Past projects 6
Othello and Okonkwo: African Protagonists in World Literature
Funded Nov 1, 2024Thank you so much for your generous donations! Because of you, we were able to provide 60 copies of Othello and 50 copies of Things Fall Apart, which will benefit over 160 students this school year.
When I taught Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe in November and December, students read the book and used it to analyze characters, setting, theme, and plot. They further used these to compose literary essays that helped them practice their analytical skills, as well as utilize their newly-acquired grammar knowledge. Many students have reported to me that this assignment has helped them become better writers who think about the craft differently because of the rich complexities that Achebe's book lends to readers. These books will enable students to continue reading Achebe's book for years to come, as these copies are much more robust and newer than the 15-year copies that were (literally) falling apart that we had before.
Later this Spring, the focus will shift to reading Othello by William Shakespeare. Already students have been asking me lots of questions about the upcoming unit, which will test students' analytical skills and interpretation of Shakespeare as they compete with each other in a mock trial. It's one of the most anticipated units of the year--and this year's trials will prove to be memorable thanks to your generous support. In the words of Shakespeare's title character Othello, "I am bound to thee forever."”
With gratitude,
Ms. Magana
Binti and Afrofuturism
Funded Feb 25, 2024Thank you so much for your generous donations! Because of you, we were able to teach Binti to over 140 students over the course of a month!
Afrofuturism is an emerging genre that has gained traction and is continuing to rise in popularity across the United States. More and more schools are implementing curriculum that honor student voices and representation. Afrofuturism is an example of a genre that shines in its relatability, as well as in its push against colonial teachings and undertones that have permeated the social strata for almost 200 years. Binti, a book about a girl in Nigeria who dreams of a better life and education for herself, is a shining example of what many students strive for in their own education and lives. It matters that they read literature that honors voices of color. Furthermore, the book reclaims Nigeria's heritage and showcases Nigeria as a pioneering, driving force in this exciting epoch of fantasy and sci-fi.
After reading the book, students wrote their own alternate endings to Binti. This allowed them to practice their critical thinking skills and creativity. It also enabled them to interact with the book in a unique way; they reflected on their own experiences to craft these stories, further connecting themselves with the literature and the characters' experiences. Students later reported that it was one of the most enjoyable assignments they have completed in class this year.
Once again, thank you so much for your generosity and well wishes for these students' futures, as they in turn imagine a brighter, alternate reality for our world.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Magana
Student Planners!
Funded Oct 17, 2022Thank you all so much for contributing to my classroom project! Thanks to you, my students have received beautiful paper planners for the 2022-2023 school year.
When they first saw the planners, students were overjoyed and couldn't believe that the planners were for them. They came individually wrapped and in pristine condition. Because I ordered three different patterns, students could choose which style they wanted. I gave them time at the start of class to take a look into them and acquaint themselves with the layout. Within a minute, I saw students already filling in the pages with important dates and assignments, as well as stickers and colorful doodles.
Given that we are now nearing the end of the first semester, I have seen students use the planners now more than ever to log in their assignments and plan out when to turn in work. Especially for students who are behind on their late work, the planners have been instrumental in their success; they now have a place to write down what they are missing, and they also have a way to log when they have completed each assignment.
The planners have helped greatly in keeping students on task, teaching them organizational skills, and ensuring their academic success. Once again, thank you so much for your contribution!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Magana
Knitting Together Community
Funded Sep 27, 2019Thank you so much for your generous donation toward "Knitting Together Community." Your contribution allowed my advisory students to experience the joy of juggling and knitting.
Every week, students have been gathering together in advisory to learn something enjoyable they wouldn't normally learn elsewhere. I have seen students' hand-eye coordination improve as a result of experiencing how to juggle. Students are helping each other and are eager to show off what they have grasped. More importantly, they are practicing perseverance and determination; they refuse to give up in learning these skills and are understanding that it takes time and practice to get better at something. When they finally understand how to juggle three sacks at one time, or how to juggle scarves gracefully in the air, I acknowledge a look of triumph and pride in their eyes. It gives me hope for their future that they carry these valuable skills into life after high school, and I have you to thank for that.
