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This teacher needs your help!

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

See what Mrs. Ponder is requesting

Your Books Are Boring!

My students need culturally responsive novels to inspire them to read. The majority of my students are reading two grade levels behind.

FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Ponder's classroom raised $2,037

This project is fully funded

My Students

My students are AMAZING fourth, graders with an ABUNDANCE of ENERGY. My students bring passion and a winning spirit to class daily. We’re located in a Chicago community that has experienced a great deal broken promises. I believe that although school funding is limited that we should not limit the dreams of our children. As students are promoted from one grade to the next they encounter the same old books titles in our classroom libraries. I would like to alter my students experiences with literature to a more enjoyable one. We are gatekeepers of knowledge and I would like for my classroom library to be a safe haven where students can achieve their dreams.

Also, they are accustomed to limits and boundaries due to the violence and state budget crisis.

I will use these books to conduct read-alouds in order to inspire them to think outside the BOX beyond their communities and use this literature to help them understand themselves and the world around them.

My Project

These books will make a huge difference in the lives of my fourth grade students. According to the most recent PARCC and NWEA reading scores students are still reading two to three grade levels behind. This academic school year, I PLAN to provide students with more culturally responsive as we'll as challenging text. Students usually complain that books in our classroom libraries do not grasp their attention. The books selected for this grant will help engage both male and female students in book clubs and literature circles that ask those probing higher order thinking questions. These book titles are guaranteed to engage, excite and challenge students to participate in meaningful discourse as they READ!! NO MORE BORING BOOKS!

Mrs. Ponder Woodson South Elementary School Grades 3-5

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

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.

Chicago, IL View local requests

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

40 students impacted 3donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mrs. Ponder is requesting.

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
The Hate U Give • Amazon Business $10.79 25 $269.75
Pinned • Amazon Business $9.99 25 $249.75
Bang! • Amazon Business $9.97 25 $249.25
Tyrell • Amazon Business $8.78 20 $175.60
Brown Girl Dreaming • Amazon Business $6.40 25 $160.00
Monster • Amazon Business $7.99 20 $159.80
As Brave As You • Amazon Business $5.64 25 $141.00
You Don't Even Know Me: Stories and Poems About Boys • Amazon Business $5.49 20 $109.80
We Beat the Street: How a Friendship Pact Led to Success • Amazon Business $4.61 20 $92.20
Empower: What Happens When Students Own Their Learning • Amazon Business $24.26 2 $48.52
The Growth Mindset Playbook: A Teacher's Guide to Promoting Student Success • Amazon Business $10.22 2 $20.44

Materials cost

$1,676.11

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$25.14

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$1,731.25

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$305.51

Total project goal

$2,036.76

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $2,036.76

3 Donors

-$1,948.53

Donations toward project cost

-$1,731.25

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$217.28

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$88.23

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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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. Ponder and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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