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Mrs. Miller from Spokane, WA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Cultivating Literacy: Leveraging Home Languages for English Language Success

Help me give my students opportunities to build a strong literacy foundation in their home language and in English.

  • $831 goal

This project expired on July 11, 2025.

This project expired on July 11, 2025.

My Project

Books in home languages and realia (real-life objects or materials used to facilitate learning) can significantly enhance the learning experience for multilingual learners (MLLs). When children have access to reading materials in their home languages, it creates a bridge between their cultural identity and the school environment. Skills developed in a home language (i.e.: phonemic awareness, vocabulary knowledge, and comprehension strategies) can transfer to learning English. This transfer strengthens the foundation for literacy development. Additionally, home language books often reflect the cultural norms, values, and stories that are meaningful to students. This familiarity builds a deeper connection to the content and enhances comprehension. Realia also provides tangible connections that help MLLs understand and engage with academic content in both their native and second languages while creating a sense of belonging for my students.

Leveraging home language skills fosters a sense of continuity and confidence for multilingual learners.

When students read or write in their home language, they gain confidence in their overall language learning ability. This sense of competence transfers to learning English, making students more willing to engage with English texts and activities. Confidence breeds a willingness to take risks in communication and learning. Furthermore, if a student encounters a difficult word or concept in English, they are better able to understand it when the concept is first explained in their home language. This comprehension support lowers anxiety and helps them make connections.

My MLLs bring a unique set of strengths and perspectives to the classroom. They are not only special because of the challenges they face, but because of the rich cognitive, cultural, and social assets they bring to school. Supporting their literacy development in both their home language and English can unlock their full potential and help create a more inclusive and dynamic classroom.

Mrs. Miller Lincoln Heights Elementary School Grades 3-5

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.

