I teach 6th grade Language Arts and Reading. My students are behind grade level in reading but motivated to work hard to become better readers and writers. My school is in a low-income community and resources can be limited, especially in excellent literature.
For the past three years I have been fortunate to receive a donorschoose.org funding for each of my students to have their own copy of the book Number the Stars and am hoping to be able to get similar funding this year.
My students have never learned about the Holocaust and Number the Stars enables us to have a lens in which to deeply study the Holocaust and genocide. This year, my students will get the opportunity to have a question answer session with a rabbi, visit the Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial and meet a Holocaust survivor upon completion of the unit. I want to offer my students this year the same opportunity to be exposed to a subject they have never learned about and to learn to use literature as a way in which to study history.
My Project
If my students could each have their own copy of Number the Stars they would have incredible opportunity. In the first place, reading Number the Stars would enable us to intimately engage in conversation about the Holocaust, exposing my students to a part of history that for the most part they have very limited knowledge. In addition, if each of my students had his or her own copy of the book they would be able to write clarifying comments in the margin, allowing them to become active readers and connect with the novel. Finally, I think that after working with a novel for an extended period of time it is important to start an "at home" library of the excellent books you have read which will allow them to have a closer connection with the novel and literature as a whole.
We need 101 copies of Number the Stars that will act as a lens through which to study the Holocaust and will change my students' lives.
It will allow them to be exposed to a critical era in history, become actively engaged in reading and develop an interest and love for excellent literature.
More than half 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 Ms. Efronson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.