Help me give my students independent reading books with diverse main characters, with representation from a variety of different cultures.
$294 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
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 come from a variety of cultural, economic, and social backgrounds. My school is classified as an urban middle school.
Over 80% of the students in my school are on free or reduced lunch, and about one in four students receive English Language Learning services.
The diversity of the students brings many perspectives and angles to the classroom. However, the economic disadvantages can be limiting and hinder students who do not have resources outside of the classroom. These students can benefit and advance from the opportunity to use a variety of educational resources and learning modalities. Yet, the finances do not allow for that to be available in many cases.
Many of my students are coming into sixth grade reading well below grade level. This causes students to be disengaged and not passionate about reading. A lot of students also have a hard time choosing just right books.
My Project
In my ELA classroom, I feel it is extremely important for students to feel seen and heard. When it comes to picking out books to read, students often look for books that they can relate to. Often times the population of kids I teach struggle to find themselves in the pages of the books that are available. In many cases, students see main characters as role models. When they can't relate to any of the characters they are reading about, they may be missing that personal connection or the opportunity to see themselves in that role.
Research shows, "Kids need to see people who look like them who have faced challenges, overcome obstacles, and made a difference in the world."
Students need access to a classroom library where students can relate to the characters, places, and situations they face. This allows students to make strong connections and hopefully bring what they've learned into their personal lives. This project will give my students books that have main characters that are girls and boys from diverse ethnicities. The stories show a multitude of cultures, languages, heritages, religions, and customs. This will help my students continue to grow into global citizens and learn about the world.
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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. Mahood and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
