Past projects 14
New Novels: Calling All Boys
Funded Oct 3, 2024Thank you so much for your generous donation! Over a hundred students have access to new and relevant books thanks to you! Thank you for making my classroom library more attractive to middle schoolers!
I especially appreciate your willingness to buy multiple copies of each title so that multiple students can read the same title and collaborate. My students are so much more motivated to read if they get to socialize in the process. Not to mention that talking about books increases comprehension! Thank you for making my students smarter too!
One of the similarities of all these books is that they all have strong male protagonists. When I chose these titles, I specifically suggested books that would draw reluctant middle school boys. It has worked! Many of my middle school boys are enthusiastically picking up titles like Hazard, Ultraviolet and The Lion of Mars and reading them. One of my students claimed that The Lion of Mars was his favorite book of 2024! That is a win!
Thank you for valuing literacy and education! Thank you for caring about middle school students! I appreciate you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fenstermacher
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Foundation and one other donor.Celebrating Everyone's Learning Styles!
Funded Aug 14, 2024Thank you so much for donating to my classroom! My students have truly enjoyed having multiple options for learning! Students enthusiastically use the privacy shields to help them focus and work independently. They also love the green comfy chairs to work in teams and collaborate. Middle schoolers love the opportunity to have more freedom in choice seating and working styles.
Thank you for recognizing the importance of supporting diverse learning styles. Students feel seen and respected when they are not forced to all fit into the same mold. It has been such a privilege to teach my student metacognition awareness so that they can learn to recognize how they learn best. Thank you for giving me the resources to make that happen. I truly believe that students in my classroom are learning better because of the materials you donated!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fenstermacher
This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and one other donor.A Few Words Go a Long Way
Funded Nov 28, 2023Thank you so much for your generous donation! When I look at my window ledge (my makeshift bookcase), I feel incredibly grateful for the books you have gifted us! Your donation has enabled two classes of students to engage in book clubs, using books that are enticing and motivating to read! There is nothing more attractive than a brand new book!
I teach reading intervention, which means that for the most part, I have two classes of very reluctant readers. These students are usually very overwhelmed by traditional novels and are already convinced that they will not be able to complete any book that they pick up. They tell themselves that the books are boring and they hate reading. The reality is that reading is just hard for them.
You have donated books that are all written in verse (a form of poetry), which is basically short phrases that pack an emotional punch. There are fewer words on the pages, which allows the readers to get to the action a bit quicker. My students LOVE these books because they feel successful with these books! They finish these books! They feel like good readers with these books!
Thank you for making a difference!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fenstermacher
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and one other donor.Thinking Outside the Box in Reading
Funded Nov 27, 2023Thank you so much for your generous donation! These books have been a HUGE hit! The students are diving right in and READING! I am so encouraged to see students reading and CHOOSING to read! The students are so encouraged to actually finish a book and ENJOY it!
This project, 'Thinking Outside the Box', was designed to make books and book clubs more accessible to struggling readers. Long novels are often daunting for students who are reading below grade level. Your donation provided many book titles written in verse: fewer words, shorter texts, lots of action and impact. The students were immediately hooked!
Students are talking about their books, and even searching up possible sequels to the books they are reading. One student said, "This is the first book where I actually read the whole thing". That is a win!
Thank you for making this happen!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fenstermacher
Enticing, Engaging Book Clubs
Funded Mar 30, 2023Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our classroom! My students were able to start the year off with the latest, most engaging and relatable books available to them. The titles you donated, Starfish, Fish in a Tree, Other Words From Home and The Benefits of Being an Octopus, are the most popular titles in the classroom!
Each of these books stars a middle school main character who struggles with difficult life issues such as bullying, immigration, learning disabilities and/or family conflict. My students can easily connect to and develop empathy for these characters. These books inspire rich conversations between peers and are often the most recommended books to read.
Presently, my students are working on a 30 Book Challenge to complete by the end of the year. The books you provided enriches my classroom library and makes it popular even to students outside of my class. Starfish, in particular, is a book that is often checked out by students, possibly because the main character struggles with bullying at her school.
Overall, your gift has been a huge benefit to all of us! Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fenstermacher
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and one other donor.Engaging Readers in Book Clubs
Funded Nov 28, 2022Thank you so much for donating the books Ghost Boys, Emmett Till and Enrique's Journey! Thank you for diversifying our library and opening our eyes up to the experiences of others...windows of opportunity!
