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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. R. from Brooklyn, NY is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. R. is requesting

Cirque Du Freak and Other Mad Books to Get Students Reading

My students need books in their classroom library that will pique their curiosity, hold their interest, and encourage them to make connections between texts and their own lives.

FULLY FUNDED! Mr. R.'s classroom raised $422

This project is fully funded

It's the beginning of a new school year, and students are in need of new books for their classroom library. Our school serves a high-need community. 95% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Students face a variety of social and economic challenges in their community and our school must overcome these obstacles and provide them with the educational opportunities that will improve their futures. During the 2006-2007 school year, 80% of 7th graders at our school scored at or below a Level 2 on the New York state assessment in English Language Arts (the tests are scored on a 1-4 scale, 1 is the lowest score and 4 is the highest). This assessment is a key indicator of students' mastery of state learning standards and also points to knowledge gaps students have in reading fluency and comprehension. In order to strengthen students' reading skills, our class is structured to provide them with as much independent reading time as possible. In our class, each student reads books that are on his or her individual reading level, encouraging autonomous learning and measurable reading growth. In order for this model to be successful, however, the class has to be equipped with a wide variety of books that span genres and reading levels. Books have to be current, engaging and, frankly, cool enough to keep thirteen-year-olds invested in reading. That's where you come in. You have to power to make reading cool for my kids. I have formulated a list of books that is designed to appeal to young adult readers on a wide variety of reading levels. The books cover contemporary and historical topics, delve into realistic fiction and far out fantasy, and are edgy enough to appeal to even the most jaded readers. The more students read purposefully and independently the more they foster essential literacy and critical thinking skills that are essential for their academic success. You have the power to expose my students to engaging and powerful texts that will shape their experience in English class this year.

Mr. R. PS/IS 137 Rachel Jean Mitchell Grades 6-8

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Brooklyn, NY View local requests

More than three‑quarters 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

40 students impacted 17donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mr. R. is requesting.

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Cirque Du Freak Boxed Set #1 Darren Shan • Barnes and Noble $22.39 2 $44.78
Secrets in the Shadows (Bluford High Series #3) Anne Schraff, Paul Langan (Editor) • Barnes and Noble $3.59 2 $7.18
Lost and Found (Bluford High Series #1) Anne Schraff • Barnes and Noble $3.59 2 $7.18
Someone to Love Me (Bluford High Series #4) Anne Schraff, Paul Langan (Editor) • Barnes and Noble $3.59 2 $7.18
Brothers in Arms (Bluford High Series #9) Paul Langan, Ben Alirez • Barnes and Noble $3.59 2 $7.18
Payback (Bluford High Series #6) Paul Langan • Barnes and Noble $3.59 2 $7.18
Blood is Thicker (Bluford High Series #8) Paul Langan, D. M. Blackwell • Barnes and Noble $3.59 2 $7.18
The Bully (Bluford High Series #5) Paul Langan • Barnes and Noble $3.59 2 $7.18
True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle Avi • Barnes and Noble $5.39 1 $5.39
Nothing but the Truth: A Documentary Novel Avi • Barnes and Noble $6.29 2 $12.58
Wolf Rider Avi • Barnes and Noble $6.29 2 $12.58
Tangerine Edward Bloor • Barnes and Noble $6.25 2 $12.50
The House of the Scorpion Nancy Farmer • Barnes and Noble $8.99 2 $17.98
Bad Boy: A Memoir Walter Dean Myers • Barnes and Noble $7.19 1 $7.19
Slam! Walter Dean Myers • Barnes and Noble $5.39 1 $5.39
Monster Walter Dean Myers, Christopher A. Myers (Illustrator), Christopher Myers (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $8.09 1 $8.09
Hoops Walter Dean Myers • Barnes and Noble $5.85 1 $5.85
Sunrise over Fallujah Walter Dean Myers • Barnes and Noble $14.39 1 $14.39
Autobiography of My Dead Brother Walter Dean Myers, Christopher A. Myers (Illustrator), Christopher Myers (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $7.19 1 $7.19
Hatchet (Brian's Saga Series #1) Gary Paulsen • Barnes and Noble $6.29 2 $12.58
River (Brian's Saga Series #2) Gary Paulsen, Delacorte Press • Barnes and Noble $5.39 2 $10.78
Brian's Winter (Brian's Saga Series #3) Gary Paulsen • Barnes and Noble $5.85 2 $11.70
Twilight Stephenie Meyer • Barnes and Noble $9.89 1 $9.89
Eclipse Stephenie Meyer • Barnes and Noble $13.99 1 $13.99
New Moon Stephenie Meyer • Barnes and Noble $9.89 1 $9.89
Copper Sun Sharon M. Draper • Barnes and Noble $8.09 1 $8.09
The Battle of Jericho Sharon M. Draper • Barnes and Noble $6.29 1 $6.29
Double Dutch Sharon M. Draper • Barnes and Noble $5.39 1 $5.39

Materials cost

$292.77

Vendor shipping charges

 $29.28

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$7.32

Fulfillment labor & materials

$17.00

Total project cost

$346.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$75.95

Total project goal

$421.95

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $421.95

15 Donors

-$398.23

Donations toward project cost

-$346.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$52.23

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$23.72

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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