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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Praser from Lansing, IL is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Praser is requesting

Students First Classroom Library

My students need a wide variety of books to try on.

  • $1,895 goal

This project expired on April 3, 2017.

This project expired on April 3, 2017.

Classroom photo
Mrs. Praser profile photo
Mrs. Praser Thornton Fractional South High School
Lansing, IL Grades 9-12

My Students

"I don't like reading," is commonly heard among my high school students in August. By the time they leave me in June, I hear, "I read for hours straight since I had no homework."

There are too many students who enter ninth grade at a second grade reading level.

They hate reading simply because the only books they have been exposed to are curriculum related, not self-selected. These students lack the stamina to read, which prevents significant growth from occurring.

My Project

Even though I am a high school teacher, students enter my classroom having never read a book. When asked, "What is your favorite book?" too many of these 14, 15, 16, and 17-year-olds look down at their feet, avoiding the question. Research shows that when students read for at least 30 minutes a day, the benefits are limitless. Not only do their reading and writing improve, but problem solving, concentration, and memory. Since my students' lives can be rather stressful, the reading time allows their stress to subside. This allows them to be more engaged during the lesson.

During our daily reading time, I have found that having a variety of high-interest, easily accessible options encourage this healthy habit.

While they read for 10 to 15 minutes in class, I conference with several students about what book they currently reading, where they are in the book, do they like the book, or even what book would they like to read next. The goal is to put a book in their hands that engages them so they can continue to read outside of class for at least another 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, I have some students who cannot find this engagement. I have told them that I want them to try as many books as I can give them until they make this connection to a book. Once this connection has been made, they should understand the significance of reading each and every day. This is why I need to expand my single bookcase, filled with books I had in my library at home, into multiple cases. I am requesting a wide variety of books for them to try out.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

120 students impacted
Mrs. Praser Thornton Fractional South 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.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Lansing, IL 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

120 students impacted

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
The Mortal Instruments (6 bk set) • AKJ Education $71.04 2 $142.08
Graphic Novel Favorites (7 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $97.16 1 $97.16
Mythology (10 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $79.91 1 $79.91
Kimani TRU (7 bk set) • AKJ Education $62.79 1 $62.79
Short Stories (9 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $61.98 1 $61.98
Poetry (6 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $60.56 1 $60.56
District 13 (10 bk set) • AKJ Education $59.49 1 $59.49
Ancient Civilizations (8 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $56.75 1 $56.75
Seven (the Series) (7 bk set) • AKJ Education $54.72 1 $54.72
Carter High (9 bk set) • AKJ Education $53.30 1 $53.30
Classics Illustrated (5 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $52.28 1 $52.28
Twilight (4 bk set) • AKJ Education $45.56 1 $45.56
Spanish Heritage - Notable Authors (5 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $43.33 1 $43.33
The Inheritance Cycle (4 bk set) • AKJ Education $43.18 1 $43.18
High Interest, Low Readability - Adventure (6 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $40.97 1 $40.97
Graphic Universe (6 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $40.18 1 $40.18
Divergent (3 bk set) • AKJ Education $40.05 1 $40.05
The Ender Quintet (5 bk set) • AKJ Education $39.62 1 $39.62
The Earthsea Cycle (6 bk set) • AKJ Education $39.24 1 $39.24
The Elsewhere Chronicles (6 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $38.84 1 $38.84
High Interest, Low Readability - Fiction (6 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $37.94 1 $37.94
High Interest, Low Readability - Sports (5 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $37.22 1 $37.22
Sports (5 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $32.86 1 $32.86
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (5 bk set) • AKJ Education $31.40 1 $31.40
Pretty Little Liars (4 bk set) • AKJ Education $31.40 1 $31.40
The Hunger Games (3 bk set) • AKJ Education $30.61 1 $30.61
High Interest, Low Readability - Nonfiction (4 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $29.10 1 $29.10
Mystery (5 Bk Set) • AKJ Education $28.40 1 $28.40
Maximum Ride (4 bk set) • AKJ Education $26.70 1 $26.70
The Gemma Doyle Trilogy (3 bk set) • AKJ Education $25.12 1 $25.12
Graceling Realm (3 bk set) • AKJ Education $25.12 1 $25.12
Matched (3 bk set) • AKJ Education $23.55 1 $23.55
His Dark Materials (3 bk set) • AKJ Education $18.83 1 $18.83
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian • AKJ Education $9.01 1 $9.01
Milkweed • AKJ Education $7.29 1 $7.29
The Wanderings of Odysseus The Story of the Odyssey • AKJ Education $5.10 1 $5.10
Peak • AKJ Education $4.97 1 $4.97

Materials cost

$1,556.61

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$23.35

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$1,609.96

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$284.11

Total project goal

$1,894.07

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

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Project Activity

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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 Mrs. Praser and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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