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Mr. Griff's Classroom

  • High School of Computers & Technology
  • Bronx, NY
  • 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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Past projects 9

  • New year, new room, new library, same gratitude.

    Funded Oct 4, 2024

    Monday is independent reading. Every Monday kids have to bring the books they selected to class with them for ten minutes of silent reading time. I have been working on fine tuning it every year. Every year the library grows. Every year I get better at teaching reading instructions, skills and comprehension.

    Because of your kindness I have had children who never finished a book on their own before race to my shelves for the sequel. They share out what is happening in their stories and look forward to having the opportunity to read uninterrupted.

    Also a push has come to the school to refocus all of the grades to read more. Students need to improve their vocabulary and their comprehension of written text. But in order to do so they have to see the point and privilege of even reading for enjoyment. I now have the library that allows kids to see versions of themselves and ways to improve themselves on the shelves. I have students who are upper class-men come borrow books from me. Reading is something that has had a revival and it is because kind donors like you. Thank you.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Griff

    This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Foundation and 8 other donors.
  • This Library Is Lit!

    Funded Sep 20, 2023

    My classroom is silent when it comes time to read. The students peruse the perimeter looking for something that their friend wrote. They would rather get a book from me than the library. They stop me in the hallway and ask me about this character or this compilation that they heard that I had. I have kids who come in and ask me about books that they hope has a sequel. There are two students who have never read a book by themselves before now addicted to a series.

    None of this would have been possible without the kindness and gratitude you have given to my kids. I plan to continue growing the desire of life long learners and life long readers. You allow me to continue to enjoy the day to day slog of what some consider a tough job. Because of your kindness my students' continue to come to my classroom feeling as if it's a second home. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Griff

    This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 18 other donors.
  • New Library/New Year/New World

    Funded Oct 22, 2021

    Through your courtesy and kindness my class has been transformed into an oasis of literature. The kids occupy their time, once work is done, with reading their books eagerly and swapping stories of each narrative. The new literature is incorporated in a number of ways:

    Every Monday students have independent reading time. At the beginning of class they read for approximately ten minutes. Immediately after they volunteer to share out with a summary, a character comparison, or a text connection based on what they covered in the text. Students can learn about books that they will read next, discuss their favorite parts or characters, compare ideas and events, or make a prediction based on what is shared from their peers. Once students have completed their book they complete a small summary/review that they use to boost their grade.

    Because of the diversity of the literature I've had students who have never finished a text outside of class reading on their third book. My older students (former students who are about to graduate) still come visit sometimes to borrow a text. They also kind of feel jealous I hadn't stocked up the library for them:-). In the class their is now a Manga section, a section for Graphic Novels and a impressive Science Fiction and Fantasy section. These areas get the most attention but I have gotten some reluctant readers to finish some historical fiction and teen fiction texts. Others are more into biographies. One of my students mothers asked where she could find one of the series because she has never seen her son read at home and was ecstatic.

    I've incorporated reading strategies: summarization, chunking, character analysis/development, conflict type, and identifying irony to name a few. The ability to incorporate the enjoyment the students feel with the skills they are learning is amazing and all thanks to you and your courtesy.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Griff

    This classroom project was brought to life by Dollar General Literacy Foundation and 18 other donors.
  • Graphics Novels, Urban Novels and Meads

    Funded Sep 15, 2016

    Every time I post a project asking for help the response has been overwhelmingly positive. My kids continue to come to me asking for different books and complimenting the room for not only its look but also for the diverse collection of material available to read. Without you this would not have been possible.

    Through the independent reading program students have practiced a number of skills ranging from vocabulary expansion, context clues, annotation, summarization, identifying themes and even text analysis. It works so efficiently in part because with the combination of the antiquated texts assigned throughout the year with the diverse collections has students fall in love with the task of reading. It proves to them that regardless of their background they can find themselves in the pages of an author.

    The library has turned even the most reluctant of readers and difficult students. At times the most difficult task is to get the kids to put their books down to focus on the lesson and that is a problem I am continuously content to face. Again thanks for your gratitude.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Griff

  • Why is My Cheese Melted?

    Funded Jan 19, 2015

    It still amazes me how in a city like the Bronx something so simple as feeding a child is an issue. I have a number of students who come to me at the end of the day asking for snacks as a reward for good behavior but the ones that really get to me are a few students who are to ashamed to let their classmates know that they did not eat at all that morning or haven't eaten any where else besides my class. And how anyone could go that long without food I have no idea because food is so awesome!!! :-) Thank you from the bottom of my heart again as always for everything you have done...and continue to do.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Griff

  • My Kids Are Hungry for Books!!!

