Mrs. Maye's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 23

• Graphic Novels Adaptations of Classic Literature

  Funded Dec 3, 2024

  On behalf of our student body, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation toward our graphic novel collection. Your support plays a pivotal role in helping us bring these incredible stories to life and share them with others. My students love reading anime/manga novels because they align with their visual learning style while also providing engaging text.

  The set of graphic novels featuring classical stories has been a huge hit with my ESL learners. The vivid illustrations help them better understand the storyline as they navigate learning English. Often, they need that visual connection to truly grasp and internalize the story. At the end of these novels, there are Common Core-aligned questions, including those on determining the theme, analyzing character depth, and citing textual evidence. Even my regular students find these concepts challenging in our language arts curriculum. These novels have quickly become popular with all my students.

  Additionally, I have several dedicated students who are eager to read an entire manga/anime series from the first book to the last in order. Thanks to your generosity, I was able to secure a complete set of Bakuman, with a few extra copies, and now I have even more Otaku students in my classroom!

  Since I was unable to get all the books I initially requested through the grant, I used part of the funds to purchase two weighted stuffed animals to help students feel more comfortable. Each day, I am discovering new ways these animals are making a difference in our library. First, they've even helped me take a moment to pause, breathe, and focus on what needs to be done for the day. They are placed on top of a small Quick Reads bookshelf, with a large pillow in front of it, creating a cozy reading corner. I've seen students settle into this space, grab a weighted animal, and quietly read a book. In another class, the animals sparked a meaningful discussion when I handed one to a student who answered a question and contributed to the conversation. Even their regular teacher was impressed by the impact and created his own DonorsChoose project to bring weighted animals into his classroom.

  Once again, thank you for your support on this project. Your generosity is making a lasting difference in my students' learning experiences.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Maye

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and one other donor.

• Creating a Warming Caring Library With Weighted Stuffed Animals

  Funded Mar 4, 2025

  Words cannot fully express my deep gratitude for your generous donation to this project. When my lunch group learned that we would be receiving more weighted stuffed animals, they erupted in cheers.

  My room serves many purposes beyond being a media center—it is a safe haven where students come during their lunch period to play board games, read, and complete homework in a quieter, more comfortable environment, as our cafeteria is often overcrowded and noisy. These weighted stuffed animals have become more than just comforting objects; they have been companions to students during games, silent partners in book discussions, and a visible source of relaxation and reassurance. Even when not in use, their mere presence brings a sense of calm to the room. Other times the media center is a place where students can get help with developing leadership skills, with their grades from college organization and in the past they received grief counseling from a loss.

  The impact of these resources has extended beyond my own classroom. Another teacher, seeing the positive effects on my students, decided to introduce weighted stuffed animals into his own space. He quickly noticed that students were more engaged in lessons and actively participated in class discussions when the animals were at their tables.

  These additions have truly transformed the media center into a more welcoming and comforting space for my students. I am beyond grateful for your generosity in making this possible—so much so that I even stole a hug from one of the animals myself!

  With heartfelt appreciation, thank you for your generous donation.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Maye

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Tepper Foundation and 3 other donors.

• Living Legends: a Journey Through Biographies

  Funded Mar 23, 2025

  Dear [Donor’s Name],

  I cannot thank you enough for your generous donation to support my students’ love of reading. Because of you, they now have access to engaging biography books that will introduce them to inspiring figures, past and present. These books will not only help them build essential reading skills but also open their eyes to the possibilities that exist for their own futures.

  My students face many challenges, yet they are eager to learn and grow. Your kindness makes a real difference in their lives, showing them that there are people out there who believe in them and their education. I can’t wait to see their excitement as they dive into these stories and discover new role models along the way.

  Thank you again for your generosity and for helping to create lifelong readers!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Maye

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Tepper Foundation and one other donor.

• Unlocking Worlds: Bringing Myths & Legends to Life

  Funded Dec 3, 2024

  I want to personally thank you for supporting this project for my students. I was excited that the project was completely funded and that the materials will be used by my students. The reason I thought of this project was that I had a student who wanted to learn more about Chinese culture and their gods/goddesses. She was thrilled that I was able to find some books for her.

  There are so many wonderful moments with the weighted animals that I could share about getting the weighted animals. Just today while Autistic class came in to exchange their library books, I had one student who after picking out his book, sat down on the small coach and seemed overwhelmed with all the activities. I offered him one of the animals. He gave me a quiet smile and took the animal. After a few minutes he settled himself down and started reading his book. In another class, we had a few minutes before the end of the day and the class was very restless. I introduced my quick quiet read area with weighted stuffed animals. When I walked around with them, two girls requested they wanted to hold them while I read a story to them. Yes, ninth graders still love stories read to them and the whole class settled down. It was a nice ending for a Friday afternoon.