My sixth graders were immediately enraptured by the beginning of Ghost Boys and curious about the racial tensions between the main characters. I paired this book with the nonfiction book "Emmett Till", which was alluded to in the Ghost Boys. We were able to discuss writer's craft, fiction/nonfiction styles, and character development. We had several class discussions about key connections, implicit bias and societal impact. Students developed a curiosity to learn more about racial tensions and ended up creating a text set of other books that students could choose to read in book clubs. Some of the books in the text set included Hate You Give, Dear Martin, and Skin I'm In.
My 8th graders read parts of the book Enrique's Journey, which opened a window into an immigrant's experience. This book inspired many of students to look into their own family history and ask questions. Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to see new worlds and reflect on their place in it!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fenstermacher
Stand Up For Yourself
Funded Oct 5, 2022Thank you so much for your generosity! We have been enjoying our new books so much!
Specifically, my reading intervention class has been reading Ghost Boys to practice their comprehension strategies. We emphasize Connection, Questioning, Prediction, Visualizing and Inferencing to help students dive deeper into their texts and comprehend. Ghost Boys has been an especially good text to have socially relevant discussions.
In addition, we have paired Ghost Boys with the nonfiction text Emmett TIll. This gives the students the opportunity to synthesize information from a nonfiction text about a topic that they are already interested in. The timing is especially perfect with the new movie coming out, 'Till'. The students are highly motivated and invested in the books you have provided.
Thank you for being so sensitive to our needs, so timely and so generous! You are making a huge difference!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fenstermacher
A Diversified Library
Funded Oct 5, 2022Thank you so much for your generosity! The books you have donated to my classroom have brought true joy and excitement to my students.
Whenever we are reading realistic fiction, we talk about stories as being mirrors, windows and revolving doors into someone else's life. Characters often are mirrors of our own life and experiences, which helps us to understand the main characters of our books better. Books can be windows into someone's life that is different than our own. This helps us to become more aware of the differences of others. Finally, books like these can inspire us to 'enter through the revolving door' of the characters and events
by taking action and pursue social justice. The books that you donated provided all three for my students: mirrors, windows and revolving doors.
Currently, the students are participating in a Kwame Alexander author study, using books like Booked, Rebound, and Crossover. They are making connections with the author's' life and the themes that are common in his novels. These books are inspiring critical thinking, deeper understanding and personal reflection. It is amazing what quality books can do!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fenstermacher
Jason Reynolds Author Study
Funded Dec 1, 2021Thank you so much for your generous donation! The Jason Reynolds books that my students received brought so much joy and excitement! The nine different titles gave my students the freedom to dive into a book that peaked their interest. There was a whole new energy and motivation in my class.
The Jason Reynolds books were used in my classroom primarily for book clubs. Students met in groups of 3-6 students who all decided to read the same book. Each group decided how many pages to read per night and come prepared to discuss the following day.
Understanding that all the books focused on issues of social justice, I prepared questions to guide each book club discussion. Students used 'courageous conversations' to discuss race, equity, discrimination, economic lines, norms, and privilege. These books opened up dialogue that possibly wouldn't have happened otherwise.
Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to experience something great! You made a difference in their lives.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fenstermacher
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and one other donor.Nonfiction Buddy Reading
Funded Oct 21, 2021Thank you for your generous donations and thoughtful contributions! My students have benefited so much from the new, diverse books nonfiction books that you have provided!
First, thank you for giving us the opportunity to buy two copies of each book. This has allowed the students to pair up with other students of like interests and read together. This is a wonderful strategy to motivate struggling and reluctant readers. It is especially motivating when reading nonfiction texts, which some students perceive as dry.
Second, thank you for providing such a diverse variety of books. Titles such as Queer Heros, Fred Korematsu Speaks Up, and Marley DIas Gets it Done have made my library more equitable and inclusive. In addition, titles such as The Day-Glo Brothers, What was the Bombing of Hiroshima and How to Draw Anime have allowed students at all reading levels to actively participate successfully in the lessons. These books are highly interesting to the students and they had no trouble choosing a book that they liked!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fenstermacher
This classroom project was brought to life by Dollar General Literacy Foundation and one other donor.