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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Eiserman from McHenry, IL is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Eiserman is requesting
Fully Funded

Mrs. Eiserman's classroom raised $267

But, I Like Real People: Engaging Nonfiction Reading

My students need 21 engaging, nonfiction books, like "The Burn Journals" and "Chinese Cinderella", to give them a real-world perspective during in-class independent reading.

Classroom photo
Mrs. Eiserman McHenry West High School
McHenry, IL Grades 9-12

My Students

Fiction - science, realistic, historical: these are the genres my students see when they glance at our classroom library. "Do you have any books about real people?" they ask, "I love reading those!" And, sadly, my answer is, "Not really."

My students have grown as readers in the four months that I've taught them.

They came to high school with a negative attitude about reading; now they yearn for new, exciting books. These students live in a suburban community that, like everyone else, has gone through some economic hardship. Although the community places a high standard on education, the money isn't always there to support that expectation. Our school doesn't have a lot of extra resources to purchase outside materials. That's why this project is so important. These resources will inspire students to become lifelong readers, a skill that they can take with them wherever they may go.

My Project

Every day, during class, my students spend 10-15 minutes reading a book of their choice. This reading is not connected to a grade, it has no homework attached to it; we simply read for the pleasure of reading. Students have blossomed as readers, reading more in a semester than they've read in their entire lives. Unfortunately, my classroom library consists mainly of fiction books. I am not reaching a large group of my readers. I am amazed by the amount of students who request nonfiction books. They love real stories, stories that happen to real people. The few nonfiction books I have are never on the shelves, being passed from one reader to the next. I want to open up the world of nonfiction reading to my students through these books. What better gift can I give them, than the gift of lifelong reading?

These books will expose my high school students to another genre of reading, a genre that is often left out of the English curriculum.

They will inspire reluctant readers to become lifelong readers through connecting to them on a real level. As a teacher, it doesn't get any better than watching a 14 year-old so lost in a book that he is completely unaware of everything going on around him. Simply put, these books will help instill a passion for reading and therefore, a passion for knowledge.

Half of students from low‑income households

130 students impacted 10 donors
Mrs. Eiserman McHenry West High School Grades 9-12 McHenry, IL View local requests

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

130 students impacted 10donors

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI • AKJ Books $6.65 1 $6.65
Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines Nic Sheff • AKJ Books $7.39 1 $7.39
Look Me in the Eye • AKJ Books $11.06 1 $11.06
Between A Rock And A Hard Place • AKJ Books $11.10 1 $11.10
House Rules • AKJ Books $10.35 1 $10.35
Left for Dead • AKJ Books $6.62 1 $6.62
Brother''s Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse Richard B. • AKJ Books $10.35 1 $10.35
A Child Called It: One Child''s Courage to Survive • AKJ Books $8.84 1 $8.84
Soul Surfer • AKJ Books $10.36 1 $10.36
The Burn Journals • AKJ Books $10.36 1 $10.36
Chinese Cinderella • AKJ Books $6.65 1 $6.65
The Assist • AKJ Books $11.83 1 $11.83
Good Brother, Bad Brother • AKJ Books $16.28 1 $16.28
Good Behavior • AKJ Books $7.39 1 $7.39
Phineas Gage • AKJ Books $7.36 1 $7.36
Stiff • AKJ Books $10.32 1 $10.32
We Are Witnesses • AKJ Books $6.65 1 $6.65
My Life in Dog Years • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
The Devil in the White City • AKJ Books $11.80 1 $11.80
Bad Boy • AKJ Books $6.65 1 $6.65
How Angel Peterson Got His Name • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17

Materials cost

$188.35

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$2.83

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$226.18

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$39.91

Total project goal

$266.09

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $266.09

7 Donors

-$219.09

Donations toward project cost

-$186.23

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$32.86

match offer

-$47.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$39.95

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$7.05

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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Project Activity

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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. Eiserman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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