Building a Safe and Welcoming Classroom Library for Newcomers
Help me give my students a diverse and culturally relevant classroom library that supports their language development and celebrates their unique experiences as newcomers to the U.S.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Payán's classroom raised $600
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 Project
I teach a group of bright, resilient high school students, 80% of whom are newcomers to the U.S. and are navigating the challenges of learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture. What I love most about my students is their perseverance and eagerness to succeed despite these obstacles. They bring diverse perspectives, rich stories, and an incredible drive to learn and grow.
The books I'm requesting will create a classroom library that reflects my students' experiences and supports their language development.
Books like “The House on Mango Street” and “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” will provide relatable stories that resonate with their own lives, helping them feel seen and understood. Graphic novels like “American Born Chinese” and “Mexikid” offer visually engaging ways for students to connect with complex themes and improve literacy skills in a more accessible format. These culturally relevant and varied texts will encourage students to engage with reading in meaningful ways, building both language proficiency and confidence.
My goal is to create a safe and welcoming learning environment where students can find books that reflect their backgrounds and inspire them to continue their language learning journey. This library will be a crucial resource for fostering a love for reading, promoting literacy, and building a sense of community among my students. Their unique experiences and determination make them special, and these resources will help them thrive academically and personally.
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
4 Book Bundle: Graphic Novels #1 - Underrepresented Authors (paperback book set) - American Born Chinese, Mexikid, Frizzy, When Stars Are Scattered
• DonorsChoose Featured Favorites
$60.00
1
$60.00
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Picture Book Edition (hardcover)
• MahoganyBooks
$17.09
1
$17.09
The Hate U Give
• Amazon Business
$13.32
1
$13.32
Gabi, a Girl in Pieces
• Amazon Business
$12.95
1
$12.95
The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child (The Circuit, 1)
• Amazon Business
$12.49
1
$12.49
The Arrival
• Amazon Business
$12.46
1
$12.46
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
• AKJ Education
$11.69
1
$11.69
The House on Mango Street (YA paperback)
• DonorsChoose Featured Favorites
$11.00
1
$11.00
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (paperback)
• DonorsChoose Featured Favorites
$11.00
1
$11.00
A Land of Permanent Goodbyes
• Amazon Business
$10.99
1
$10.99
Juana and Lucas
• Amazon Business
$10.99
1
$10.99
The Weight of Our Sky
• Amazon Business
$10.89
1
$10.89
Solito: A Memoir
• Amazon Business
$10.81
1
$10.81
We Are Okay
• Amazon Business
$10.76
1
$10.76
Across a Hundred Mountains: A Novel
• Amazon Business
$10.69
1
$10.69
The Most Magnificent Thing (Most Magnificent, 1)
• Amazon Business
$10.46
1
$10.46
Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel
• Amazon Business
$10.23
1
$10.23
La Linea: A Novel
• Amazon Business
$9.99
1
$9.99
Challenger Deep
• Amazon Business
$9.79
1
$9.79
A Step from Heaven
• Amazon Business
$9.74
1
$9.74
Clap When You Land
• Amazon Business
$9.19
1
$9.19
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
• Amazon Business
$9.10
1
$9.10
The Sun Is Also a Star
• Amazon Business
$9.00
1
$9.00
The Boy at the Back of the Class
• Amazon Business
$8.99
1
$8.99
We Are Not from Here
• Amazon Business
$8.99
1
$8.99
The Breadwinner (Breadwinner Series, 1)
• Amazon Business
$8.51
1
$8.51
I Lived on Butterfly Hill (The Butterfly Hill Series)
• Amazon Business
$7.99
1
$7.99
The Distance Between Us: Young Readers Edition
• Amazon Business
$7.39
1
$7.39
Front Desk (Front Desk #1) (Scholastic Gold)
• Amazon Business
$7.08
1
$7.08
Seedfolks
• Amazon Business
$6.99
1
$6.99
Dancing Home
• Amazon Business
$6.99
1
$6.99
The Color of My Words
• Amazon Business
$6.99
1
$6.99
The Red Pencil
• Amazon Business
$6.89
1
$6.89
Long Way Down
• Amazon Business
$6.69
1
$6.69
It's Kind of a Funny Story
• Amazon Business
$6.67
1
$6.67
What Can You Do With a Paleta? / Que Puedes Hacer Con Una Paleta?
• AKJ Education
$6.56
1
$6.56
Inside Out and Back Again
• AKJ Education
$6.49
1
$6.49
Baseball in April and Other Stories
• Amazon Business
$6.29
1
$6.29
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Young Reader's Edition
• Amazon Business
$5.90
1
$5.90
Esperanza Rising (Scholastic Gold)
• Amazon Business
$5.26
1
$5.26
Materials cost
$425.30
Vendor shipping charges
$9.00
Sales tax
$38.91
3rd party payment processing fee
$6.38
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$509.59
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$89.93
Total project goal
$599.52
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$599.52
4 Donors
-$299.76
Donations toward project cost
-$254.80
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$44.96
match offer
-$299.75
Match offer toward project cost
-$254.79
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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 Ms. Payán and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
