Our school is a therapeutic day school program, the task of which is to provide emotional support and academic opportunities to children who have been unable to succeed in community school settings due to emotional, learning, and behavioral difficulties. The majority of our students live at a residential children's home and are wards of the state. Our school runs as a trauma-informed program, aiming to help our students grow from their pasts and learn how to cope in effective ways. Despite the challenges that our students face, they are incredible children. Their resiliency, love for learning, and curiosity are truly inspiring. I strive to make my classroom a welcoming and safe community and to help my students explore learning and grow into independent and productive citizens.
My Project
My students are really learning to love books. Read alouds are some of their most cherished moments of the day. My students go back to books all the time that they feel especially connected to.
Todd Parr writes colorful, simple picture books that cover big and small moments in every child's life.
My students rely heavily on books to help them get through big moments. Since we mainly teach children living in residential treatment, our student population is very transient. Some children stay for 5 months, some for 3 years. Saying goodbye to classmates so often can be very hard for our students who already struggle greatly with attachment. Books like Todd Parr's allow me to meet my students where they're at, and give them words to situations that are difficult for them to process.
I believe these books will be a perfect addition to our growing classroom library and give my students simple ways to connect with reading and make sense of the world around them.
More than a third of 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 Mrs. Szczecinski and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
