the character(s).
DonorsChoose recently helped our class secure three sets of books with female protagonists, including "The Skin I'm In," which students greatly enjoyed reading. Based on this interest and after consulting with students and other teachers, I've selected three titles I would like to be able to read and teach next year. All three have male protagonists, and "Sunrise Over Falluja" I can teach in a particularly unique and "real-world" way because I covered the Iraq war as a journalist before I became a full-time teacher. "Bad Boy" is Walter Dean Meyers' autobiography — he is an author my students already know and love, and identify with (just like the protagonists of "The Skin I'm In" and "The Friends", both books we read) because he is from Harlem, where they are from. "Maniac Magee" provides an option for students who are reading at a slightly lower level.
Literature study and discussion are a major part of preparing our students for college, even when they are in the 6th grade. Your donations provide materials that increase student buy-in and interest, in turn making school a place students are more likely to want to be. More resources and relevant material is one of students' most frequent requests. It doesn't take much, but books make a big difference.
This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
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
100 students impacted
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.
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 Mr. E. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.