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.
My Students
Imagine looking for a book to read for a school project, only to find that the books available to you were commonly read in high schools ten to twenty years ago, and that few of the worn covers had characters who resembled you at all.
The students in my classes are smart, empathetic, curious teenagers.
Some of them love to read, and some of them haven't found the right book yet. All of the students are African-American, and from a high poverty district. I have purchased classroom books, but to save money, I buy used books. Most of the books in my classroom don't have shiny or attractive covers, and come nowhere near representing the culture or background of my students. They take many unbelievable journeys as readers and writers, sludge with me through Shakespeare and Mathabane, and end up loving both, but they need attractive choices for their own reading so that they can learn even more about themselves and about the world.
My Project
I am requesting an assortment of new books. The students will use these books as a basis for self-directed learning and reflection. Their interest in the texts will enable them to compose high-school level essays based on themes and questions raised by the texts they are reading, so that they can be better prepared for their later high school years, and eventually, college.
Literacy is a prime indicator of success.
The more students read, the more vocabulary and background knowledge they develop. With these books as part of their personal experiences, the students can change their lives and aspire for futures that they haven't considered at this point. Books turn mirrors into windows by allowing us to understand how we and others think and live.
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 Ms. Chaffee and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.