My students need 3 copies of 11 novels to bring home and read. In addition, they need 10 iPod Shuffles to help decode the words so that they can comprehend the literature
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
So, what is the answer? Teaching in a school where the average ACT score is 15.9, over 10 points below scores from selective enrollment schools in our city. What do you do when only 15% of the school population meets or exceeds state standards?
So, who are these children?
My school consists of over 1400 teens who look just like your teenage son and daughter. But, what was your son's ACT score? My children's scores ranged between 18 and 25, and, they had been told from birth that they were going to college. Some of these students' parents barely completed grade school. Some of them live with one parent, some with grandparents or siblings. Many come already defeated, with no long range goals of their own. Many think that a, "D" is an acceptable grade. Many act all tough and bad and often, may forget their manners at home some days. But, if you look past all of that, these are high school teens, just like your son and daughter, at the most insecure time of their lives. And, if we can find a way to break through that tough exterior, they can achieve, they can beat that ACT score.
My Project
Equity in education? Absolutely not. Students cannot take home novels because of limited funds. In one class I worked, there were only 60 copies of a novel, and, with 145 seniors, it was impossible to allow the kids to take home the book to read further. Book fees? No way. Many of these students can barely afford paper and pencils. The materials in this grant, multiple copies of required novels and supplemental reading, will enable a few students, the students on my caseload, and maybe some others, to take that book home to read further and read more! The audio devices that this grant includes will be lent out to the students to listen and follow along so that they can enjoy literature beyond their decoding abilities. In this way, they will be able to keep up with their classmates...and, maybe even pass them up!
So, please, dig deep into your pockets, and help my students.
Cause, we all know that the answer is simple. The answer is caring. Caring via your support. Caring via the teacher's hard work to push that ACT score up, so that these kids can break free from the poverty, and succeed!
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
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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 Ms. O'Gorman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
