Past projects 12
Books We Love
Funded Feb 14, 2025Learning that this project was fully funded this weekend was just the good news I needed! I’m overwhelmed with the Donors Choose community’s generosity and I am so excited to share with my students that their book wishlist has been fulfilled! Thank you for your selfless generosity. We can’t wait to get started reading!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maglia
Read What You Love
Funded Dec 2, 2024Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom library. In a world that is becoming increasingly digital and video-oriented, it's becoming harder and harder to foster a love for reading. Bu your generous donation of student-selected books has certainly sparked an interest in reading in my classroom.
At the beginning of the year, I pushed out a Google Form to students and asked them to pick a book they really want to read. We spent an entire class period investigating a book of their choosing that correlated with their interests. By digging deep into some of these stories before they even hit the shelves, students were already invested in reading these books and were so hopeful this project would get funded. When I told my classes our project got funded, nearly every kid's face lit up. Even students who are typically very reluctant to read were incredibly excited to learn that we were getting some new books.
I'm sure you realize the significant impact reading can have on one's life. I cannot thank you enough for putting these novels into the hands of my students. Seeing them connect with these books, hearing them enthusiastically talking about the plot, and watching them relax with a good book is my biggest wish as an English teacher. Your gift helped make all of this possible. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maglia
Little Boxes - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Funded Oct 31, 2024Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom. My students are very excited to read Maya Angelou's novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. While we have not started this unit yet, this was a text that students chose from a selection of possible novels we could read. When students have a say in what they learn, they are far more invested in their own learning. Your donation to our classroom has helped empower them.
In this unit, we will focus on exploring two key essential questions: "What are 'little boxes' and how do they impact the individual?" and "How can and should we navigate a culture that attempts to define us?" Students at CVA come from a variety of backgrounds and situations. They often find their way to our site because they didn't necessarily fit in at comprehensive high schools. They often found themselves failing their classes, experiencing isolation, and withdrawing from student life. This novel helps them understand "little boxes" and how society's expectations of the typical high school student don't work for everyone. They also explore how to express themselves and celebrate their unique abilities. These topics are always at the forefront of teenagers' minds and I'm looking forward to giving them a space in which they can unpack some of the situations they've found themselves in and figure out what it all means for their own identity.
I cannot thank you enough for your support. We wouldn't be able to dig into these topics without the generosity of donors like you. We can't wait to get started reading!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maglia
Read What You Love
Funded Oct 3, 2024Thank you so much for your generous donation of student-selected books to our English classroom's library. Our site lacks a library and, over the years, I've worked tirelessly to stock my classroom with books that I thought my students would like. I've accumulated some but your generous donation allowed us to add a number of titles that my current students were hoping to read this year.
While our society becomes more dependent on technology and instant gratification, it can really be a struggle to get our upcoming high school students to engage with a book. At least 8 students have come to me individually to say how these books in particular got them to read. Even just yesterday, one of my English language learners came to me and said, "If you had asked me a year ago if I could read a book on my own, I would have said no. I love this book."
We're overwhelmed with gratitude for your generosity. Thank you so much.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maglia
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Foundation and one other donor.The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian
Funded Apr 8, 2024Thank you so much for your generous donation of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian! My students selected this book from a long list last year and are really looking forward to engaging with it this spring. This humorous and sometimes heartbreaking novel explores the complex nature of finding one's identity and voice during the most trying of times - those high school years. As we read this novel, students will engage in a variety of discussions centered around finding your voice and navigating the complexities of identity while simultaneously expressing themselves in writing on these complicated but important topics.
In my classroom, reading can look differently on a day to day basis. One day, we might take turns reading aloud while other days I might read aloud to my class as they follow along. They also read in small groups and sometimes on their own. No matter how reading looks, I know this particular novel will conjure a smile or giggle as they read. Those are my favorite reading moments!