  I am also excited about my myth, god and goddess and legend books that I received from this grant. During the Literature unit (Odyssey) students become very interested in learning about different culture myths and legends. By having these books, I will be able to spark their reading and interest further. In addition, some of the books will help them better understand the plot and characters better in Odyssey. Often times the teachers will have the student do a project on one of the gods/goddesses that is mentioned in the book and these books will help support their endeavor.

  Once again thank you for your support with this project.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Maye

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and one other donor.

• Cozy Haven: Enhancing Student Well-Being in the School Library

  Funded Oct 8, 2024

  I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous contribution to our school library. Your support has made it possible to add sitting pillows, creating a comfortable and inviting space where students can relax and immerse themselves in their reading.

  These pillows will do more than just add comfort; they will encourage a love for reading by making our library a welcoming haven for students who may not have a quiet, cozy spot to read at home. Your kindness is making a real difference, and it will be felt by every student who enjoys this new space.

  The pillows arrived in my library today while I was going to an orientation. They wanted to stay in the library and enjoy the books that they just checked out. In fact one ELL student could not believe that he was able to borrow a book to bring home to read after spending 15 minutes reading in the media center. I wished you could see his eyes. It brought tears to my eyes seeing him eagerly wanting to read the book.

  If you look at the pictures of students coloring, these students have recently arrived in the US. One student is from Haiti and does not know how to write in English or Creole. By coloring he received a positive message about himself and practiced his fine motor skills that he needs in order to write.

  Words can't express the appreciation of your support for our library and helping us foster a love for books and learning. Your generosity is truly appreciated. Please continue to support Trenton 9th Grade Academy.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Maye

• Safe and Inclusive Classroom Environment

  Funded Sep 8, 2023

  I want to express my sincere gratitude for your support in bringing racial justice and representation books into our educational program. This initiative holds the potential to achieve profound impacts on our students. By immersing them in the voices and stories of historically marginalized individuals and communities, we are equipping them with a heightened awareness of equity and social justice. These narratives not only empower students from diverse backgrounds but also cultivate cultural competence, challenging biases and fostering inclusivity.

  Through the exploration of historical events and the perspectives of marginalized communities, our students will develop a broader understanding of the world. This engagement allows them to connect academic subjects like History, Language Arts, and humanities to the lived experiences of different cultures. Your support plays a pivotal role in shaping well-rounded individuals who appreciate the richness of diversity, contributing to the creation of a more inclusive and empathetic society.

  Thank you for your commitment to the education and holistic development of our students. Our students already checking out the books and eagerly exciting about talking about issues that effect them.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Maye

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Peterson Family and 4 other donors.

• The Power of Diverse Books

  Funded May 9, 2023

  I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for supporting our initiative to incorporate racial justice and representation books into our curriculum. By exposing our students to the voices and stories of historically marginalized individuals and communities, we're fostering a deeper understanding of equity and social justice. This endeavor not only empowers students from all backgrounds but also promotes cultural competence, breaking stereotypes, and challenging biases. My students have already started to check out the books and I eagerly waiting them to discuss their reading with their classmates and me.

  I believe that through these diverse narratives, our students will gain a richer perspective on topics in History, Language Arts, and humanities. They will not only learn about historical events and systemic racism but also connect the content with real-world experiences, realizing the value in all cultures and identities. Your support is instrumental in shaping a more inclusive and enlightened society.

  Thank you for making a difference in the education and lives of our students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Maye

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Foundation and 5 other donors.

• The Word Itself Says I'm Possible

  Funded Mar 23, 2023

  I want to take a moment e a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your recent donation to our project.

  Your generosity has made it possible for us to provide our students with inspiring books that will help them reach beyond their current circumstances and pursue their dreams. The books will be placed on library bookshelves ready to be checked by the students. Several students already learned that Fannie Lou Hamer needed to pass a literacy test to register to vote. Today the practice of filling a voter registration form to vote. Her poem would be a great start for a conversation dealing with the importance of voting when eligible. Each year I have one or two girls wanting to be doctors and I can't wait for someone to ask about a book about medicine or doctors because Women in White Coats (How the First women doctors changed the world of medicine) would be perfect for individuals.

  Because of your generous donation for these books, students will be able to plant seeds of success and be motivated to dream, press on to achieve their dreams and know that they face the challenges and succeed. Please continue to support our students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Maye