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
I teach a dedicated group of sophomores, juniors and seniors in the Watts community, who work each day to overcome the tremendous financial, social and environmental barriers that are placed in their way on a daily basis.
Anyone who has met or spent any prolonged period of time with my students will attest to how incredible they are - from their insights and their compassion, to their incredible sense of humor when life does nothing but challenge them.
They have a desire to be productive members of society, and are earnest in their efforts to make the world that we live in a better place. Teaching in an under served community comes with a myriad of challenges, from the perceived short comings of my students to the very real environmental challenges that are a cornerstone of many of their lives-- and everything in between. Contributing to a classroom library that promotes tolerance, empathy and self-empowerment will not only enable my students to be culturally and socially knowledgable citizens, it will also empower them to be agents of tolerance and change in their school, homes and community.
My Project
My students need independent reading books on a variety of topics to help foster a sense of tolerance and acceptance for themselves and others. These materials will help to create a tolerance, acceptance and empowerment themed classroom library for my 10th, 11th and 12th grade students. My hope is that my students will not only use these books to inform themselves about a variety of topics (including, but not limited to: LGBTQ issues, transgender studies, feminism, religious tolerance, genocide, mental disorders, bullying, gender equality, non-traditional families, and self-acceptance) as well as to empower themselves and those around them to become agents of tolerance, acceptance and change.
Many of my students have minimal exposure to the lived experiences of individuals outside of their immediate community, which often promotes a culture of intolerance, resentment and even hatred.
Furthermore, this lack of knowledge often causes feelings of separatism and alienation among individuals who identify with identity categories and/or experiences that are considered outside the "norms" of their community.
While these books will undoubtedly help contribute to dynamic instruction, discussion and extended learning in my classroom, my goal and vision for this project goes far beyond my classroom and the school year that my students will spend with me. The core of my teaching lies with educating critical, passionate and transformative citizens of the world. To achieve this goal, I adamantly believe that it must be rooted in tolerance, empathy and knowledge. By contributing to this project, you will aide in promoting this goal among my students for years to come.
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
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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. Palioungas and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
