Past projects 2
Teaching Suppressed History
Funded Aug 10, 2023Thank you so much for the class set of Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People! This text is integral to the teaching of US history in my 8th grade class and plays a key role in increasing the critical thinking and reading skills of my students.
Many of my students read below grade level, and this book is an accessible stretch text. Students are exposed to grade level and above grade level vocabulary, which helps them grow as readers. I also scaffold some of the college-level theories and analysis to give my 8th graders further access. The topics and ideas are familiar to my students of color, so aligning their lived experience to the language of academia boosts their confidence as learners and helps them engage in the text. The Indigenous perspective of history is one they get in 7th grade, so including this text in their 8th grade study of US history provides a through line as well as a deepening of non-dominant perspectives in history. This text is essential to my students' growth, and I so appreciate your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Self
This classroom project was brought to life by Reese’s Book Club & the SONIC Foundation and 2 other donors.Stamped Needed
Funded Jul 17, 2023I am so grateful for the class set of Stamped! Having more than one perspective in history is essential, and Stamped offers a competing narrative to our textbook and other sources we consult in our study of US History. Additionally, my students deserve and appreciate learning the truth about how racism contributes to American society.
When I asked students why having a book like Stamped in their US History curriculum is important to them, here is what they said: "It's something that's not whitewashed, so that's good." "So we can learn about how racism affected things from the beginning." "Easier reading, more engaging, more up-to-date." Many of my students, especially my students of color, talked about how important it was to them to learn about racism.
Stamped teaches my students more than just a history of racism in America, though; it also opens their eyes to all of the information their other texts exclude. Students develop their critical reading skills and begin to challenge the dominant narrative wherever it shows up in their lives. This text illuminates truth, and that is invaluable.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Self
This classroom project was brought to life by Perry and Donna Golkin Family Foundation and 3 other donors.