Class Read-Alouds: Promoting Empathy & Self-Awareness
My students need quality story books to promote class conversations about topics such as race, standing up to bullies, celebrating diversity, and building a positive sense of self.
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. T.'s classroom raised $235
This project is fully funded
My Students
Our school is located in Lake City, a neighborhood in north Seattle with a high population of immigrant families, mixed-income housing, and beautiful parks within walking view of Lake Washington. Teachers and staff always put kids first, understanding the high needs for these specific students' social and emotional growth along with academics.
Our kids are so eager to learn, that each morning they practically run us down in their excitement to get to their classrooms!
This is a real example of how important being at school- a consistently safe place, with their friends, around teachers who care about them- is to our students. Teachers and staff feel the true urgency to get our students up to grade level in Reading, Writing, and Math and it has paid off! In 2015 we received a School of Distinction Award for proving as a school in the top 5% state-wide for raising academic achievement over the last 5 years.
My Project
My school needs quality story books that help engage students in class discussions around real-life topics that are often overlooked or avoided. Our children live in a world that is quickly growing more complex and complicated.
It has become increasingly important for our kids to build strong self-awareness, the ability to understand perspective of others, and strategies for regulating their own emotional responses.
As a teacher, it's my responsibility to nurture the social and emotional growth of my students, along with academics. These books will be read as a whole group read-aloud during Class Meeting, where we will discuss the characters, plot, and central message(s).
My students, many of them new to the US, will connect with different characters in these books. In "Lilah's Lunchbox" the main character is at a new school in a new country, thousands of miles from home and missing her old friend.
Another book teaches perseverance with tough tasks. In "The Most Magnificent Thing", a little girl tries and fails repeatedly with a project and decides to quit, then her dog convinces her to take a break. She comes back the next day with renewed enthusiasm and ends up creating the most magnificent thing!
"The Crayon Box That Talked" has a simple yet meaningful message: when we all work together, the results are much more interesting and colorful. Every day, students are challenged to work in groups or partnerships. These social skills need to be taught.
My big ask includes books that:
- open conversation about real-life topics such as race and standing up to bullies
- recognize and celebrate diversity
- give kids another tool to cope and thrive in their often complicated social world
- help children to grow into grateful, caring, and giving people
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 Mrs. T. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
