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Ms. Neris from Chicago IL is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

The Power of Literature

The cost of a variety of books including The Old African, The Boy Who Saved Baseball, The Best of Judy Blume, and more from Barnes and Noble is $748, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.

  • $840 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

I am a 5th grade teacher at John J. Pershing West, in Chicago's inner city. A large portion of my day is dedicated to teaching literacy. It is for this reason that I am seeking support, in the way of books, to help build my classroom library. I am asking for books for my classroom library. Many of my students have not been exposed to quality literature in the past. Many live in neighborhoods whose public libraries are underserved or non-existent. Most of my students come from single-parent homes and do not have the financial means to purchase the latest in quality children's literature. Some of my students do not frequently have the privilege of being read to. For many, the only place that they are exposed to literature of any sort is in the classroom. I am interested in exposing my students to literature that represents all genres and ability levels. With the support of Donors Choose I seek to create a classroom library rich in literature and one that fosters creativity, culture, history, and personal growth. Most importantly, I want my students to become readers. I want them to value words and experience the wonderful places that books allow us see. If funded, I intend to use the library as a vehicle to delivering instruction about types of literature, and the differences and similarities between genres, especially fiction and non-fiction. Students will take responsibility of the library by checking books out daily, and maintaining its organization. They will learn to value all written masterpieces. I also seek to create a book club within the classroom. It is my desire to create readers and cultivate quality book discussions. I intend to dedicate at least 20 minutes a day to read to my students. This will be a special time in which nothing is required of them. It will serve as a time that they may see fluency modeled and travel to all of the places that literature can take them. With a donation of to help build a classroom library, my students will be well on their way to becoming readers. They will experience the freedom of choice in choosing a ‘just right' text to read. These inner-city students will have the privilege of being read to daily. This donation will teach them to value books, and to gain an understanding about the power of quality literature.

Ms. Neris
Grades 3-5
  • Pershing West Magnet School
  • Chicago, IL
  • Nearly all students from low‑income households

    This project will reach 50 students.

    4 donors have given to this project.

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Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
Madonna: 5 Book Boxset Madonna • Barnes and Noble $47.96 1 $47.96
Best of Judy Blume: 4 Copy Box Set Judy Blume • Barnes and Noble $18.77 1 $18.77
The Old African Julius Lester, Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $17.99 1 $17.99
Mosque David Macaulay, David Macaulay (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $16.20 1 $16.20
Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan Mary Williams, R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $16.15 1 $16.15
Bang! Sharon G. Flake • Barnes and Noble $15.29 1 $15.29
Hanukkah, Shmanukkah! Esme Raji Codell, LeUyen Pham (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $15.29 1 $15.29
Up the Learning Tree Marcia K. Vaughan, Derek Blanks (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $15.25 1 $15.25
Project Girl Janet McDonald • Barnes and Noble $15.25 1 $15.25
Twists and Turns Janet McDonald • Barnes and Noble $14.40 1 $14.40
Remember: The Journey to School Integration Toni Morrison • Barnes and Noble $14.40 1 $14.40
Ray Charles Sharon Bell Mathis, George Ford (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $14.40 1 $14.40
Dark Sons Nikki Grimes • Barnes and Noble $14.39 1 $14.39
A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children Caroline Kennedy, Jon J. Muth (Illustrator), Caroline Kennedy (Compiler) • Barnes and Noble $13.96 1 $13.96
A Wreath for Emmett Till Marilyn Nelson, Philippe Lardy (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $13.60 1 $13.60
Other Side Jacqueline Woodson, Earl Lewis (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $13.59 1 $13.59
The Truth About Forever Sarah Dessen • Barnes and Noble $13.59 1 $13.59
Show Way Jacqueline Woodson, Hudson Talbott (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $13.59 1 $13.59
Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride Marjorie Priceman, Marjorie Priceman (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $13.56 1 $13.56
Rosa Nikki Giovanni, Bryan Collier (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $13.56 1 $13.56
Diary of a Fairy Godmother Esme Raji Codell, Drazen Kozjan (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $13.49 1 $13.49
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance Barack Obama • Barnes and Noble $13.45 1 $13.45
Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue Julius Lester • Barnes and Noble $12.79 1 $12.79
Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Doreen Rappaport, Bryan Collier (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $12.79 1 $12.79
Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Doreen Rappaport, Bryan Collier (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $12.79 1 $12.79
Criss Cross Lynne Rae Perkins • Barnes and Noble $11.89 1 $11.89
Zen Shorts Jon J. Muth, Jon J. Muth (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $11.86 1 $11.86
Small Steps Louis Sachar • Barnes and Noble $11.86 1 $11.86
A Girl from Yamhill: A Memoir Beverly Cleary • Barnes and Noble $9.89 1 $9.89
Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers Judy Blume (Editor) • Barnes and Noble $9.00 1 $9.00
The Pretty Committee Strikes Back (The Clique Series #5) Lisi Harrison • Barnes and Noble $8.99 1 $8.99
Clique Lisi Harrison • Barnes and Noble $8.99 1 $8.99
Best Friends for Never (The Clique Series) Lisi Harrison • Barnes and Noble $8.99 1 $8.99
Speak Laurie Halse Anderson • Barnes and Noble $8.09 1 $8.09
Prom Laurie Halse Anderson • Barnes and Noble $8.09 1 $8.09
Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science John Fleischman • Barnes and Noble $8.05 1 $8.05
This Lullaby Sarah Dessen • Barnes and Noble $7.19 1 $7.19
True Stories: Girls' Inspiring Stories of Courage and Heart American Girls, Amanda Haley (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $7.15 1 $7.15
If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks Faith Ringgold, Faith Ringgold (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $6.29 1 $6.29
To Be a Slave Julius Lester, Tom Feelings (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $6.29 1 $6.29
The Dear One Jacqueline Woodson • Barnes and Noble $6.29 1 $6.29
You Don't Know Me David Klass • Barnes and Noble $6.29 1 $6.29
The Dark Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural Patricia C. McKissack, Brian Pinkney (Illustrator) • Barnes and Noble $5.85 1 $5.85
Locomotion Jacqueline Woodson • Barnes and Noble $5.39 1 $5.39
Slam! Walter Dean Myers • Barnes and Noble $5.39 1 $5.39
Locomotion Jacqueline Woodson • Barnes and Noble $5.39 1 $5.39
House You Pass on the Way Jacqueline Woodson • Barnes and Noble $5.39 1 $5.39
Spellbound Janet McDonald • Barnes and Noble $5.39 1 $5.39
Green Angel Alice Hoffman • Barnes and Noble $5.39 1 $5.39
The Boy Who Saved Baseball John H. Ritter • Barnes and Noble $5.39 1 $5.39
From The Notebooks Of Melanin Sun Jacqueline Woodson • Barnes and Noble $5.39 1 $5.39
Great Moments in Baseball History (Matt Christopher Sports Series for Kids) Matt Christopher, S. Peters (Editor) • Barnes and Noble $4.49 1 $4.49

Materials cost

$595.16

Vendor shipping charges

FREE

Sales tax

3rd party payment processing fee

Fulfillment labor & materials

Total project cost

$688.80

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$151.20

Total project goal

$840.00

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$840.00

3 Donors

-$689.00

Donations toward project cost

-$689.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$0.00

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$151.24

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

$0.00

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

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Project Activity

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