    Funded Dec 31, 2014

    My kids are a great bunch of students. Your contributions have not only helped foster an excitement for reading amongst my current students but I still have a number of upper class men (and women) who return to me to borrow books to read. Some of my students have made claims of never reading as much in their life as they have so far this year. There are competitions between students about who can read the most, who can read and understand the most complex text. They ask for more time to read than I'm allowed to assign. Students are given two days of reading assignments and reading homework daily and with such kindness each one of my 120 students has been able to find a plethora of texts to maintain their interest. I am eternally grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Griff

  • Round Two

    Funded Aug 20, 2013

    Once again your generosity has transformed my class from a traditional English class to a room where students discuss texts, share chapters and argue over the chance to read a book after their classmate. The students and the parents of my community are immensely grateful to have received your support in this academic endeavor.

    My students have independent reading three times a week, one class has it daily, and you can hear a pen drop when its time to open their books. These are the same students who said that they didn't like to read or that there were no books that they enjoyed. Now students have finished the books I have and found authors or genre's that they enjoy themselves. I hear groans of disapproval whenever I do not allow them to read independently. It has been an absolute turn around.

    Students are able to find themselves in the stories that populate the walls and now reading doesn't not seem as much as a burden as it is an enjoyable activity. I have used the diverse resources to encourage students to expand their vocabulary and teach peers words from their independent texts. Students have jumped at the chance to explain what is happening in their books to prove they know what they are talking about and feel empowered presenting to a crowd of their peers. None of these changes would have been possible without your kindness. I cannot thank you enough.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Griff

  • Mr. G...the Library is So Far!

    Funded Oct 10, 2012

    A few months ago you donated some of your hard earned money to a library project in my classroom. Since then the first twenty minutes of my class have been absolutely silent. My students have exchanged books, ideas, and stories sparked from the words of their interdependent texts.

    One book in particular literally has been passed around the school to nearly every girl and the female students have started to relate the experiences of the characters with their own life experiences. It is more than I could have ever hoped for from some of my more reluctant readers.

    Those students who do not find any of the variety initially engaging have been inspired to look for a text choice that interests them because, fortunately, during reading time they have no one to talk to. They either borrow a book from the "new" school library or actually give a book a chance only to find they have a new favorite author or genre.

    None of this would have been possible without your generosity and I am extremely grateful. A million thanks and I hope you all receive some type of reward, blessings/good luck/or win the lotto :-), for your altruism. All the best.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Griff

  • Welcome To High School

    Funded Oct 1, 2012

    The text in my class has grown in variety thanks to your contributions. Students are completing books within a matter of days when before they may have read one book a semester. A student commented to me today "I love the new Graphic novels and Manga Mr. G. But I finished all your new ones. I'm going to bring in some of my own to add to the library". The results from the new texts were great but certain reactions I could have never of expected and am overjoyed that I was able to witness and be a part of.

    Without your help none of this would have been possible. Thank you a thousand times over for assisting in expanding the imagination, interest, and intrigue of my scholars. The graphic novels and texts you purchased from my class have flown off the shelves. Some of my most reluctant readers have stopped skipping and shown up to class to get dibs on my new additions. Students have begun to go and search for texts similar to the ones they saw in my class at their local libraries or book stores and I have seen copies of the text multiply in the last few weeks. Everyone is sharing information from their stories, reading for hours at home, and bringing back the ecstatic reports of completing 70 pages of their book.

    I always believed that everyone likes to read it is just finding what interests them that is the problem. Your assistance has made it possible to prove my theory and has made a difference in my classroom that I can brag about to the other teachers in my school. Your generosity has affected my children, my teaching and my school for the immediate future for years to come. Thank you from bottom of my heart.”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Griff

    This classroom project was brought to life by Kia Motors America and 5 other donors.
I teach 130 ninth graders in the Bronx, NY. New to a school of six campuses and over 5000 students many of them have described themselves as feeling overwhelmed. But in the class when they are told to read almost all of them bury themselves in the protective layer a book. All have expressed interest in reading...and a few said they like to write. I want to keep the reading exciting and inspire the writing even more with ideas sparked from other writers. P.S. Since I did summer school also I always have upper class man coming to my room to borrow books. So the books will help more than just my students

About my class

I teach 130 ninth graders in the Bronx, NY. New to a school of six campuses and over 5000 students many of them have described themselves as feeling overwhelmed. But in the class when they are told to read almost all of them bury themselves in the protective layer a book. All have expressed interest in reading...and a few said they like to write. I want to keep the reading exciting and inspire the writing even more with ideas sparked from other writers. P.S. Since I did summer school also I always have upper class man coming to my room to borrow books. So the books will help more than just my students

About my class

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