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 have only 10 short months to prepare my seniors to leave high school and enter the the world, which is a challenge when many of them have never even left their own neighborhoods. These students on the verge of adulthood are ready and eager to have their small worlds expanded.
I teach in a Title I high school with a majority Hispanic population.
Although historically low-achieving, our school has been making radical changes to improve school culture and academics.
Even so, my students' reading and writing skills are well below grade level. I also have a higher than average percentage of English Language Learners.
This may sound like a difficult situation, but, actually, I could not feel more blessed to work with these amazingly bright, funny, and energetic students, and it is such a privilege to watch them grow over the course of the year.
My Project
Thanks to my previous Donors Choose project, last year my students received books related to their senior capstone research paper. These books- some novels and some literary nonfiction - supported and enriched the global social justice issues they investigated. I watched my students have thoughtful discussions about these books with their classmates, incorporate them into their research papers, and, finally, present their conclusions to employees of an international NGO.
The success of this past project has only motivated me to expand it further this coming year. In addition to the research topics that are already offered - such as gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, epidemics, and environmental sustainability - we are adding the topics of LGBT rights and immigration, both topics that are close to many of my students hearts. I will also be expanding the library of books we currently have in order to give my students more choices within their project.
A long-term project like this can completely change a student's perspective on the world, in addition to preparing them for college-level work.
The books are what take this from just another research project to a true investment - of time, energy, intellect, and emotions.
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. Harmon and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
