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
My 11th and 12th graders are a diverse group of people. Most of them come from a minority background (like myself). Many of them speak their native language and English (they are smarter than me because of this). And they are all very smart and kind and eager to learn.
In the first semester of this school year, my 11th grade students read articles, short stories, and books that helped them to have a broader and greater understanding of American history from the minority perspective.
And my 12th grade students read a variety of independently chosen books that reflected the diversity of their cultures and interests. It was great to talk with them about the texts we were reading together and independently and to see that many of them had connected to the texts, or had learned something from the texts.
My Project
As I will be moving my students into more independent reading, I realize that I need more books on my classroom shelf. Specifically, I need more diverse books, as I would like to encourage my minority culture students to see people like themselves in the books they read. This will help them to understand that reading is not just for the majority culture, but that it is also for them.
The books I have chosen are curated Read Woke suggestions from Cicely Lewis, (our school's librarian and the founder of the read woke movement).
They include books written by, and about, people of color. Furthermore, the books bring an awareness of the historical and present injustice against people of color in America, while at the same time bring hope and promote action in readers.
More than three‑quarters 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
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Oyerinde and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
