Ms. Bailey's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 15

• Help Replenish the Book Shelves!

  Funded Dec 13, 2024

  My students were thrilled to receive a refreshed selection of books for our classroom library! Thank you so much for contributing to this ongoing effort. I cannot express enough how much of an impact these books and reading books in general can make on a person. In a time when fewer and fewer high school classrooms are reading books, I am more invested than ever in doing so. I have seen students transform over the course of a year as they learn what they like to read and realize they can finish a book cover to cover. It is no small thing. So again, thank you.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Bailey

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 6 other donors.

• Flexible Seating and a Community Bookshelf!

  Funded Dec 4, 2023

  Thank you so much for supporting this project! Your generosity continues to make my classroom a comfortable, inviting and flexible place to learn.

  Students were thrilled to get more yoga ball seats on wheels. They can be intimidating, but do encourage an awake body and mind and students see the benefits when they try them.

  The community bookshelf is now set up and students have the chance to check out books for their younger siblings so they can read together at home. I'm so happy to be able to finally offer this to my students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Bailey

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 5 other donors.

• Let's Replenish the Book Shelves!

  Funded Aug 9, 2023

  Your donation early on in the school year helped me get my classroom library ready in time for independent reading. Students were so excited to rifle through the shelves of books, especially all of the fresh new ones.

  But my favorite moments are the ones where a reluctant, or self-described non-reader ("I don't like reading....") finds the right book in my library and is never not seen without a book in hand again! Last week was time to pick a new independent reading book, and a student who had not managed to finish either of her previous two books, gave me the long look and said, "I'm so tired of reading. I don't think it's for me." It was clear she needed something she'd never been offered before. It was poetry. I handed her To The Women I Once Loved by Pierre Alex Jeanty and today I noticed she was nearly done with the book. When I asked her about it, I acknowledged that she must be reading at home, too. She looked at me and whispered with glee in her eyes, "I read it everywhere!"

  These moments are made possible because I have such variety to offer literally within reach.

  As expected, the true crime/ murder mystery books are still a hit. And romance never dies! ...unless its murder.

  I have students come back to my classroom when they are juniors and no longer in my class just to check out books. In fact, just today another teacher came and "borrowed" a book from my classroom library! It is a community corner at this point. But that is thanks in part to you lovely donors for making it an interesting, beautiful place to be.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Bailey

  This classroom project was brought to life by Reese’s Book Club & the SONIC Foundation and 5 other donors.

• Fun Tools for Writing Journals and Books

  Funded Sep 21, 2022

  Thank you so much once again for your donation to my classroom. This project supplies all 5 of my classes with folders for organization, and post-its and tabs for reading and journal work.

  This past semester, I was able to provide a pack of post-its to every student. Students have used these to track reading passages and annotate school texts. They have been very useful to our practice.

  The spring semester will begin with everyone getting a fresh folder to reinvigorate their organization of class materials. I assure you, this is greatly needed. So, I appreciate your support and wish you a healthy new year!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Bailey

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 5 other donors.

• Is It Love, or Book Love?

  Funded Aug 10, 2022

  This year is off to a great start, and your donations have helped make this happen. This past week all 5 of my classes (approx 150 students) started independent reading. About 3/4 of them selected a book to read from my classroom library, which you helped to stock for the new school year.

  The teal and white book tower was filled with Romance YA books, as in the picture. It has since been ravaged. Students were very happy to find so many romance books, especially including LGBTQ+ characters and stories.

  Thank you so much one more time - I'm thrilled to start this school year in such an enthusiastic way.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Bailey

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 4 other donors.

• Wanted: Crime and Mystery Books!

  Funded Aug 11, 2022

  This year is off to a great start, and your donations have helped make this happen. This past week all 5 of my classes (approx 150 students) started independent reading. About 3/4 of them selected a book to read from my classroom library, which you helped to stock for the new school year.

  In fact, you can see the small blue cart in the picture which is where I set up the Crime/Horror section. I am happy to report it has since been ravaged, and now has maybe a handful of books left on it. So I am beyond glad that this project got funded and I was able to offer my students books that interested them.

  Thank you so much one more time - I'm thrilled to start this school year in such an enthusiastic way.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Bailey

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 3 other donors.

• Books They Want and a Place to Read Them!

  Funded Aug 10, 2022

  This year is off to a great start, and your donations have helped make this happen. This past week all 5 of my classes (approx 150 students) started independent reading. About 3/4 of them selected a book to read from my classroom library, which you helped to stock for the new school year.

  I am happy to say that every student has selected a book and (most :) ) are happy and excited to read their selected book. It helped so much to have new books aligned to their interests and a new bookshelf tower to put them on. But even for those students who weren't sure what to read, I had options and together we managed to find something for them to read.

  Thank you so much one more time - I'm thrilled to start this school year in such an enthusiastic way.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Bailey

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill Gates and 2 other donors.

• Non-Fiction Is Good Reading, Too!

  Funded Sep 2, 2021

  In my class we read every day for 10 min. I was so excited to offer interesting books in a non-fiction category because of this project! I was able to get a variety of books, and while its still a less popular category, I can attest to the students who have truly enjoyed selections such as a Neil deGrasse Tyson book about astrophysics and the military, to A Black Women's History of the United States by Diana Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross, to All About Love by bell hooks, which has passed through at least 4 students this semester alone, and because they couldn't wait, two other students bought their own copies (!). I've also had many students reads the books about teens and anxiety. These are fantastic books my students would not otherwise have easy access to. So, thank you so much for contributing to my classroom library, and to the reading journeys of my students.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Bailey

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Allstate Foundation and 6 other donors.

• Poetry Books in the Classroom!

  Funded Aug 12, 2021

  I am thrilled to have so many fresh books of poetry in my classroom this year! Many students have struggled to get (back)into reading this school year, and the poetry books have provided accessible, high-interest, yet complex reading options. I have had at least 5 students tell me this year they "don't read" or haven't read a book since 5th grade (they are now 10th graders).

  But! I bring them to the poetry shelves and show them some of the selections. They pick something by Jason Reynolds or Rupiah Kaur, and they are off! Two weeks later, they've finished a book of poetry and are ready for the next one. It has been one of the highlights of this year, and truly, we needed it.

  We start class every day with 10 min of reading. Every student has a book, and everyone is engaged in their texts. One of the top reasons my students are successful at their reading practice is the availability of the books right in my classroom. So, again, and never enough, thank you for being part of this contribution.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Bailey

  This classroom project was brought to life by Emerson Collective and 2 other donors.

• Replenish a Classroom Library with BIPOC Voices and Perspectives

  Funded Sep 5, 2020

  Thank you so much for your generous donations this year! It is always so exciting to be able to replenish my classroom library with fresh, new books that my students will be excited about.

  Although I have not yet had a chance to share these new books with students this year, my class library shelves are ready and waiting for the moment my student walk back into my classroom.

  When they do, we will resume our independent reading in class every day. And because of your support, they will feel welcomed back to a classroom full of joy and new books!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Bailey

  This classroom project was brought to life by Equal Justice Initiative and 4 other donors.