Past projects 7
Discovering the Hero's Journey in Young Adult Literature
Funded Feb 15, 2018Many students experience novels only through classics taught in the classroom. They miss out on the more contemporary novels published within the past twenty years and all they have to offer. I thought about this when I decided to expand our hero's journey unit. Typically we read and study The Odyssey as an example of the hero's journey. My students often enjoy it, but I wanted them to see how that common story trope is used in current novels.
My students thoroughly enjoyed reading their young adult hero's journey novels. They found ways to relate to the characters more than they could relate to Odysseus. They also experienced how modern authors add their own spin on the journey. It was eye opening for many of them that this storyline can be found in realistic fiction since they so often see it in fantasy, mythology, etc.
Thank you so much for supporting our classroom. You helped turn this unit into something my students truly looked forward to.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Andersen
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 8 other donors.Gaining New Perspectives Through Memoirs
Funded Jan 28, 2017Thank you so much for supporting my classroom. This memoir unit continues to surprise and inspire me each year I teach it. Because of your generous donations, my seniors discovered memoirs that surprised them, inspired them, and motivated them.
During the unit we took time to discuss and share the titles being read in class. Many of my students have continued reading memoirs since the unit ended, which has made my heart swell. Most of my students have never read a memoir before this year and now want to continue reading them. A couple students told me that they purchased their own memoirs because they discovered so much joy in reading them.
Please know that this unit will continue on into the future. It's been a huge success and I know it will only continue to get better. My seniors and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Andersen
Connecting with Heroes in Young Adult Novels
Funded Sep 8, 2015My students and I can't express enough how thankful we are for the donations each of you provided!
We have been thoroughly studying the Hero's Journey which began with Homer's The Odyssey. I introduced my students to the concept of the Hero's Journey because it's something that shows up in multiple forms through time. We looked at movies, short stories, The Odyssey, their own lives, and finally at the contemporary novels you helped provide for us.
My students were able to choose the book they wanted to read and spent a few weeks reading it with others in class who chose the same book. As a book club they discussed the novel and how it applied the steps of the Hero's Journey. My goal was for each of them to understand that ANYONE can be a hero. At the end of the those few weeks my students wrote an extended definition essay about how they define the term "hero" and many used examples from the novel they chose to read.
One of the best parts of this experience is that many of my students fell in love with the book they read. In one class, The Running Dream was a huge hit. One of the girls in class told me that it has become her absolute favorite book. In another class, one of my students was hesitant about choosing The Girl of Fire and Thorns, but she quickly discovered that she loves Rae Carson's writing and soon after also read Rae Carson's newest book Walk on Earth a Stranger.
Your donations have connected my students with superb books, contemporary authors, and provided examples for them that prove heroes are all around us.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Andersen
Stacking the Shelves with ALA Award Winners
Funded Mar 30, 2013I can not thank all of you enough for donating to this project. My students were so thrilled to have the opportunity to read these ALA winners after I've spent so much time talking about the awards and the books given the awards. My classroom library acts as the high school library for many of my students, so we are beyond grateful to have received your support.
This spring my sophomores have been reading to a class of third graders twice a week. They've been reading a variety of picture books to this group of students, so receiving the Caldecott honor books and winner through this project has been especially helpful. Your generosity has extended beyond my classroom because of this. The third grade teacher told me that the days my students read to her students are their favorite days of the week! They really loved One Cool Friend, Creepy Carrots!, and Extra Yarn. My sophomores even enjoyed them when I read those picture books to them.
I hope you'll continue to give to needy classrooms because your donations, no matter the size, truly help and benefit students. Thank you so very much.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Andersen
Books Guys Dig
Funded Apr 11, 2011To everyone above, thank you SO VERY MUCH! As a teacher it is my goal to encourage the boys I have in class to read and enjoy it. When these books I arrived I didn't waste any time putting them on display for the boys in class. I found book trailers that go with them, I book talked them, etc. They were excited.
The graphic novels have been a big hit with my students. Each of my classes set up class reading goals. Some of the boys were hesitant about this, but I reassured them that they could read graphic novels to help reach our goal. This set their minds at ease and they were eager to read them. Refresh Refresh has been one of the most popular.
One of my boys found a new trilogy that he loves because of this fundraiser. He borrowed the copy of The Knife of Never Letting Go and couldn't put it down. He flew through The Ask and the Answer and then couldn't wait to get his hands on the final book, Monsters of Men. He recommended it to one of the girls in class who also enjoyed the series.
The boys have been excited and it's only going to continue in the fall. The mix of action & adventure, fantasy, etc. are great additions to my class library.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Andersen
Great Books for Girls
Funded Apr 10, 2011Everyone deserves a huge THANK YOU from me and my students! The girls were absolutely thrilled when the books arrived and were placed in my classroom. They didn't waste any time borrowing the new books once I put them on display!
In each of my classes, the students decided on a class reading goal. Most of my classes made it their goal to read at least 100 books as a class. I'm happy to report that all of my classes not only made their goal, but exceeded it by quite a bit. Having fresh, new and exciting books made reaching this goal that much better.
The books arrived late in the spring, so they'll be ready for a fresh new group of students in the fall. Some of my students even asked to borrow some of the books over the summer. Thank you so much for helping me provide wonderful novels for wonderful students.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Andersen
Young Adult Lit.- Reveling in Reading
Funded Apr 30, 2010I can't express how truly thankful I am for your generous donations. The books you helped purchase will do so much for my students. They will enhance their YA Lit projects, they will teach them important life lessons, and they will be recommended from peer to peer. My students and I are so excited about this fully funded project.
I hope all of you know how important your donations are to us. These books will reach and positively influence a wide range of students for many years.
I included a picture that shows a few of my students enjoying the novels. I also included a picture that shows a small sample of the books we received, along with some pictures of the posters they created after reading the books. Thank you again!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Andersen