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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Smedley from Provo, UT is requesting a classroom visitor through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Smedley is requesting

A Visit from the Serpent King

Help me give my students a meeting with influential YA author Jeff Zentner! His story The Serpent King inspired so many of them to pursue future ideals, so a meeting with him could be life-changing!

  • $973 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

"I just need a teacher who won't give up on me" was one of the comments I received at the beginning of the year when I asked students to write down what their expectations were for me as a teacher. I initially found this response endearing, but it's become meaningful to me as I've gotten to know these classes.

My students are resilient and have the potential to become exceptional in the face of obstacles!

At the start of this year, many teachers and administrators told me that since I was teaching 9th-10th graders who've had many school experiences hijacked by COVID, I should "try my best, but recognize that most of them wouldn't make it to graduation." I hated this mentality from the beginning, and hated it even more once I met the students in these classes.

My classes have families that have lived here forever, and families who have migrated to the US as recently as one week ago. Many come from low-income families, and a ton of them have mental health struggles. However, they have rich experiences and immense potential, and I've enjoyed identifying their future goals and helping them work towards them!

My Project

Author Jeff Zentner has a gift for writing relatable and raw stories that teenagers can connect to, and my students were no exception.

Much like how protagonist Dill was inspired to work towards his potential and cultivate dreams for the future, The Serpent King served as an instrumental tool for my students.

This story got my classes of self-declared book haters to not only read, but have an emotional reaction to literature.

I want my students to get the chance to talk to Mr. Zentner about books, writing, and life. Providing Mr. Zentner the opportunity to share his experience writing The Serpent King and his other novels, as well as giving students time to ask him questions about writing or about the themes he explored, can help bring English class to life. Specifically, I hope it can continue to cultivate my students' positive experiences with literature as well as encourage them towards their future ideals!

Ms. Smedley
Grades 9-12
  • Provo High School
  • Provo, UT
    • More than a third 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

    This project will reach 180 students.

    1 donor has given to this project.

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Visitor Total
Jeff Zentner $400.00
The Serpent King • Amazon Business $10.99 35 $384.65

Visitor cost

$784.65

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$11.77

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$826.42

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$145.84

Total project goal

$972.26

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $972.26

1 Donor

-$972.26

Donations toward project cost

-$826.42

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$145.84

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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. Smedley and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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