Past projects 15
Paper Making for Student Stories
Funded Oct 12, 2023This experience was incredibly powerful for my students! Not only did they make their own paper, but they also designed and created their own books using the paper that they made. Hands on activities like this one provided my students with skills that they didn't have before and also opened their eyes to issues of conservation and ways of combating climate change.
I'm so grateful for the support and generosity you offered my students. I know that they'll never forget this and they will take what they learned and put it toward positive pursuits. We wish you all the best!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community & an Anonymous Partner and 6 other donors.Bookmaking and Graphic Memoirs
Funded Oct 18, 2022I can't even describe how incredible our semester was because of your incredible contributions! The students were so excited to create and share their stories with one another and with the entire school community. There was such a diverse set of stories about family, nationality, gender identity, ethnicity, and more! It's clear that students deserve every opportunity to be creative and to take pride in who they are. Thank you so much for allowing them to have this opportunity. We are all so grateful for your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares and 2 other donors.Personal Safety Training for Queer Youth
Funded May 6, 2022Thank you all so much for the incredible experience of self defense and anti-violence training for queer youth and their allies. The sessions by Prepare Inc were informative and inspiring and the facilitators were experienced and kind. Most of the youth participants had never gone through a training that was so affirming and empowering. Each of the three sessions helped students build an awareness of dangerous situations. It helped them to understand consent, identify unhealthy behaviors, de-escalate conflicts, become more assertive, and foster confidence in themselves. These skills are absolutely essential for everyone, but especially for vulnerable youth. Thank you all so much for your contribution to this important moment in my students' education. We wish you all well and hope that you receive the same kindness you've shown to us.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 14 other donors.Visit to Brooklyn Academy of Music and Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Funded Mar 9, 2020Thank you to everyone who helped to make this project a reality! My students will be thrilled to know that they’ll have the opportunity to visit two phenomenal New York City venues that celebrate words, music, and people-power. Also, by supporting this project, you are supporting youth access to literacy and language and we are so grateful! We can’t wait to send you pictures and letters that highlight these events. Take care and have a wonderful spring!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
This classroom project was brought to life by The Walt Disney Company and 14 other donors.Students Speak with Author of Slay
Funded Oct 24, 2019Our discussion with Brittney Morris, author of Slay, was everything I could have hoped for as a teacher. My students were nervous and excited prior to her visit. We had wonderfully spirited discussions in class about the characters and the plot twists. They were eager to ask her questions about the choices that she made as a writer and how close the story was to her own life. The big day arrived and the school was buzzing. Brittney Morris was really incredible. She was warm and open. She was so thoughtful in her answers to student questions and after each answer, I saw students nodding their heads emphatically. We spoke about race and gender, the way in which young men of color are underserved in our society, the pressures of young women to meet an impossible standard, intersectionally, internalized oppression, and of course, video games. It was a conversation that students will remember for years to come. To be able to speak, face to face, with the author of a book that you read. It's a very special and empowering experience and I'm so glad that my students were able to take part in it. And that's because of you, dear donors! Because of your kindness and generosity. And we will be forever grateful.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Funder and 19 other donors.Attending the National Conference of Teachers of English
Funded Oct 17, 2019I can't begin to thank you for the incredible learning opportunity this was for me. My goal is to always broaden my scope and enhance my skills, so as a teacher, conferences like NCTE is vital for my practice, my growth, and for the growth of my students. Below are a few highlights of my four days spent in Baltimore.
On Thursday, the very first day of the conference, I was fortunate enough to listen to George Takei speak about his family history and the time they spent imprisoned in an internment camp for Japanese Americans. It was especially emotional listening to him describe the long train ride during which his mother and father tried to hide their despair and anger from their children. This is especially relevant to my teaching, as my students are currently learning about the forced imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
On Friday, I listened to Henry Louis Gates discuss the importance of teaching Reconstruction to students as a way to address our country's history through empowerment. I sat in on a roundtable of Latinx authors, including Lilliam Rivera who wrote Dealing in Dreams. I commented on the connections between her book and the legacy of the Young Lords and we discussed the possibility of her visiting my classroom. After that, I met with Elizabeth Acevedo, author of The Poet X, after her workshop about the intra-cultural experiences of black and brown girls in the classroom. Lastly, I met Greg Neri, author of the graphic novel, Grand Theft Horse, and told him how much one of my students loved his book. He was gracious enough to sign a copy for him.
While in the Exhibit Hall I met with members of the Folger Shakespeare Library whose mission is to make Shakespeare more accessible to students. I love Shakespeare but have always been intimidated by the idea of teaching it. They suggested that I attend one of their workshops and it was incredible! I took part in a Shakespeare flash mob that combined the words of the bard with those of August Wilson. And organizers of the workshop encouraged me to apply for the Teaching Shakespeare Institute this summer at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, where participants will explore how The Tempest and The Merchant of Venice connect to historic Jamestowne and the making of America.
On Saturday I listened to a talk by Tommy Orange, author of There, There, about the turbulent lives of First Nation youth in urban America. He spoke eloquently and piercingly about his own disinterest in school and the distrust he had for the institutions of education, as well as the desperate need that marginalized students have to see themselves and their experiences reflected in the books that they read. Afterward I went to a workshop on intersectionality and the invisibility of black queer youth in contemporary YA. I spoke with one of the author-presenters, Kacen Callendar, about the possibility of visiting my classroom. I also attended a workshop on opening the door for mental health inquiry through literature. Presenters explained how neurodivergent youth also deserve to feel seen and understood and one way in which to accomplish that is by introducing stories that address neurodiversity in an empowering way. Because of this workshop, I plan on teaching Neal Shusterman's novel, Challenger Deep, next semester.
