I teach seventh grade language arts in an urban area. Currently, over 75% of students are receiving a free or reduced priced lunch, so I teach students from low income families. My twelve and thirteen year old students are unique, and on a daily basis, they deal with issues such as poverty, gangs, pregnancy, drug use, and abuse.
My students rarely read for pleasure, and they only read books with urban themes. Our school library has very few books they can relate to, and students will go weeks without reading anything while their name is on a waiting list for a good book. I have done an incredible amount of searching, and I have finally found great books that my students enjoy. I have been buying books out of my own pocket, but I can't keep up with the demand. My students are engrossed in books such as Forged by Fire and the Bluford Series, but I simply do not have the means to provide them with the books they need.
Providing my classroom with the books my students need will empower them. They will have interesting books at an appropriate reading level and will take charge of their own learning. These books will encourage reading for pleasure while improving reading comprehension. Some of the titles I am requesting are Forged by Fire, The Bully, Blood is Thicker, Hoops, and Monster.
Your donation will help my students see that reading is not just a school subject. Reading is a pleasurable activity. For my students, reading is growth, empowerment, and a future.
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. Daly and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.