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This teacher needs your help!

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

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Fully Funded

Mrs. N.'s classroom raised $596

Troubled Teens-Can Lives Be Restored?

My students need 30 copies of the novel "The Ghost of Spirit Bear" and 1 CD of the same novel.

Mrs. N. Thurgood Marshall Middle School
Chicago, IL Grades 6-8

Juvenile Detention centers do not rehabilitate or allow young adults to be accountable for their actions, assume responsibility, or take action to seek forgiveness and restore all that was wronged as well as provide/accept healing to al that were harmed. We need to consider alternatives.

Our middle school services students from various low income neighborhoods. Daily, they are faced with many challenging family, social, and environmental situations. The presence of gangs and violence have strongly influenced their choices and behaviors and, when caught in a bad situation, they are reactive and the results can be explosive. Because our teens live in the moment, they tend to not understand the lasting effects that their choices and behaviors have for themselves, those that are harmed by their actions, and the community overall. Our students need opportunities in which they can learn coping and problem-solving strategies to prevent violence as well as help them understand that they play a major role in every choice and action that they make and need to assume responsibility when things go wrong. In turn, they need to take the necessary steps to correct the situation, no matter how awful it may be, in order to learn from it, heal, and help others heal and forgive. As a school, every class has read "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen. It presented the idea of "Circle Justice" which we have somewhat adopted.

We would like to continue our study of Circle Justice and restorative justice. My students want so very much to read the sequel to "Touching Spirit Bear" called "Ghost of Spirit Bear." The main characters have found peace, have healed, and have forgiven. They have been able to make positive changes and learn from their mistakes. Now it is time to put them back in normal society, in their regular high school, and families. My students want to know if circle justice actually can win, despite the odds and violence of the real world. In order to continue our learning, we need a minimum of 30 "Ghost of Spirit Bear" novels, by Ben Mikaelsen, and 1 copy of the same novel on CD.

Your help can make it possible for my students to learn to make the right choices, that violence is not the answer for the obstacles that are presented to them on a daily basis. You will be helping to teach them how to avoid and prevent problems rather than dealing with consequences on a punitive level. Students will hopefully learn stop and think before acting or reacting because the results can be unimaginable. You will help students to be proactive and to teach themselves and others empathy and understanding. Finally, students will learn that they are accountable for their actions, an accountability that empowers them to do what is necessary to restore justice and live a healthy and productive life.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

30 students impacted 2 donors
Mrs. N. Thurgood Marshall Middle School Grades 6-8

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Chicago, 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

30 students impacted 2donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Ghost of Spirit Bear Ben Mikaelsen • Barnes and Noble $13.59 30 $407.70
Ghost of Spirit Bear Ben Mikaelsen, Read by Jason Harris • Barnes and Noble $21.60 1 $21.60

Materials cost

$429.30

Vendor shipping charges

 $42.93

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.44

Fulfillment labor & materials

$9.00

Total project cost

$488.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$107.12

Total project goal

$595.12

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $595.12

2 Donors

-$497.00

Donations toward project cost

-$488.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$9.00

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$98.12

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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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. N. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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