I’ve been blessed with a teaching career surrounded by middle school students. Their energy and puppy-like awkwardness make for an exciting and interesting day that is always different from the next. In a 6th through 8th grade middle school, my 7th grade students are at a unique point in their academic career. They have a year of experience, yet another year still full of wonder, giving them the perfect mixture of confidence and curiosity.
As a 7th grade ELA co-teacher, my classroom is the melting pot of readers and writers.
My students come from different learning backgrounds and have many unique learning styles, however, they are all seeking adventure and looking to escape the ordinary day-to-day. My students are on the hunt for awesome ideas, friends, role models, and inspiration to make life (and school!) fascinating.
My Project
Over the past few years, I have seen technology overwhelmingly enhance the world of education. Students are immersed in 3D printing, coding, and blogging. They are able to collaborate and connect to other students around the globe, and publish virtual projects for the world to see. There seems to be endless opportunities to manipulate and create, making learning enjoyable and real. However, like with all technology, the batteries run low or updates are needed. To keep going, we pull out the cords to be plugged in and eventually recharge. But what about the human mind? How do we recharge our greatest piece of technology?
Students need to unplug and recharge with books.
Pernille Ripp, literacy guru, wrote the book, Passionate Readers, a new favorite that ignited my passion to help students reconnect with reading. Ripp explains how students need books to unwind and escape. Reading helps students become analytical and imaginative, important skills for 21st century learners. They also need to read for enjoyment so they continue to be readers outside of high school.
To help students become passionate readers, my goal is to create a well-stocked classroom library with plenty of choices for all readers. Ripp's research challenges teachers to have 7 books per student. That means I need 840 books! For now, my goal is to have at least 240 high quality books within my library before next school year.
The classroom library will be used to help keep books in the hands of students. Once they finish a book, they can quickly pick up another. They can take books home, share with others, or read in partners. Books will be used for enrichment projects and recess. Most of all, the classroom library will promote literacy and the joy of unplugging and reading.
Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World's Most Amazing Places
• Amazon Business
$29.91
1
$29.91
Star Wars Year by Year: A Visual History, Updated Edition
• Amazon Business
$24.95
1
$24.95
Poetry for Kids: Walt Whitman
• Amazon Business
$14.20
1
$14.20
Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets
• Amazon Business
$13.83
1
$13.83
Poetry for Kids: William Shakespeare
• Amazon Business
$13.79
1
$13.79
Poetry for Kids: Robert Frost
• Amazon Business
$13.44
1
$13.44
The Creativity Project: An Awesometastic Story Collection
• Amazon Business
$12.89
1
$12.89
Tool of War (Ship Breaker)
• Amazon Business
$12.59
1
$12.59
My Life as a Youtuber (The My Life series)
• Amazon Business
$12.54
1
$12.54
Dear My Blank: Secret Letters Never Sent
• Amazon Business
$11.99
1
$11.99
Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win
• Amazon Business
$11.55
1
$11.55
All's Faire in Middle School
• Amazon Business
$11.18
1
$11.18
The Hate U Give
• Amazon Business
$10.79
1
$10.79
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made
• Amazon Business
$10.64
1
$10.64
Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World
• Amazon Business
$10.32
1
$10.32
Rebound
• Amazon Business
$10.19
1
$10.19
Slider
• Amazon Business
$9.70
1
$9.70
Son (Giver Quartet)
• Amazon Business
$9.68
1
$9.68
Invisible Emmie
• Amazon Business
$9.26
1
$9.26
Awkward (Berrybrook Middle School)
• Amazon Business
$9.25
1
$9.25
Messenger (Readers Circle)
• Amazon Business
$8.99
1
$8.99
Between Shades of Gray
• Amazon Business
$8.98
1
$8.98
How to Be a Blogger and Vlogger in 10 Easy Lessons: Learn how to create your own blog, vlog, or podcast and get it out in the blogosphere! (Super Skills)
• Amazon Business
$8.90
1
$8.90
MiNRS
• Amazon Business
$8.76
1
$8.76
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Middle School: 101 Stories of Life, Love, and Learning for Younger Teens
• Amazon Business
$8.59
1
$8.59
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
• Amazon Business
$8.53
1
$8.53
Ship Breaker
• Amazon Business
$8.14
1
$8.14
The Drowned Cities
• Amazon Business
$8.04
1
$8.04
Hideout
• Amazon Business
$7.99
1
$7.99
Monster: A Graphic Novel
• Amazon Business
$7.68
1
$7.68
Noggin
• Amazon Business
$7.14
1
$7.14
Abduction!
• Amazon Business
$6.99
1
$6.99
Ghosts
• Amazon Business
$6.89
1
$6.89
Ghost (Track)
• Amazon Business
$6.21
1
$6.21
A Storm Too Soon (Young Readers Edition): A Remarkable True Survival Story in 80 Foot Seas
• Amazon Business
$6.21
1
$6.21
Trials of Apollo, The Book One The Hidden Oracle
• Amazon Business
$5.94
1
$5.94
Fever 1793
• Amazon Business
$5.68
1
$5.68
The Finest Hours (Young Readers Edition): The True Story of a Heroic Sea Rescue (True Storm Rescues)
• Amazon Business
$5.64
1
$5.64
Gathering Blue (Giver Quartet)
• Amazon Business
$4.99
1
$4.99
Monster
• Amazon Business
$3.38
1
$3.38
Materials cost
$406.36
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$6.10
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$442.46
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$78.08
Total project goal
$520.54
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$520.54
9 Donors
-$516.13
Donations toward project cost
-$442.46
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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 Mrs. Wolf and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