Students are excited as well to be knitting scarves and small washcloths. They have been wanting to learn this for quite a while and chat excitedly about what kinds of items they would like to make. Knitting is a skill that many people all over the world use for re-centering themselves. It is a type of meditation, one with a productive end-product that allows students to be proud of something they've accomplished, that normally takes time to do. They also learn to have patience with themselves—patience they can carry on in their schoolwork and other aspects of their lives.
Again, on behalf of my happy, grateful advisory, thank you for your generous contribution!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Magana
Books to Desire, Books to Inspire
Funded Jan 19, 2019Thank you so much for your kindness and thoughtfulness during the fundraiser. Not only have I been able to purchase all the books on the DonorsChoose reading list, but I was also able to fill up the entire bookshelf in the classroom! Given that prior to this fundraiser the shelf was mostly empty, I am deeply grateful for your contribution to my students' reading curiosities.
Reading is one facet of learning that is used across all aspects of a student's day (even in PE; they read from textbooks for health class). In the classroom, students are given 20 minutes at the beginning to read a book of their choice. This allows them to practice important reading skills that could potentially help them in all areas of school. Not only do they improve in comprehension and concentration skills, but they learn valuable life lessons in the stories they come across. Reading has also been shown to improve one's overall sense of empathy and understanding for a fellow human being—both of which are at the core of what I believe in as a teacher, and what I want my students to get from a Humanities class.
I have heard my students mention things they read to the class. Earlier today, one of my students asked me, "Do we have any books on poetry?" This is a common question that I've been asked the entire year. I felt happy in knowing that she had more variety to choose from with regards to that specific genre. Another student got so excited that she could read Jenny Han's novels ("To All the Boys I've Loved Before); Han's most recent books have been flying off the library shelves, but now students can find a copy in my classroom thanks to this fundraiser. Other students have been working through book series that have been purchased. A reluctant reader in one of my morning classes was handed A Series of Unfortunate Events after he asked me to recommend him a book; when I came to put the book away, he stopped me and said, "Hold on! I want to take it home to read first." It's moments like these that make me so grateful that students have literature they want to read and enjoy.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU once again for your generous donation, and for encouraging this generation to read for fun.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Magana
"We Are Never Truly 'Blind' When We Read Literature"
Funded Nov 15, 2017My students and I cannot begin to express how much gratitude we have for our class set of Blindness by Jose Saramago. This is the very first Donors Choose fund I have set up, and I was so pleased to see it successfully come to fruition. My students were excited when the shipment came and were brimming with curiosity. Their questions will be answered this month as we begin to read this Nobel Prize-winning literary work.
One of the skills that will be introduced by reading Blindness is style. Jose Saramago does not use quotation marks any time dialog occurs in the text. This will allow students to experience a text written in a less "traditional" style, which will expand the horizons of the types of literature they are exposed to. Additionally, Saramago does not use names for any of the characters, resorting instead to descriptions of what the characters' skill set are. Because the text is written non-traditionally, it will test students' comprehension and abilities to pick up plot and character descriptions from the text. And, as with any work of literature, Blindness aims to create empathy and understanding among its readers. We feel for the main characters as one by one they lose their eyesight and resort to a rudimentary existence. The text raises deep, insightful questions of humanity and morality. What do people become when you strip them of society and order?
In our AP class, we read texts that challenge students and allow them to ponder on the larger questions in life. Reading Blindness enables students to question our humanity, what counts as humane in the face of disaster, and how people respond when faced with such challenges. Students answer tough questions such as, "When is it okay to relinquish all laws when a society collapses?" and "Why do such disasters occur when there seems to be no valid answer?" Students use the text for further analysis through AP-level essays, exercising skills that will be crucial to their success on the AP exam and in college.
After examining the cover, the students had so many questions. One person wondered how it could be that the entire world could go blind at once. Another student was more fascinated with the book because it had been turned into a movie, although I admitted there was more to the book than the film let on. The fact that a class set is available to every single student, rather than having students share books or use a digital online copy, will make reading the books at home more feasible for students with little to no access to technology at home. Above all, it will allow us to understand what page each person is on, since there is a uniform edition of the book and we can easily call to mind what page we read a certain quote on, thus making it easier for students to discuss the text with one another.
Our class once again thanks you for your generous donation!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Magana
This classroom project was brought to life by Anonymous Donor and 4 other donors.