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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Carlson from Philadelphia, PA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Carlson is requesting

Walter Dean Myers Author Study

My students need 25 paperback copies of "Hoops" and "Somewhere in the Darkness", as well as 10 notebooks to use as journals to respond to the text.

FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Carlson's classroom raised $557

This project is fully funded

Hello! I am a sixth year teacher, but this is only my second year teaching in a very urban area of Pennsylvania. I teach 8th grade English/Reading in a K-8 school. Because of our K-8 design, we only have 2 eighth grade classrooms, so our school often ends up feeling more like an elementary school than a middle school for our 6th-8th grade students. Limited classes also creates a situation where we are a very inclusive school, with children of all levels being mixed together in one room. This creates the need for very high-interest reading materials, so that I can grab the attention of all learners.

We recently read "The Greatest" and "Riot", btoh by Walter Dean Myers. I set up a trip for an author visit through our local library when Myers was in town, and the students were able to hear him speak, ask him questions, and have their books signed. The students have become interested in his writing, so I want to take advantage of that interest and read some of his other work. With the exception of about 4 of my 8th graders, many of my students read below grade level, and are very behind on district and state standardized testing. If I can capture their interest, and use these novels as a way to teach the required literacy standards, I am confident that their skills will improve in both reading and writing. Meeting a successful African American author was important for my students. They were able to see another possibility for themselves and their futures. I have a great relationship with my students, but there are times that they will tell me that I don't understand their "world" because I am white. I try to open their eyes and minds to the world beyond their neighborhood, while at the same time teaching them to be proud of who they are and where they come from.

At our school, we have no functioning library, and no librarian. There is no funding available for that extra faculty position, or for books that are not part of the mandated "Elements of Literature" textbook and its curriculum. Though I must use our textbook on most days, it is when we do a novel study together as a class, that the students really become engaged. I hope to continue these novel studies with the books "Hoops" and "Somewhere in the Darkness" (which was a Newberry Winner) also by the author we've been reading, Walter Dean Myers. I will use the journals as a place for students to do the vocabulary work from the novel, to ask questions about the novel, and to respond in writing to journal and comprehension questions that I ask them. This will be something they can take ownership of and take with them as they read. Almost all of the materials we have in our school, must remain in the school, and cannot be written in, so the students truly enjoy when something feels like their own workbook.

For many of my students, school is where they find structure, as their home lives are often very distressing, and unstable. Our school has not made gains in a few years now, and we are what would be considered an "underperforming" school. With the help of people like you, these students can find a love of reading that will provide them with literacy skills they need in all aspects of life, and maybe even give them a world to escape to when things in their life are too hard.

Mrs. Carlson Gen John Reynolds Elementary School Grades 6-8

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Philadelphia, PA 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

50 students impacted 13donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Somewhere in the Darkness Walter Dean Myers • Barnes and Noble $5.39 25 $134.75
Hoops Walter Dean Myers • Barnes and Noble $5.85 25 $146.25
COLLEGE RULE,SPIRAL NOTEBOOK,11"X8-7/8",70 SHEETS,1 SUBJECT -- Ampad Microperforated Spiral Notebooks; 1-Subject, 70 Sheets/Book • Quill $9.98 10 $99.80

Materials cost

$380.80

Vendor shipping charges

 $38.08

Sales tax

 $22.85

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.71

Fulfillment labor & materials

$9.00

Total project cost

$456.44

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$100.19

Total project goal

$556.63

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $556.63

12 Donors

-$556.63

Donations toward project cost

-$456.44

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$100.19

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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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. Carlson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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