Help me give my students a class set of the book Out of My Mind to help foster empathy and inclusion.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Camp's classroom raised $352
This project is fully funded
My Students
I teach a lively group of 5th graders at a public school in a large, urban school district. Many of them are English language learners in homes where caregivers speak limited to no English. About 50% qualify for free and/or reduced school breakfast and lunch.
Because 5th graders tend to be particularly social, our day is structured to provide a lot of partner and group interaction.
Students are encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions, learn from their mistakes, be problem solvers, think critically about the world around them, and support each other in their learning. They gain an understanding of working as part of a team by navigating through the process of cooperating with others.
In addition to academic and social skills, I also try to help my students develop a sense of empathy toward others. Every year, we participate in a service learning project designed to give something back to people in our own community or the world at large. We have organized shoe drives, held fundraisers for science and environmental organizations, written to patients at a local children's hospital, and sent cards and books to the children who were living at Standing Rock, among others.
My Project
Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper, tells the story of an 11-year-old girl named Molly who has never walked or talked due to cerebral palsy. Despite her limitations, she is brilliant and has a photographic memory. As readers get to know her and become familiar with her struggles, they develop a deep sense of empathy toward those who are different and not always understood.
I would like to purchase a class set of this book to use during Reading Workshop with my students.
Not only will they get to learn comprehension skills through a piece of high-quality literature, but they will also develop a deeper sense of how their own actions affect others and are inspired to stand up for and include those that others often ridicule. We have two special day classes at our school that serve students with special needs, and it is my hope that reading this book together will help my students understand and empathize with them better.
Half 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
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