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
With the school year coming to a close, I want my students end the school year on a high note. The challenge that stands in our way is acquiring a class set of the book Wonder that my students have been asking to read all year.
My students are a lively bunch of 5th and 6th graders.
In my classroom, we still have our struggles, but we have come a long way from the beginning of the year. I teach a combination class, and for many of my students, they have been the students at my school who find themselves in a combination class year after year--for many different reasons. They are energetic, curious, yet traumatized youth. My school rests in a very dangerous neighborhood in what is becoming less and less of a dangerous city. Many of my students have lost close family members to gun violence right down the street. Most of them have told me how unsafe they feel at all times. My school struggles to retain administrators, or should I say administrator. There lacks a sense of positive school climate--it falls on the teacher to construct positive classroom climate. My students have lots of varied needs, and while it increasing difficult, it is my responsibility and desire to teach them.
My Project
My students will use these materials in the following ways. Each student will be provided a copy of the book Wonder, by R.J. Palacio, which they will read in class and for homework during this unit of study. They will need these books to follow along during the lesson every day, they will need these books to read independently in class as part of the unit, and they will need these books to read for homework. Each student needs a copy to be engaged in each lesson, and reading Wonder at home for homework will hold my students accountable for their learning and will instill a sense of academic responsibility, something that some of my students need help learning.
Donations to this project will improve my classroom by making it a desirable place to be for my students for the remainder of this year.
Some of my students have been asking me, "Ms. Pierce, can we read the book Wonder?!", for months now. The book is about a 5th grader who had facial deformities. It will facilitate meaningful text-to-self connections and engaged reading because my students also have real life struggles everyday.
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
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Pierce and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
