This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Do you know any avid readers, someone who can finish a book in two days or less? My girls are just that, even more so! One girl had already passed the 100-book mark before our winter break. No way am I able to keep up with their voracious reading habits, especially since the library is penniless!
I have the most voracious and vivacious freshmen class I've seen in all my years as a librarian.
They are lovely and smart and spirited, great students and the sweetest girls. And voracious readers for sure: I hate the fact that I did not receive a penny to buy books for the library this year, so my stock answer to their queries is: "Sorry, we did not get any money this year." I know my story is not unique, but it hurts just the same. My students attend a new high school with a demanding principal and a very dedicated staff. And their success rate has truly been astounding: over 93% passing their state Regents Exam, and most students on track for graduation. Of course, the library occupies a central role in this process. The students come here when they need help with their work. But the role I cherish most is that of a reader's adviser, especially when I see a girl with a big smile on her face because she just loved that book!
My Project
So, I just would like to have more and more books! All kinds of authors, all genres, all types. Because I work in an inner city school, I want to expose my students to the world out there. And what better way to do it than through literature? Books are the gateway to life. A student who is a reader is armed for the rest of her life. No one would ever be able to pull the wool over her eyes.
Because I believe in the power of the written word; because I believe that we owe our young charges the best we can offer, until the day they are ready to deploy their wings and go into the world; and because I believe that the playing field has to be leveled so that every person has the opportunity to shine.
I am a librarian because I believe that books offer one of the most privileged way of accomplishing all that. But a library is nothing without the excitement of new (and old) books.
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
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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. Edwards and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.