My students are imaginative, empathetic, and fun-loving. We live in a large, urban community that welcomes a diverse group of families. They bring a special blend of linguistic diversity, background knowledge, prior experiences, and culture to our school.
Since March 17th, my students have been learning from home, and this will likely continue throughout the fall .
Distance learning presents a challenge, as most of my students do not have access to supplies, technology, or a diverse variety of books in their homes.
I have over twenty students in my classroom, but we are participating in distance learning for our entire grade level (Over 60 Children!) I will be using the requested materials to make videos for distance learning read aloud, and once we are back in the classroom, they will be proudly displayed for everyday use.
My Project
Children need to see successful characters who look like them, whether it be in their homes, on TV, in the community, and most certainly in books as they develop their love of reading and learning.
I have curated a list of children's books for distance learning that feature characters from of all sorts of backgrounds and family dynamics.
I will be conducting virtual read aloud as well as allowing students to "check out" books to borrow for home use. I have also added a class set of "people colors" crayons and colored pencils, since the standard 24-pack of colors do not represent true skin tones. Students will be able to create their own stories using these materials.
I believe it is our responsibility as educators to provide rich, diverse stories for our students to see themselves and imagine new experiences through their reading journey. By donating to this project, you will create meaningful conversations in my classroom, and it will allow students to see themselves in literature.
“Books are sometimes windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created or recreated by the author. When lighting conditions are just right, however, a window can also be a mirror. "― Rudine Sims Bishop
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. Fasanella and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
