Past projects 3
Reflections of Readers: Celebrating Diversity and Encouraging Inclusivity through Literature
Funded Aug 4, 2021It is with incredible gratitude that I write this impact letter to you, the donors who funded my Donors Choose project. This project is the third in a series designed to inspire our students' love of reading and update/enrich our school library with resources to meet our students' needs.
Time was ticking away on this project, and for a moment, I was not sure it would be funded. Then, it was donors like you to the rescue! The goal of this project was to update, enrich, and diversify our school library collection in order to more effectively support student learning as well as encourage representation and inclusivity.
The books provided by your generous donations were immediately cataloged into the library collection and then passed into the hands of our amazing readers! So far this year, I've used these books to conduct book talks, read alouds, and lessons introducing students to important individuals and topics, as well as introduce students to new genres. All of these lessons compliment teacher instruction and reinforce our students' love of learning and reading. Over the past several weeks, the books provided by this project continue to be in high demand and are regularly requested for checkout by our patrons.
Thank you so much for everything you have done for our beautiful students and our school. You continue to help me metaphorize the library into a place where students feel secure, respected, represented, and included. You helped replenish and update library resources lost due to age and the pandemic. You supported our students' love of reading and learning. You are helping them grow. You are making a difference. For that, I cannot thank you enough.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ashley
See Yourself: Fostering Representation, Inclusivity, and Diversity Through Books
Funded Jan 24, 2021It is with incredible gratitude that I write this impact letter to you, the donors who funded this project. I've begun sharing the books with my students through our virtual classes and the engagement and enthusiasm I'm witnessing fills my heart with joy.
These texts are supporting my instruction by helping me develop lessons that encourage students to connect with the characters in the books. Even in the last few weeks since this project was funded, my students are actively relating to and making connections with events occurring in the stories. They are describing character development on a tangible level and making note of times where they have shared similar emotions and experiences as the characters.
My older students are particularly excited for the poetry books this project funded (we are studying poetry in the curriculum right now). Without a doubt, these texts will provide rich examples of the powerful descriptive language and visualization poetry provides. Additionally, these poems contain positive affirmations that I hope will empower my students to realize the history, strength, and beauty present in themselves.
Without you, these opportunities for learning and growth for my students, and evolution and enrichment for our library collection, would not be present. On behalf of my students and from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ashley
This classroom project was brought to life by Amazon Business and 4 other donors.Encouraging Representation in the Heart of Our School
Funded Sep 8, 2020It is with incredible gratitude that I write this impact letter to you, the donors who funded my first official Donors Choose project. When I initially created this project, I was nervous that help would not come. When the first donations poured in, I was overcome with gratitude, joy, and relief as I witnessed the enthusiasm and speed with which donors came forth to support my students and my school library.
The goal of Encouraging Representation in the Heart of Our School, was to further evolve the school library into a place of inclusivity, compassion, equity, and representation by supplying students with books where they could "see themselves" within characters and experiences. Even though our district has not yet returned to in-person learning, I've used these materials to conduct read-alouds, character studies, and whole-class discussions tied to topics within our curriculum and current events. I've already witnessed the positive impact of these stories, as students make text-to-self connections and participate in student-led discussions concerning respect, kindness, and tolerance.
I cannot thank you enough for your generous donations to support my students, my library, and my school. Each time I show the students one of the new books, their faces pique with interest and engagement as they actively make predictions regarding what challenges the characters will face and how those challenges will be overcome. In this trying time, you helped me reignite my students' love of reading - the effects of which will span far into the future.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ashley
This classroom project was brought to life by AT&T and 6 other donors.