My students need challenging books that will also engage their interests. The majority of the books on this list were asked for directly by my students! Our current library for is only about 60 books!
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Herick's classroom raised $611
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
I am a first-year teacher at a school that is implementing its first year of 6th-7th grade. Next year we will be adding 8th. I teach Language Arts and our school does not have a library! 100% of the students at my school receive free breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 41% of the students at my school are English Language Learners, 36% are Hispanic, and 39% are at a severe economic disadvantage.
Without a library, there is a deficit of books, which reflects directly on our students' reading scores.
The building for our middle school students was expected August of 2017, but it is now February of 2018 and the due date continues to be pushed back. Currently, we have a small annex building in the middle of a construction zone. In the last year, numerous teachers for this age group have left and there have been many changes in administration. The students have expressed feelings of being unwanted or "unteachable".
My students have faced adverse experience after adverse experience, yet they continue to work hard! They deserve books and other classroom materials to ignite their love for learning! I need your help changing the course of these students' educational journeys.
My Project
I am still on a mission to get my students the books that they deserve. Since our school does not have a library we have access to very few books. I have promised my students I will change that! Many of my students have been at this school since it started and each year they have to read from a small selection of books or buy books on their own. They have read and reread the few books we have. The books that are purchased through this project will be used for literary analysis, personal reading books, book reports, and other classroom projects. Since the first set of books I have even found a website to help me catalog books. Therefore I can allow my students to check books out and safely take them home.
My students have personally requested the books on this list and are eagerly awaiting to read them!
The first book drive I set up brought in about 50 books. The students have been quickly devouring the books and expressing great gratitude! I have heard students say, "This is the best book I've ever read," "I HAVE to read that next," and "I can't believe people were willing to do something so kind for us." Some of the most anticipated books are The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Speak, Once, The Maze Runner Series, and Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie. Please help me keep the momentum of learning to love reading going!
More than half 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
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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 Ms. Herick and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
