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.
I teach high school English in Van Nuys, CA. Our school is in a high need community; almost 90% of our students qualify for free lunch.
This is my first year teaching AP English, and my students are great. They are motivated, smart, hard-working, college-bound kids. I truly enjoy working with them. Passing the Advanced Placement exam will be extremely valuable to them once they apply to and enter college. Passing the exam will help them to get in to the colleges they want to go to, and it will help them get ahead, and save them money!
Therefore, I am trying to teach my AP students all of the vocabulary they are going to need to know in order to pass the exam. I am currently working out of my old literary terms dictionary that got me through college. Any time one of my students asks me about a term, I refer them to my battered old book. Needless to say, this is not very effective as there are 20 students (and 1 flustered teacher) sharing just one dictionary.
All we need is 20 dictionaries of literary terms, and my students' chances of passing the AP exam increase greatly. The books are not very expensive, but I cannot ask the students to buy them themselves as I know they all cannot afford them. It will also save valuable class time if each student has a book to reference, instead of the entire class sharing just one book. Furthermore, the dictionaries will make it easier for students to write papers, and be proficient writers.
These dictionaries will be used in years to come, and my AP students years from now will also be grateful! Your help will truly make a difference in the lives of my students. AP English is challenging enough without all of us sharing one dictionary. Your help will ensure that time is used more effectively in class, and that students learn the vocabulary they need to pass the class and the exam. Thank you!
Nearly all 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 Ms. Johnson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
