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
The battle is half-won; my kids are starting to like books! It has taken months to get that fire started, but now that its ignited, I don't want it to be extinguished! Our classroom library seems to be getting smaller as books are read, and we have no school library to rely on. Help!
I am lucky to work with a demographic of students who are working tirelessly to beat the achievement gap.
Our students come from low income, generally violent neighborhoods in Chicago. So many of them are starting to realize that education is the key to success, school their home, and books are their sanctuary.
Our school emphasizes literacy as a key in the route to success. We focus on literacy in all classes, and every teacher does require a certain amount of specific reading passages. I am lucky to teach a reading class where all 160 students are allowed to CHOOSE their own books. This has absolutely turned my non-readers into book fiends. However, we do not have a school library, so I must rely on what books I can offer from my classroom library. I am thrilled that the books are being read like crazy, but am worried that my selection will start dwindling. I cannot afford to lose their interest as they are starting to see how beautiful the world of books is.
My Project
I have chosen a very broad range of genres and authors for my resource selection. Some of the books have been popularly demanded by several of my students. Others, hopefully, will be the "fire starters" for my more reluctant readers. I have had students actually groan when the class is over because they had just reached a pivotal point in their book. I have had kids pass around a book to all of their friends and actually have discussions about this book on their own time. These books are the secret weapon in getting students to love reading in the future, and an amazing way to keep my students' minds off of street/neighborhood life and onto the potential adventure they can have as a scholar.
Your donation will provide my classroom with more books.
We are short on library resources as our school does not have one. I am acting as both the librarian and teacher. I do not want to disappoint my kids and I do not want to run out of engaging reading material. Your donation will feed my students minds time and time again.
Thank you for giving the gift of reading to my students! We appreciate you.
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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 Mrs. Zawalski and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.