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.
My Students
Words are power. The more words one knows, the more access one has to society.
Each morning, we begin my Latino Empowerment class by reading. We build our lexicons and our fluency in order to build our knowledge and access to society. Books are one vehicle for college and career readiness.
My students are working every day to make a better life for themselves and their families.
I teach at the alternative high school in an urban school district. My students have faced many obstacles in life. Most are ethnic minorities, most are low income. Many are homeless, some are pregnant. They have all been identified as at-risk for dropping out of school. Yet, despite these challenges, my students believe that education has the power to transform their lives.
Learning can sometimes be challenging for my students. Aside from learning disabilities, my students have reduced access to the English Language. Many of my students speak languages other than English at home. They simply aren't exposed to the kind of academic language used in college classrooms. Most of their English words come from television, the Internet, or their peers. Reduced exposure to English words leads to a reduced understanding at school. In my class, we work to build vocabulary.
My Project
My students have an almost adversarial relationship with reading. They want to love to read, but they mostly loathe it. They believe me when I tell them words are the portal to new ideas. They are ready to grow as learners and human beings. They just don't like any of the books we have.
My students have rarely been presented with high interest, culturally relevant, and challenging texts. Books like "Like Water for Chocolate" will allow them to read English words alongside Spanish words. For once, they can begin to apply their unique cultural knowledge to understanding the text. "Mexican WhiteBoy" will engage them through empathy with the protagonist; students will read to find a clearer understanding of themselves. Corky Gonzales's poem "I am Joaquin" references historical events integral to the development of the United States in epic poetry form. Students will see their own histories while noting the similarities of the written form to the hip-hop music they know and love.
My students will enjoy reading these books.
When students enjoy reading, they begin to replace painful memories of reading with happier ones. They begin to look toward the next chapter with anticipation, rather than dread. They empathize with characters and find new words to define themselves.
I am not naive in thinking some of my students may become lovers of reading. I am hopeful. I appreciate you joining me in hope through your generous donation.
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. Arthur and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
