My students need 35 copies of "We Beat the Street".
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Benda's classroom raised $192
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
The challenge facing my students is the lack of literature available that really speaks to their lives and situations. We are asking children to read daily, yet not able to provide them with the resources that pertain to their lives and interests!
The school that my students attend is a very special place.
It looks like a dilapidated mess from the outside in an area undesirable to most. When you enter, it becomes this magical place where students are loved, encouraged, nurtured, and allowed to be children. Most come from families that have been deeply affected by crime, drugs, and gang activity. Many are immigrants just trying to provide a better life for their children. The students are special because of their resiliency and positive attitudes. California's government doesn't see the faces behind the cuts to education. We look into those children's eyes daily and do the best we can to educate them with less. Our students do not have access to the same resources that other schools take for granted. The students at my school deserve the same opportunities as the students who attend school in more affluent areas. I am their teacher and advocate for their well deserved and equal education.
My Project
We Beat the Street is a book about three inter-city boys who made a pact with each other to become successful and not succumb to the pressures of the street. This mirrors the issues that my students deal with daily. Living in the most dangerous area, in one of the most dangerous cities in California creates a reality that most people only read about in newspapers. This book will allow us an opportunity to have discussions that will have an affect on how students will lead their lives. It will help to facilitate the discussion of difficult topics that are pertinent to their lives. Many students feel hopeless and alone due to the pressures they are faced with on a daily basis. Students need to see that there is hope for their lives. Others have been where they are and gone on to become successful. Too many of their role models are incarcerated or living a fast life on the street. I hope to share a positive example of what could happen for them if they just stay focused on their dreams.
The children at my school are bombarded daily with opportunities to get involved in negative behavior, leading to negative consequences.
I need to create a forum where we can deal with some of these issues. The students desperately need to share their experiences. Their experiences are so similar to that of the characters, that this book would really allow the students to talk about and problem solve their own situations. Hopefully this book will help them see that positive opportunities await.
Nearly all 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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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. Benda and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
