My students need class sets of the grade-level novels "Scorpions"; and "The Skin I"m In"; (And of course, the teacher needs her own novel resources, too!)
In my classroom, decked out in reds, oranges and yellows, my students strive to "get fired up about ELA." We read and write daily, focusing on comprehension, text analysis, and written expression. To me, "reading is believing," because ELA skills can empower students to pursue lifelong learning.
My students have historically struggled in literacy, and because they are from an at-risk, low-income neighborhood, they often lack the tools and opportunities to achieve.
And yet, despite these and other challenges they face, my students continue to be motivated to read and learn.
My goal as a teacher is to nurture and develop this "fire" in my students, molding them to become excited and passionate about what we are learning, willing and eager to learn more, and determined and driven to succeed.
My Project
After 10 months of hard work, my students will finish off the school year with a culminating novel study, where they will read and analyze a grade-level, high-interest text. This is a chance for them to not only apply the fundamental skills and concepts they have been studying all year, but to also simply enjoy a good book.
"Scorpions" by Walter Dean Myers and "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon Flake are two beloved teen novels that my students will read and analyze at the end of the year. Both books feature African American protagonists and discuss themes relevant to my middle schoolers, such as the trials of inner city life.
Typically, my seventh graders enter ELA class in August having difficulties reading and understanding short passages of more than one page, and some are several reading levels behind their more privileged peers. However, with a lot of dedication and commitment, they will be more than ready to tackle a full-length, grade-appropriate novel come June.
I am a strong believer in two things: first, that an ELA classroom can never have too many books, and second, that one book can change the life of a young reader.
"Scorpions" and "The Skin I'm In" will be two more novels my students can have at their fingertips, allowing them to access a world away from their own and inspiring them to keep reading, keep writing, and keep dreaming to reach their fullest potentials.
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
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. Alliegro and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"PA","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":3,"name":"Middle School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/reading-is-believing-class-books-for-no/1446572/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":65,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Ms. Alliegro","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"1770101241","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Philadelphia","teachersOnPage":[2717037],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":true,"proposalId":1446572,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":90897,"schoolName":"Lindley Academy Charter School at Birney","authorIds":{"2717037":{"owner":"Ms. Alliegro","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[1446572],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherHasProfilePhoto":false,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":20528703,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["MjY0MjY3OA==","NjAxMzM5","MjcyMzMyNw==","MjY3NDM2Mw==","MjcxNzAzNw==","MjcyMzI1OQ==","MjQyMzcxNw==","MjcyMzE2OA==","MzcxOTQ5","MjcyMzM0Ng=="],"teacherId":2717037,"schoolCounty":"Philadelphia","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"PA","name":"Pennsylvania"}}