Building Empathy Through Stories: Long Way Down in the Classroom
Help me give my students 25 Copies of the novel, Long Way Down.
$319 goal
This project expired on March 17, 2025.
This project expired on March 17, 2025.
My Project
Help my students expand their perspectives by exploring the powerful novel Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. This book will give them an opportunity to understand challenges faced by others in different social and cultural contexts. I teach in a small, rural Minnesota town where our tight-knit community thrives on farming traditions and shared values. However, our student body lacks exposure to diversity, and many of my students struggle to grasp the complexities of life outside our region. They are curious, eager learners, but their worldview is shaped by the limited experiences of rural life. I want to offer them the chance to engage with literature that reflects different realities and encourages empathy.
Long Way Down is a gripping, award-winning novel written in free verse, exploring the life-altering decisions faced by a young boy after the death of his brother.
Through this story, my students will encounter themes of grief, family, violence, and moral dilemmas, framed in a world vastly different from their own.
By providing my students with 25 copies of this novel, I aim to: 1) Foster empathy by exploring narratives that differ from their own experiences. 2) Spark meaningful discussions about societal issues and the impact of individual choices. 3) Use literature to build critical thinking and emotional intelligence skills.
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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 Mrs. Turgeon and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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