Past projects 5
A Window Into Other Lives: Refugee Choice Books
Funded Oct 3, 2024Thank you so much for helping me expand my classroom library for my students during our refugee unit. My students were incredibly excited to see all of the novels from which they could select for their independent book. Thanks to you, my students were able to select a book about a refugee or migrant that most captured their interest!
Additionally, my students pair with a different partner each week to describe the events of their book, moments that stood out to them, and what this book is teaching them about a specific refugee or migrant experience. The students are incredibly interested to hear about the different book their partners are reading and spot the similarities or differences between their novels. With these books, my students are building more understanding and empathy towards displaced individuals around the world!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Cudnowski
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 2 other donors.Whole Class Novel about the Syrian Refugee Experience!
Funded Sep 23, 2024Thank you so much for helping me get a whole class set of the novel A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi! My students are absolutely hooked on the plot line as they build their background knowledge about refugees through accompanying nonfiction texts. However, what I am most grateful for is your help in providing students with a text that provides real world learning experiences. Just the other week, my students rushed into my class with excitement. They had seen on the news that the rebels in Syria had overtaken the al-Assad regime. Thanks to you, my students are able to see how literature is a way to peer into other worlds, such as a different country, and that the content we are exploring is directly tied to their current lives. Abawi's fictional story and themes are more important now than ever. Thanks to you, my students are becoming more knowledgeable, empathetic young adults.
Happy holidays!
Thea Cudnowski”
With gratitude,
Ms. Cudnowski
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 3 other donors.Empowering Voices: Young Adult Lit by BIPOC and LGTBQ Authors
Funded Aug 3, 2020What an incredibly challenging year this has been. I first want to say thank you for supporting my students and I as we navigate the challenging waters of remote learning during a pandemic. It means more to us than you will ever know!
At the beginning of the year, I added our new books written by BIPOC and LQTBQ authors to our classroom library. I made a virtual Bitmoji library so my students were able to view which books our library had from the safety of their own homes. All of the books you graciously helped me purchase were featured on each themed genre page, or "Book in the Spotlight" page. My students wrote excited comments our Google Meet chat as I highlighted all of the new books added to the library--they could not wait to get reading! After careful planning, my students were able to check out 2 books from our library for a 2 week period. I would meet them outside of our school wearing a mask and a HUGE (covered) smile. Eventually, we had to put our virtual library on hold as the covid positivity rate in our school district dangerously increased.
Although my students have not been able to fully explore the new books in our classroom library, we are so excited to have literature that reflects our students' diverse backgrounds and lives. We cannot wait to safely meet our students in person in the future and share these powerful stories.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Cudnowski
It's a Sign! You've Graduated 8th Grade!
Funded May 19, 2020I can't describe to you how utterly EXCITED my students were when they saw me standing outside of their house with their graduation book(s) in hand! It was a wonderful opportunity to tell my students congratulations on graduating 8th grade, check in on their well-being, and get them excited for high school (at a social distance). Many students (and parents) contacted me later, realizing I had written a personal note for each of the students on the inside cover of their book. Seeing one of their teachers once more before moving on to high school meant a lot to my graduated 8th graders.
Given the current circumstances of our country and the pandemic, most of my students have spent their summers inside their homes to remain safe. Thanks to your generous donation, my students (even the more reluctant readers) are truly eager to read a book this summer that that specifically caters to their personal interests! These books will encourage my students to maintain their reading endurance and be prepared for the upcoming school year. Most of all, my students have a physical reminder that they can achieve success through struggle, and that I will always be here to support them as they move on to the next stage of their life.
Thank you for helping me celebrate my students' achievements during this difficult time!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Cudnowski
This classroom project was brought to life by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and 2 other donors.Graphic Novels to Ignite a Passion for Reading!
Funded Jul 9, 2019My students and I wanted to give you a BIG thank you one more time! During independent reading time my students quickly dive into their new graphic novels. I can't express how excited my students were to see the huge selection of graphic novels they had to choose from.
We have a waiting list for quite a few books! Some of our most sought after titles have been: They Both Die at the End, Black Panther, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and Booked.
Each week, we carve out three 15-20 minute periods for our students to read their chosen independent book from my class library. At the end of the week, our students reflect on what they have read in a written journal and share their thoughts in class discussion. It takes work to build up students' reading endurance, but your generous donation has made it much easier and exciting for even my most reluctant readers! THANK YOU!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Cudnowski
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 5 other donors.