Changing the World from 5th Grade with Multicultural Literature
My students need multiple copies of A Long Walk to Water.
$264 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! 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.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
My exceptionally amazing students come from families living on the economic margin, in a high-poverty neighborhood where almost 100% qualify for free-lunch. Our classroom's diversity is reflected not only in its multicultural ethnic make up but also in a range of learning abilities with English Language learners, exceptional, special education, and on-level students. I strive to meet the diverse learning needs of my students by differentiating my teaching strategies with activities that go beyond the curriculum.
In the classroom, regardless of societal labeling, firsthand experience with poverty, or our under resourced school's urban location, my students feel safe to be independent thinkers, spirited learners, and creative engineers.
My Project
My students need exposure to multicultural literacy through books and other mediums in order to enhance their world views, hence supporting antiracist values and inclusionary practices of all humanity. Our classroom needs a classroom set of the following multicultural novel: "A Long Walk to Water". I anticipate having 32-35 students during the 2018-19 school year in our classroom.
Incorporating diverse, multicultural books as the basis of teaching students how to better embrace all humanity, will counter stereotypes and biases.
These valuable teaching tools will surround my students with mirrors and windows and help to combat implicit bias. Furthermore, culturally diverse books connect to our work in building an inclusive community and teaching students that one part of any story or identity cannot tell the whole story.
A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories. Both storylines are told in interchanging sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan who both endure hardship, perseverance, loneliness, and grief, a girl Nya in 2008, and a boy Salva in 1985.
Future Class Project: 2nd multicultural literature review will analyze Hà's immigrant journey in the novel "Inside Out and Back Again". Written in the free verse form of poetry, "Inside Out and Back Again" chronicles the poignant year of transformation, dreams, sorrow and healing of the main character and narrator, ten-year-old Hà. Inspired by the author Thanhha Lai’s childhood experience as a young ten-year-old refugee fleeing Saigon with her family during the Vietnam War, and immigrating to Alabama, chronicles a child’s touching point of view of sacrifice, hope, and courage.
Both texts feature main characters of color and characters (diverse protagonists) with other underrepresented identities. The themes of respecting differences, caring for one another and questioning assumptions helped to guide the literature selections.
We thank you in advance and are eternally grateful for your support!
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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. Cabezudo and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
