My students need to read books about strong, thoughtful young men and women of color like themselves. We need books like Everyting, Everything and American Born Chinese.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
My students and their families have a strong sense of pride in a historic, neighborhood school, which has educated generations of Memphis Orange Mound community members. 94% are classified as economically disadvantaged. With support from the district and a great leadership team, my school's math teachers are collaborating across grades and across content areas to strengthen student achievement and prepare our students for success in college and careers. Since 2013, the average math ACT score for our students has grown from 15 to 16; with your help, we hope to reach 20 by 2020.
My students work incredibly hard; they work jobs late at night, take care of their siblings and cousins, take responsibility for finding their own transportation to and from school, lead extra-curricular sports and clubs, and show up every day ready to engage in math content.
They deserve a high quality education in a safe, welcoming classroom to strengthen their mathematical problem solving, address their specific skill gaps in rigorous math concepts, and raise their ACT scores.
My Project
When I was growing up, I seldom read any books about or by people who looked like me. Our school library was full of books about young white girls and white boys, and I quickly lost interest in reading until I discovered books written by people of color whom I connected with.
My students are in a similar predicament - as 100% of my students are black and Latino, they are looking for stories and voices that validate, echo, and sound like their own.
I am hoping to create a library of diverse books so my students can grow in their love for learning, reading, and their own stories.
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 Ms. Lam and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
