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
"To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark." - Victor Hugo
I want to see the sparks flying in the minds of my students as they read about racism and social injustice in the south in the modern classic, "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry."
Our urban middle school (7th and 8th grade) is located in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood in Northern California.
It's a Title I school, with about 70% of our 675 students qualifying for a free or reduced price lunch. So-called minorities (Latino, Asian, African-Americans, and Pacific Islanders) make up more than 90% of our student population.
My 7th graders are a bright young bunch who love to socialize and have fun.
My Project
Young people don't always understand the past until they connect with it. My students have already experienced inequality first-hand, so it's an issue that instantly engages them. I am requesting a set of historical novels to be used in my Literature classes. This novel ("Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry") will help students gain a glimpse into the past. By reading a depiction of social inequality in America's recent past, students will begin to develop their own understanding of freedom and social justice.
Please help me light a fire in my students by providing them with a class set of the historical novel, "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry." The themes of racism and perseverance in this novel will be accessible and engaging to this energetic group of 7th graders.
More than three‑quarters 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
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 Mrs. Chamberlain Engel and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
