My students need copies of Daniel Quinn's novel, Ishmael, to help our class better understand the concept how stories shape our imagination and our sense of what is possible.
I work at a progressive school for students who, for various reasons, were not having success in the traditional model. Many of them are dealing with a history of trauma which impacts their ability to succeed in school.
Our team provides a safe, nurturing environment that offers a more personalized learning experience for students.
We provide social and emotional supports for students in addition to academic learning. Our goal is to help students graduate from high school ready to take on the world.
My Project
In the first unit asked, "How do systems work to create and sustain justice and injustice?" Our second unit asks, "What is the role and responsibility of individuals in supporting or resisting just and unjust systems?"
Ishmael will be the anchor text for the third and final unit in our yearlong Humanities study of how social systems work.
We will ask the question, "How do we imagine and then enact systems change on behalf of justice?"
Ishmael is a powerful text because it explores the topic that has been with us forever, and will always be with us: it's about how stories drive our behavior. We act the way we do because we believe in a story about ourselves and about our world that gives us meaning. Once we are able to see this, to step back and notice this, we can gain control of the stories we tell ourselves. I can't wait to read this with students.
If you donated to this project, you can sign in to leave a comment for Mr. Miranda.
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 Mr. Miranda and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
