Help me give my students experience books from diverse writers of which they are not normally exposed.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Stefanelli's classroom raised $864
This project is fully funded
My Students
Mr. Stefanelli's students enter a reading haven every day. During the first 20 minutes of class, my students enjoy time to read. During this time, they read what interests them, they relax, they forget what's going on at home, they forget (dare I say) their other classes and responsibilities.
My students, ranging from freshmen to seniors, devour books!
They are discouraged from looking at a study guide; they are discouraged from having a pen in their hand. Reading needs to be enjoyable. My students enjoy it because it's for them - and no one else.
My students love this time. Many read a book a week! They take pride in their reading and their ability to encourage others in the class to read what they read.
My Project
For years, I required my students to read the same four books, four classics that their parents read, and their parents before them. 10% of my students read them; 70% Sparknoted them; 20% didn't read anything. I was fed up! Until three years ago! Three years ago, I got a divorce!
I, and my students, got a divorce from the classics being thrust upon us!
We still love Romeo and Juliet, To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, and The Odyssey. Why? Because we (both my students and I) are not FORCED to read them. They are among the many many choices in my class library. My class library is a haven of different works by different authors, who dare I say, were both AFTER 1995!
All respect to Harper Lee and her masterpiece To Kill a Mockingbird, but most of the African American students in my class don't want to hear the story of a white man saving a black man, written by a white woman. They want to hear the words of Angie Thomas and Jason Reynolds, and other amazing African American writers who are writing for them!
The young, scared, gay boy in my class is not interested in reading about the subtly closeted Dill. They want to read about a brave teenager who is not scared of being himself and loving who he wants!
I have 600 individual books in my class. My students love their options, but they often want to discuss the books they read. My project is to have 8 copies of these novels, so they can read with their friends. They often ask about Book Clubs within our class! I want to create that with them!
More than a third 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 Mr. Stefanelli and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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