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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. De Jesus from New York, NY is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. De Jesus is requesting

Because a Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste...

My students need 30+ books with compelling characters such as in "Tuesday's with Morrie" and "Things Fall Apart" in order to peak their interests and hook them into reading.

  • $399 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. De Jesus for her next project!

Help Ms. De Jesus

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. De Jesus for her next project!

My Students

I remember seeing the "A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste" commercials on T.V. regularly. It was not until I became a public school teacher that I really, understood it's meaning. Our children's minds are our greatest natural resource and we MUST nurture and cultivate it's growth through reading.

My Students are amazing young men and ladies who are living in poverty and fighting to break through all barriers in their path.

Most of them started 6th grade reading on a grade level or more behind. They have collectively worked hard to advance to grade level and many of them have been successful. Our school offers another option for parents who cannot afford private schools and cannot get into charter schools, and want the best quality of education for their children. My students, however, need books! We do have a library and I am grateful for the books that we do have in our classroom, however, we do not have enough books to meet the needs of all my students. On average my students have grown 1-3 reading levels this year. The only way they will continue to grow is by reading more and more books.

My Project

In order for my students to become avid readers who understand the importance of developing a love of reading, they need to be exposed to all reading genres. Books can provide them with an outlet that not only inspires, but arms them with the knowledge they will need to be successful in the world. My students will learn the joys of reading and will be able to expand their knowledge and build their expanding vocabulary by reading books.

Funding this project will provide my students with access to the possibility of real academic achievement.

Through their reading, they will be challenged to think on a higher level and therefore achieve on a higher level. It is through books that my students will develop the skills necessary to survive and thrive in an environment where failure is the norm and success a distant, unreachable possibility. By funding this project you are proving that "A Mind is Indeed A Terrible Thing To Waste!

Ms. De Jesus Urban Assembly Academy for Future Leaders Grades 6-8

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

Equity Focus

At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Ms. De Jesus

New York, NY View local requests

Nearly all students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

90 students impacted 2donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. De Jesus is requesting.

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic • AKJ Books $10.88 1 $10.88
Chicken With Plums • AKJ Books $10.10 1 $10.10
Embroideries • AKJ Books $9.32 1 $9.32
Hunger Games (PB) • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Catching Fire • AKJ Books $14.03 1 $14.03
Wake (Wake Trilogy Series #1) Lisa McMann • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Mockingjay (HC) • AKJ Books $14.03 1 $14.03
Fade (Wake Trilogy Series #2) Lisa McMann • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Gone • AKJ Books $7.79 1 $7.79
Cryer''s Cross • AKJ Books $13.25 1 $13.25
Messenger Lois Lowry • AKJ Books $5.85 1 $5.85
Gossamer • AKJ Books $5.45 1 $5.45
Maus I : A Survivor''s Tale My Father Bleeds History • AKJ Books $12.44 1 $12.44
Maus II: A Survivor''s Tale: And Here My Troubles Began • AKJ Books $12.44 1 $12.44
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood • AKJ Books $10.88 1 $10.88
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return • AKJ Books $10.88 1 $10.88
Stitches • AKJ Books $12.44 1 $12.44
Epileptic • AKJ Books $14.78 1 $14.78
Forged By Fire • AKJ Books $5.45 1 $5.45
Darkness Before Dawn • AKJ Books $5.45 1 $5.45
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Trilogy Series # • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium Trilogy Series #2) • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet''s Nest (Millennium Trilogy Se • AKJ Books $21.84 1 $21.84
Compound • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
That Was Then, This Is Now • AKJ Books $7.79 1 $7.79
Story Of A Girl • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Tuesdays with Morrie • AKJ Books $10.91 1 $10.91
Things Fall Apart • AKJ Books $8.58 1 $8.58
The Life of Pi • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Autobiography of My Dead Brother • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Amiri and Odette: A Love Story Walter Dean Myers, Javaka Ste • AKJ Books $14.03 1 $14.03

Materials cost

$299.36

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.49

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$338.85

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$59.80

Total project goal

$398.65

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $398.65

1 Donor

-$169.43

Donations toward project cost

-$169.43

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$0.00

match offer

-$199.32

Match offer toward project cost

-$169.42

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$29.90

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$29.90

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. De Jesus and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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