Spokane, WA View local requests

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

46 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
100 PCS Cutting Play Food Toy for Kids Kitchen, Pretend Food Toys for Toddlers, Play Kitchen Toys Accessories with 2 Baskets, Fake Food/Fruit/Vegetable, Birthday Gifts for 3 4 5 Years old Boys Girls • Amazon Business $24.99 1 $24.99
Russian Fairy Tales: Masha & The Bear, Kolobok, Teremok, Repka: Bilingual Text Russian Fairytales In English for Little Ones: Masha &The Bear, Little Bun, Wooden House, Turnip • Amazon Business $17.99 1 $17.99
Anya and Her Wings / Russian Edition / Anya i ee Krylyshki: Fairy Tale / Skazka (Anya Stories) • Amazon Business $17.99 1 $17.99
SOTOGO 34 Pieces Doll House School Supplies Mini School Accessories Dollhouse Toy Home Miniature Model DIY Doll Accessories • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
80Pcs Party Favors for Kids 4-8, Kawaii Squishies Mochi Squishy Toy Bulk Fidget Sensory Toys Birthday Gifts for Boys Girls Goodie Bag Christmas Stocking Stuffers Treasure Box Classroom Prizes • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
We Can All Be Friends (Pashto-English) (Language Lizard Bilingual Living in Harmony) (Pashto Edition) • Amazon Business $16.95 1 $16.95
Sister Goat / Сестра коза: English / Ukrainian Bilingual Children's Picture Book (A Ukrainian traditional fairytale) • Amazon Business $15.99 1 $15.99
Little Ida's Flowers. Kviti malen'koj Idi. H. C. Andersen. Bilingual Fairy Tale in English and Ukrainian: Dual Language Picture Book for Kids (English and Ukrainian Edition) • Amazon Business $15.31 1 $15.31
The Fabulous Lost and Found and the Little Ukrainian mouse. Special Double Edition: Two books in one- Laugh as you learn Ukrainian; Ukrainians learn ... the Story Powered Language Learning Method) • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
Set of 10 Russian Fairy Tales Books - Collection of Russian Folk Tales - Русские Народные Сказки - Russkie Skazki - Книги На Русском Языке • Amazon Business $14.53 1 $14.53
Lewtemi 28 Pcs People Figurines 1: 25 Scale Mini Architectural Plastic People Figures Small Dollhouse People Tiny Figures Painted Model Train People • Amazon Business $13.99 1 $13.99
Happiness Street - Вулиця Щастя: A bilingual book for kids learning Ukrainian (English Ukrainian edition) (Ukrainian Bilingual Books - Fostering Creativity in Kids) • Amazon Business $13.50 1 $13.50
Nelly’s Box - Коробочка Нелли: A bilingual English Russian book for children, ideal for early readers (Russian English Bilingual Books - Fostering Creativity in Kids) • Amazon Business $13.50 1 $13.50
Pashto-English/English-Pashto Dictionary & Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebooks) • Amazon Business $13.33 1 $13.33
Being a Superhero (English Ukrainian Bilingual Book for Children) (English Ukrainian Bilingual Collection) (Ukrainian Edition) • Amazon Business $13.11 1 $13.11
Am I small? آیا زه کوچنې یم؟: Children's Picture Book English-Pashto/Pushto/Pukhto/Pakhto (Dual Language/Bilingual Edition) (Bilingual Books (English-Pashto) by Philipp Winterberg) • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
Am I small? Mol ke idik?: Children's Picture Book English-Marshallese (Dual Language/Bilingual Edition) (Bilingual Books by Philipp Winterberg) • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
In here, out there! Влетіло, вилетіло!: Children's Picture Book English-Ukrainian (Bilingual Edition/Dual Language) (Bilingual Books (English-Ukrainian) by Philipp Winterberg) • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
Ik Navan Din: A New Day - A Punjabi English Bilingual Picture Book For Children To Develop Conversational Language Skills • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
Mina's Ups and Downs (Written in Simplified Chinese, English and Pinyin): a bilingual children's book (Mina Learns Chinese (Simplified Chinese)) • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
My Birthday Cake - Written in Traditional Chinese, Pinyin, and English: A Bilingual Children's Book (Mina Learns Chinese (Traditional Chinese)) • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
Pinyin The Adventures of Pili in New York. Dual Language Chinese Books for Children. Bilingual English Mandarin 拼音版 • Amazon Business $12.98 1 $12.98
My First Marshallese 200 Picture Word Book • Amazon Business $12.95 1 $12.95
Colors in Marshallese: with English Translations • Amazon Business $12.95 1 $12.95
My Most Beautiful Dream (English – Persian, Farsi, Dari): Bilingual children's picture book, with audiobook for download (Sefa's Bilingual Picture Books – English / Persian, Farsi, Dari) • Amazon Business $12.80 1 $12.80
Let's Celebrate Vaisakhi! (Punjab's Spring Harvest Festival, Maya & Neel's India Adventure Series, Book 7) • Amazon Business $11.99 1 $11.99
All About China: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids (All About...countries) • Amazon Business $11.99 1 $11.99
The Clever Boy and the Terrible Dangerous Animal: English-Dari Edition (Teaching Stories) • Amazon Business $11.90 1 $11.90
English-Pashto Numbers Children’s Bilingual Picture Dictionary (FreeBilingualBooks.com) • Amazon Business $11.41 1 $11.41
The Fabulous Lost & Found and the little mouse who spoke Punjabi: Punjabi learning books for children, Punjabi language learning for kids, Teach ... (Bilingual English Punjabi book for children) • Amazon Business $10.99 1 $10.99
The Ear of Wheat (Bilingual picture books with Ukrainian folktales from Olha Tkachenko) • Amazon Business $10.99 1 $10.99
Yana Goes to Kenya • Amazon Business $10.95 1 $10.95
English-Dari Fruits and Vegetables Children’s Bilingual Picture Dictionary (FreeBilingualBooks.com) • Amazon Business $10.91 1 $10.91
My Most Beautiful Dream – Мій найпрекрасніший сон (English – Ukrainian): Bedtime story in two languages, with coloring pictures (Sefa's Bilingual Picture Books – English / Ukrainian) • Amazon Business $10.80 1 $10.80
The Story of Ukraine: An Anthem of Glory and Freedom (English and Ukrainian Edition) • Amazon Business $10.21 1 $10.21
My First Pashto Alphabets Picture Book with English Translations: Bilingual Early Learning & Easy Teaching Pashto Books for Kids (Teach & Learn Basic Pashto words for Children) • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
The Mystery of the Treasure Map: A Perilous Quest into the Eerie Depths of an Enigmatic Forest (Russian version) (Ukrainian Edition) • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
My First Swahili Alphabets Picture Book with English Translations: Bilingual Early Learning & Easy Teaching Swahili Books for Kids (Teach & Learn Basic Swahili words for Children) • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Am I small? Я — маленька?: Children's Picture Book English-Ukrainian (Bilingual Edition) (Bilingual Books (English-Ukrainian) by Philipp Winterberg) • Amazon Business $9.95 1 $9.95
Am I small? Mimi ni mdogo?: Children's Picture Book English-Swahili (Bilingual Edition) (Bilingual Books (English-Swahili) by Philipp Winterberg) • Amazon Business $9.95 1 $9.95
Space Космос Bilingual English-Russian Book For Children (Bilingual Childrens Books) • Amazon Business $9.82 1 $9.82
The Apple Tree: Bilingual English and Mandarin Chinese Books for Kids(Dual Language Edition) (Seasons) • Amazon Business $8.99 1 $8.99
When You Ask Me Where I'm Going - If I Tell You the Truth - Paperback Book • AKJ Education $8.75 1 $8.75
David and Jacko: The Zombie Tunnels (Ukrainian Edition) • Amazon Business $8.63 1 $8.63
Mantra Lingua We're Going On A Bear Hunt, Panjabi and English Bilingual Book - Early Childhood-Elementary - Toddler • School Specialty $8.59 1 $8.59
Mom and Her Little Monsters: An English-Ukrainian Dual-Language Book • Amazon Business $8.50 1 $8.50
The Fearless Shark: Explore Animals and Opposites in English, Russian, Chinese & Spanish • Amazon Business $7.95 1 $7.95
Dari Children's Book: Bilingual ABC's for Dari-English Speaking Children • Amazon Business $6.99 1 $6.99
Stones in Water - Paperback Book • AKJ Education $6.56 1 $6.56
Russkie Skazki. Russian Fairy Tales. Bilingual Book in Russian and English: Dual Language Russian Folk Tales for Kids (Russian-English Edition) (Russian and English Edition) • Amazon Business $5.99 1 $5.99

Materials cost

$612.55

Vendor shipping charges

 $0.86

Sales tax

 $53.60

3rd party payment processing fee

$9.19

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$706.20

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$124.62

Total project goal

$830.82

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

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Project Activity

Project Activity
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