My students need a variety of age appropriate, relevant, exciting books to be able to read in their home languages.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Taylor's classroom raised $895
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
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
"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library."
Jorge Luis Borges
I am a teacher librarian at a vibrant and wonderful middle school.
The school is considered "low performing" with students "at-risk" according to standardized test scores and city housing data. If one was to look beyond the data, he/she would see a great school filled with kids that meditate twice a day, bird watch, golf, and love to play music.
It is a joyous place despite a horrible reputation. The school has a very large (the largest in any middle school in the district) newcomer pathway. This pathway consists mainly of students from a variety of Central American countries, Mexico, China and Vietnam. They trickle in all everyday throughout the year. The students love the library and come in at lunch to play board games, participate in the clubs and want to read.
My Project
Studies have shown that students who maintain literacy in their home language will have an easier time with being fluent in English. It is important to have a collection in the library that focuses on English Language Development and a collection in the students' home languages. This way they can read books in English at their level and learn vocabulary and the structure of English while continuing to learn about plot, voice, narration, and ideas when reading in their home language.
Currently the students come in every other Wednesday to check out books. I only have a few books in their languages and they want to read the Hunger Games in Spanish or Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Chinese. I hope to increase the collections so all students can check out books twice a month.
A collection of interesting and relevant books in a variety of languages will help students to become literate in both English and their native language.
The newcomers will learn to use the school library to not only check out books but will feel welcome to come back to do homework and research. If they can be readers, no matter the language, it will be a skill and a joy for the rest of their lives. I do not want their reading to end with their coming to the USA but a new chapter.
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. Taylor and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
