My students would grow both personally and academically if they were able to connect with characters in books that had similar struggles or backgrounds to them. Many of my students come to school already feeling behind (academically) and different. I would love for them to be able to read about characters in books that struggle with learning disabilities and race issues, among other challenges. I have students in my class dealing with problems at home and school such as poverty, abuse, immigration, split families, as well as various learning disabilities.
My students deserve to feel as if school is a safe place, a place they belong and are welcomed among their peers.
My goal each year is to create a classroom where my students feel safe to be themselves and where they feel safe to accept and be proud of their own differences. A classroom where they know they are accepted for who they are regardless of what baggage they bring into the classroom each day. I believe student who can, will, and I believe when my students feel good about themselves they can and will grow emotionally and academically.
My Project
These books will be used during whole class read alouds, small group teachings, book clubs, and independent reading times. Reading books about kids with different disabilities and different backgrounds will help my students not only feel proud of their own uniqueness but also help them understand their classmates and others they will encounter in their lives. Rules, a book about a boy with autism; Fish in a Tree, a book about a child with learning disabilities; Wonder, a book about a boy with facial deformities; and the several books about kids from different ethnicities will finally allow my students to see themselves in books and have someone to look up to and learn from. Not only will this help them feel more confident, but when students can connect with the characters in a book they are able to comprehend at a deeper level.
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. Benoit and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
