Circles of Understanding: Lit Circles for Empathy and Growth
Help me provide my students with access to six influential novels that will spark meaningful discussions, deepen empathy, and foster a lifelong love of reading through small-group literature circles.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Czerwiec's classroom raised $326
This project is fully funded
My Project
All of my students want to read something that feels authentic — something they can connect with, discuss, and learn from. They’re craving stories that help them understand themselves and each other. This year, I’m launching a classroom-wide literature circle program that provides every student with the opportunity to explore influential, age-appropriate novels that delve into themes such as friendship, identity, fairness, and emotional growth.
In class, students will read in small groups, learning how to discuss complex ideas and listen to diverse perspectives.
These books will help them build empathy, not just through the characters they meet on the page, but through the conversations they’ll have with each other. Each novel has been carefully selected to reflect a range of voices, experiences, and moral choices that matter deeply to middle schoolers.
This project isn’t just about reading more — it’s about reading with purpose. Through structured discussions, writing reflections, and collaborative projects, students will grow not only as readers but also as individuals. These books will provide them with entry points into difficult conversations, help them see beyond their own experiences, and make them feel caught in the stories they read. With your help, I can give my students the books that will stay with them long after the last page.
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 Mr. Czerwiec and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
