Building a Better Sense of Self-Worth Through Literacy
Help me give my students a sense of self through culturally relevant literature that reflects them and their surroundings!
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Richardson's classroom raised $807
This project is fully funded
My Students
The students I work with are some of the brightest spirits I have ever met. Growing up in the Black Belt Queen City of Selma, they see history around them daily. From their grandparents, many of whom served in the Civil Rights Movement, to the historic halls of the once segregated school in which they walk. These students are bright minds and spirits, but they suffer from the historical denigration of living in Alabama's Black Belt. Living in a town that's history shaped the Civil Rights Movement, these students and their educational gains have largely been forgotten. When coupled with the emphasis placed on STEM education, many of these student's literacy skills suffer.
These students need culturally relevant texts to help improve their literacy skills while encouraging social justice and activism.
The majority of the text in our library are out of date or do not touch on the the issues that are relevant to these students and their navigating the world has young black adults and persons of color.
My Project
These books will enable my students to see themselves reflected through literature and ensure they are able to cultivate a positive sense of self. Literature opens up an entirely new world to students and it is important that the literature they see reflect the varied, rich lives that they live. These books will help expand the classroom library and enable us to allow students an opportunity to take books home and expand literacy into their daily lives, not just inside the classroom.
Building a better sense of self ensures that my students are aware of their heritage and beliefs while ensuring they are able to see wrong in the world and correct it.
My students look around them daily and see their lives being erased by systemic racism and it is important that they see themselves everywhere to cultivate a positive identity and develop a critical stance toward rooting out injustice in the world.
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 Mr. Richardson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
