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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Hitch from Philadelphia, PA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Hitch is requesting

Student-Centered Library

Help me give my students access to more inclusive books and to start preparing for a mural in our library space with brushes!

FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Hitch's classroom raised $1,012

This project is fully funded

My Students

Our school is in the northwest section of Philadelphia. This is only the sixth year the school has existed and we are in the "Innovative Network", which means that we challenge the traditional model of education and try innovative new approaches to best teach and prepare our students to become critical thinkers who are passionate, curious, and lifelong learners. The school uses project-based learning and the creation of this space is certainly in keeping with that. We are a public school, but draw students from all over the city.

Three years ago, groups of my students were desperately craving books to read and I tried my best to continue to meet demand and interest with new options throughout the year.

They would come during lunch to see what new box of books I had and stay after school to look through and request more. Our school, like almost all in our district, does not have a functioning library. Instead, English teachers are expected to have "classroom libraries" to fill that void.

Many of our students also don't have the resources at home, so it makes the potential of this library that much more meaningful and worthwhile.

My Project

As a high school English teacher in Philadelphia, I have been building up my classroom library my entire career.

In 1991, our district had 176 paid librarians, today that number has dwindled down to a mere seven.

There are more than 200 schools in our school district.

When I started at our school, some of my students were such avid readers that I had a hard time keeping up with their requests! This inspired me to get approval for a dedicated space in our school to turn into a library. The library is maintained and run by students, so the emphasis is on empowerment and engagement.

While we don't have the expertise that a librarian would, we are trying our best to fill the void for something that every school, and every student, should have access to.

This year, some of my former creative writing students have asked to work as interns for the library. In our discussions and preparation, we have also considered how to make this a welcoming and inclusive space for everyone. We have worked hard to procure books for early readers and will have a dedicated space where students can have a book to take home if they pledge to read it to the young readers in their life. Additionally, we have researched to find more books that are in Spanish and have added material that can teach students to use sign language and Braille.

We officially opened our library this year and are excited to build off of that momentum when we return in the fall, after the quarantine has ended, to continue to create a meaningful space! This request of books includes more books in Spanish and starter material for a library mural!

Mr. Hitch Building 21 Philadelphia High School Grades 9-12

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Philadelphia, PA View local requests

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

150 students impacted 8donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Jaketen DIY Adjustable Bookcase, Bookshelf with 9 Book Shelves, Home Furniture Storage • Amazon Business $34.99 3 $104.97
The Mortal Instruments, the Complete Collection(City of Bones/ City of Ashes/ City of Glass/ City of Fallen Angels/ City of Lost Souls/ City of Heavenly Fire) • Amazon Business $42.86 1 $42.86
The 100 Complete Boxed Set • Amazon Business $39.60 1 $39.60
The Trouble Begins: A Box of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-3 (The Bad Beginning; The Reptile Room; The Wide Window) • Amazon Business $32.97 1 $32.97
The Infernal Devices, the Complete Collection: Clockwork Angel; Clockwork Prince; Clockwork Princess • Amazon Business $29.17 1 $29.17
Baby University ABC's Board Book Set: Four Alphabet Board Books for Toddlers (Baby University Board Book Sets) • Amazon Business $27.43 1 $27.43
Baby University Board Book Set: Four Science Board Books for Babies (Baby University Board Book Sets) • Amazon Business $27.33 1 $27.33
Shatter Me Series Paperback Box Set: Books 1-4 • Amazon Business $24.99 1 $24.99
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy Boxed Set: Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising • Amazon Business $23.05 1 $23.05
The Mamba Mentality: How I Play • Amazon Business $20.30 1 $20.30
If These Walls Could Talk: Community Muralism and the Beauty of Justice • Amazon Business $20.25 1 $20.25
CONDA Paint Brushes Set of 24 Different Shapes Ergonomic Professional Wood Handles with Organizing Case for Acrylic Oil Watercolor, Rock Painting • Amazon Business $18.59 1 $18.59
Teen Chef Cooks: 80 Scrumptious, Family-Friendly Recipes: A Cookbook • Amazon Business $17.59 1 $17.59
House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City) • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
Teen Trailblazers: 30 Fearless Girls Who Changed the World Before They Were 20 • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
Chosen Ones • Amazon Business $16.19 1 $16.19
La reina roja (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $14.90 1 $14.90
The Complete Persepolis • Amazon Business $14.59 1 $14.59
Teens Cook: How to Cook What You Want to Eat [A Cookbook] • Amazon Business $14.35 1 $14.35
A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses) • Amazon Business $14.29 1 $14.29
A Young People's History of the United States: Columbus to the War on Terror (For Young People Series) • Amazon Business $13.69 1 $13.69
The Baking Cookbook for Teens: 75 Delicious Recipes for Sweet and Savory Treats • Amazon Business $12.89 1 $12.89
The Seeds of America Trilogy: Chains; Forge; Ashes • Amazon Business $12.39 1 $12.39
La ladrona de libros / The Book Thief (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $12.37 1 $12.37
Bossypants • Amazon Business $12.21 1 $12.21
The Night Circus • Amazon Business $12.00 1 $12.00
El principito (TD) (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $11.95 1 $11.95
Project You: More than 50 Ways to Calm Down, De-Stress, and Feel Great (Switch Press:) • Amazon Business $11.30 1 $11.30
The Book of Awesome Women: Boundary Breakers, Freedom Fighters, Sheroes and Female Firsts • Amazon Business $10.89 1 $10.89
Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance • Amazon Business $10.79 1 $10.79
I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives • Amazon Business $10.77 1 $10.77
Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $10.69 1 $10.69
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Crepxfasculo / Twilight (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $9.87 1 $9.87
Hush, Hush (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $9.39 1 $9.39
Percy Jackson 01. Ladron del rayo (Percy Jackson y los dioses del olimpo) (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $9.29 1 $9.29
Dear Martin • Amazon Business $8.79 1 $8.79
Dread Nation • Amazon Business $8.72 1 $8.72
Just Mercy (Movie Tie-In Edition, Adapted for Young Adults): A True Story of the Fight for Justice • Amazon Business $8.66 1 $8.66
No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference • Amazon Business $8.49 1 $8.49
A Court of Thorns and Roses • Amazon Business $8.33 1 $8.33
Wonder: La historia de Julixe1n / The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $7.99 1 $7.99
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition) • Amazon Business $7.98 1 $7.98
Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Growing Up Latino in the United States (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $7.59 1 $7.59
Holes (Holes Series) • Amazon Business $7.55 1 $7.55
A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses) • Amazon Business $6.99 1 $6.99
A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses) • Amazon Business $6.89 1 $6.89
The Book Thief • Amazon Business $6.50 1 $6.50
Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two • Amazon Business $4.99 1 $4.99

Materials cost

$817.35

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$12.26

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$859.61

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$151.70

Total project goal

$1,011.31

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $1,011.31

5 Donors

-$761.11

Donations toward project cost

-$647.11

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$114.00

match offer

-$250.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$212.50

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$37.50

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$0.20

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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