While we haven't started reading this book yet, I know my students will thoroughly enjoy this read. We truly appreciate your generosity. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maglia
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Funded Dec 1, 2023Thank you so much for your generous donation of the novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Every year, I compile a list of novels we can opt to read as a class and my students vote on which ones they would like to study. This was one of the first picks!
This novel was a perfect fit for our unit about understanding people who might see the world in a different way. I appreciate the non-traditional writing approach to this book which had generated so much curiosity in my students. Students are finding many ways to empathize with the main character and it's wonderful to see them apply their understanding of someone else's world to their own.
Thank you again for your generous donation!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maglia
This classroom project was brought to life by Townsend Press and one other donor.The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Funded Dec 1, 2023Thank you so much for your generous donation of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. At the beginning of every school year, I create a list of books that we could potentially read and students vote on which ones they would like to study. This particularly memoir was highly requested and I know my students are looking forward to reading William Kamkwamba's story.
In my classroom, we read very often. Sometimes we read as a class, in a small group, or individually. Through the reading of this book, students will gain a deeper understanding of an inspirational true story that will hopefully inspire them to take on new challenges in the face of overwhelming obstacles.
Thank you again for your generous donation!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maglia
This classroom project was brought to life by Townsend Press and one other donor.Into the Wild
Funded Aug 2, 2023Thank you so much for your generous donation of a class set of Into the Wild. I've been eager to share this story with my seniors who are about to embark on some of their own adventures. One of the aspects I am looking forward to discussing with students is whether or not they feel Christopher McCandless made the right choices for himself. When we have this discussion, we talk about what it means to be right or wrong in different situations. As students come into the age of responsibility, taking the time to explore the facets of this question is key at this stage of development.
My students have also been asking to read a true story and Into the Wild is just that: a true story about a young man breaking out into the world to find his greatest adventure. I'd argue that my students are embarking on their greatest adventure as soon as they get their cap and gown. Thank you for helping me keep that spirit of adventure alive and close to their hearts.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maglia
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Discovering Your Path
Funded Sep 11, 2023Thank you so much for sharing this invaluable book with my students. I've been working with my seniors to guide them in developing their next steps after high school and, while our self-discovery activities have been helpful, we've been lacking a story like that of Santiago in the Alchemist to inspire students on their own journey. This story is the key to making all of the pieces of this self-discovery fit.
We're most excited to explore and adapt Coelho's life advice as explored through the lens of this story so that students can find meaning in their own experiences. One of my favorite takeaways from this book is emphasizing that we have to learn from our mistakes and that we learn best by doing. I hope this advice motivates my students to invest in and believe in themselves as they make their way into the world.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for sharing this generous gift with my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maglia
This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares.Exploring Alternate Perspectives to the Civil Rights Movement
Funded Nov 21, 2022Thank you so much for your generous donation of John Lewis's memoir March: Book Three! I was looking for a way to put a modern spin on our studies of foundational documents like the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence and reading March in conjunction with these texts allowed students to draw modern parallels between their understanding of rights and the intentions of our founding fathers. Throughout this unit, we learned responsible research techniques to develop some of the background information and collaboratively worked through understanding some of the foundational documents that shaped our country. While we read March, students participated in Book Club meetings in which they discussed some of the key features of the book, shared their perspectives on past and current civil rights-related issues, and learned to respect others' opinions even if they disagreed.
Reading happens all the time in my classroom but when we read this book, we took time to read outside on the nice days, engaged in reading circles where students switched off reading aloud to each other, or read in a small group with myself (especially for my English Learners!) Having access to a graphic novel also helped engage some of my most reluctant readers. They were still able to appreciate the lesser known story of John Lewis's life and have the added benefit of incredible artwork to help tell the story.
I wanted to wait until the end of our unit to share this thank you package so I could get feedback from students as we worked through this unit. I'm sharing a few photos of thank you notes they wrote to express their gratitude. But, I think they really appreciated hearing about a lesser-known figure with an incredible role in the Civil Rights Movement. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Maglia