My students need 20 copies of Refugee by Alan Gratz to practice reading skills while simultaneously learning about other cultures and important world events.
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
My students are eleventh and twelfth graders who range in age from 16-18 years old. They attend a small, close-knit neighborhood high school in South Baltimore. Most have received special education services for the entirety of their academic careers. They are reading and writing anywhere from 3-10 years below grade level.
Students in my class have been diagnosed with intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, and autism, but they love reading and writing and are always excited to participate in class.
They consistently support and encourage each other, and they have worked hard to create a classroom environment where it's safe to take risks and make mistakes. Their enthusiasm and resilience inspires me every day.
My Project
I am requesting 20 copies of Refugee by Alan Gratz, a recently released historical fiction novel that follows three children as they flee their homes (WWII Germany, 1990s Cuba, and modern-day Syria) in search of safety. Our second quarter unit addresses the essential question "To what extent is one’s fate the result of one’s choices?" and this text will enable my students to grapple with this question in many different ways. The novel will also introduce my class to new cultures, help to build empathy, and teach them more about important historical and present-day world events.
Refugee, written at a middle school reading level (approx 800L), will enable my students to comfortably engage in whole group and independent reading in a richer way than a traditional high school text.
My students are very eager readers, but they sometimes become overwhelmed and uncomfortable when faced with texts too far above their instructional levels. However, the depth and style of this novel will still allow students to work on grade level skills such as determining theme, analyzing figurative language, and discussing the author's choices.
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. FitzGerald and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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