Our school is a place where we all learn from each other. Teachers and staff have worked hard to create an environment where students see themselves as learners and enjoy discovering new things and growing every day. We especially strive to help our students to become voracious readers since that skill unlocks so many other skills in both education and in life.
Our community and student population are diverse.
About 50% of our students are Hispanic and about 50% are African American and we have a growing refugee population in both the neighborhood and school. Many of our students speak more than one language. 100% of our students qualify for the free/reduced-price lunch program. The needs of our students and families are significant, but their culture, abilities, and potential are significant as well.
Seeing students discover who they are and who they want to be is a true joy and delight. There are some world changers and difference makers growing in this next generation!
My Project
We need rich books for students to read so they can grow as readers and humans as well as compete with other (better-resourced) elementary schools in our city.
The Elementary Book Battle promotes a love of reading among students in grades 3-5 by encouraging students to read a list of 12 excellent books from classics to new award winners in a variety of genres and dealing with a wide range of themes and topics.
Students are challenged to remember information about the plots, characters, and settings of the books. They also learn cooperation and dedication as they compete in a team of 10 students to represent their schools in the St. Louis area book battle in February. The final battle is a time for students to meet others across the St. Louis region who share their passion and dedication to reading. The Book Battle is a great experience for readers who need a challenge and for students who may be behind as readers but need to discover the joy and connection that awaits them in great literature. We just need several copies of the titles that we don't currently have in our library in order for students to have these experiences.
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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. Casaleggi and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.