My students need an updated library of books. There has been a renewed interest in reading with the recent popularity of graphic novels for children.
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Benda's classroom raised $753
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
Have you ever met a nine or ten year old who has never read an entire book? My classroom is full of those students. They lack access to resources that are interesting and current.
I teach an incredible group of fourth and fifth grade students who are facing many struggles.
We are located in one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in Northern California, just across the bay from one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the state. Our building is literally falling down, but thankfully soon to be refurbished. During this remodel, we have been plagued by vandalism to the tune of $500,000. The students have remained positive in the face of adversity. They come to school daily with a great attitude and the will to succeed. Our school library contains outdated books that are falling apart, in a district with little to no funding for new books. The students still come with a desire to be better. Their resiliency is unmatched. My children deserve access to the same resources as students in other communities, regardless of socioeconomic status.
My Project
Students have little to no time to read for pleasure during the regular school day due to state and district mandated testing and No Child Left Behind. They are bombarded with curriculum that is not only many times irrelevant to their lives, but presented in a way that abstract. In addition to presenting curriculum, I need to get them excited about reading for pleasure. In order to do that we have reading logs to track our pages read. Every six weeks the students have a movie and snacks after school as a reward for reading 500 or more pages in the allotted time period. The students are voracious readers if they have access to the latest reading materials. I have been teaching for twenty years with a library just as old. The newest interest is in graphic novels with many titles and series created just for kids. They are presented at a reading level slightly below their academic level, therefore perfect for independent reading at home.
This project is important because we all know that a love of reading will provide a lifelong love of learning.
Students no longer look at books as entertainment, just drudgery that takes place in the classroom. I want students to know what real reading looks like and instill that value in them for life. Books offer an escape to a sometimes ugly and cruel world. I want them to understand how profound and life changing a good book can be.
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 Mrs. Benda and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