During a luncheon for secondary educators, Laurie Halse Anderson (author of Speak) and Renee Watson (author of Betty Before X) engaged in a conversation with one another about their books and the ways in which stories can play a powerful role in giving voice to the voiceless. Finally, I sat in on a session facilitated by Professor Carmen Kynard of John Jay College, whose colleagues spoke about linguistic and racial justice and how to make our commitments to linguistic diversity actionable, especially when it comes to black and brown youth.
On Sunday, teachers bid a very fond farewell to an incredible weekend with a brunch hosted by Scholastic. I was able to network and make connections with educators from all over the country. I spoke with one teacher from a town on the Texas border who is doing humanitarian work on immigration issues. I also met members of Teaching Tolerance from Montgomery, who offered to work with us to arrange a Civil Rights tour of the south for our students. Overall, it was an incredible experience and there is no doubt that its positive impact on my teaching will be felt for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
This classroom project was brought to life by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.Becoming Poets at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Funded Dec 3, 2018We can't possibly thank you enough for the amazing opportunity that you've given our students. Our visit to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe was a transformative experience. First we were given a history lesson about the space, about the Nuyorican Arts Movement, and about its similarities to the Harlem Renaissance. Then, resident poets Joel, Amanda, and Midnight performed pieces that were so powerful that students said that they were moved to tears. The poets also facilitated activities that helped students get comfortable with performing. Students who never performed before made their debut at this historic venue. The spirit of support was phenomenal, with students celebrating one another's talents with shouts of praise and encouragement. This was such a joyful experience. To see young people so engaged in the art of storytelling and poetry, and to watch them courageously step up onto the stage and grab the mic, was a gift to witness. Students will be taking the poems that they wrote back to the classroom and using them to create a literary magazine. Thank you all so, so much for your contribution to this event. Your generosity has made a profound impact on the lives of these young people and will be felt for years to come. It is moments like these that make teaching such an absolute joy.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
The Poet X for Aspiring Young Poets
Funded Feb 15, 2019As you might have guessed, my students absolutely love The Poet X! We began by watching poetry performances by the author, Elizabeth Acevedo. They immediately identified with her words, her passion, and the immense pride that she carries for her Afro-Latina identity. We've had wonderful conversations in class about identity, representation, and connection. And I'm looking forward to having so many more conversation as we take a journey through this fantastic piece of literature. Thank you so much for the part that you played in making this moment possible for my students. We never forget our first favorite book and judging from student reactions so far, this will be a favorite for many of them. Your contribution will be felt for years to come because that's the power that words have. We cannot thank you enough. We hope that someone is as generous to you in your lives as you've been to us. Take care and have a joyful day.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
Addressing Double Consciousness with Author of The Hate U Give
Funded Oct 18, 2018Words cannot express how phenomenal an experience this was for my students and we have you to thank for it. This project has truly been a journey. To prepare for our visit with Angie Thomas, students read her book, The Hate U Give, and for many it was the first book they had ever enjoyed. They were completely engrossed throughout the reading. We then traveled together to watch the film in theaters. We even discussed the themes of police brutality with a local organizer, Mark Winston Griffith, from The Brooklyn Movement Center. When we told students that they would get to actually talk with the author, Angie Thomas, they were so excited! Each class decided to create a gift for her to show their appreciation. We decided to create wreaths made of paper flowers. There is a long list of names printed on each flower. Those names are the victims of police brutality and race-based violence in our country. Students made the wreaths to both honor the deaths of those individuals, and to also celebrate the beauty of their lives. Students also said that the flowers symbolize the people in our communities, or as Tupac Shakur once put it, the roses that are growing out of concrete. When they finally got the chance to speak with Angie Thomas, they presented these wreaths to her and she was incredibly moved. The students asked thoughtful questions about both the book and about Angie's personal journey as a writer. And Angie Thomas, with her charming wit and kind nature, shared stories of her own life and similarities between herself and the main character. As a teacher, there is a swelling pride that comes with seeing your students interact with a text. Well, in this case they were actually able to interact with the author of that text, and that is a life-altering moment. Thank you all for the part you played in making this moment happen. I hope that, this holiday season, you are given a gift as precious as the one you've just given to my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 19 other donors.Confronting a Culture of Violence
Funded Mar 20, 2018I'd like to thank you all sincerely for your generosity in donating to this project. My students spent three months reading, discussing, and writing about the novel Long Way Down and the social and political issues that the story reveals. For those you who are not familiar with the story, it's about a 15-year-old boy named Will whose brother has just been shot and killed by a friend-turned-rival gang member. Will grabs his deceased brother's gun and takes the elevator down to the lobby where he plans on getting revenge. But on his way down, he meets the ghosts of family and friends who have died violently. The story takes place over the course of a few short moments--the amount of time it takes for Will to get to the lobby. My students LOVED the book! And several of them used to claim that they don't like reading. The story spoke to them in ways that even I did not anticipate. In our classroom discussions they spoke about experiences that they've had with violence. They spoke about ways in which poverty and hyper-masculinity gives way to violence. My students are intelligent and insightful and their ideas inspire me as an educator and as a person. I wish you could have been a fly on the wall of some of those incredible conversations. Especially the conversation that we had with Jason Reynolds, the author of the book! When I found out that the author of Long Way Down would be at BookCon this year, I took my students. And they were able to speak with him one-on-one about his process for writing this story. It was a day that we will not soon forget. Thank you! Without the books that you donated to our school, this would not have been possible. One of my biggest hopes for my students is that they develop a love for reading and a curiosity about the world around them. Your generosity has helped to nurture that in them and I couldn't be more grateful. I wish you all well and that you have a wonderful and restful summer.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Jones