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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Castro from El Cajon, CA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Castro is requesting

A Book Nook and Library for Book Club

My students need sets of books to read for book club and an inviting area to do so. We need pillows, and Books such as The Secret Garden and BFG.

  • $800 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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Help Mrs. Castro

My Students

I teach at a title 1 school in San Diego. I have had the amazing opportunity to loop my students from third all the way to now fifth grade. We have grown together, learned together, struggled together, persevered together, laughed together, and yes even cried together. Moving from third to fourth brought on nine more students. Throughout the years we have welcomed new students with open arms and grown from 25 to 34.

At our school we strive to teach the students our school virtues.

Be kind, respectful, tolerant, empathetic, fair, and use our self-control and conscience. Our classroom has become one of support, encouragement, discovery, and teamwork leading us to hardly be sitting at our desks. At any given time you will see students tucked into corners reading anothers' writing, laying on the rug reading books, standing at the back of the room with clipboards working math problems, and even outside the door trying to find a personal space that is quiet so they can concentrate.

I want my students to know that I not only see their differences and needs but understand and accept them as well. Our classroom is our home away from home!

My Project

My students need encouragement to read and develop a love for literacy. The materials on this book also make great mentor texts for writing. I have stopped using the textbooks because it is too difficult to teach and differentiate reading levels with only one story. To differentiate in my classroom we have book clubs. Students get to choose which book they want to read and form groups based on the different books.

My students researched books they would want to read to create this project and have taken this on as their own.

During book clubs we discuss characters, emotions, make predictions and inferences, evaluate the book, and share the connections we make. It truly is a time to come together and collaborate.

After the book is complete the students get to create a project (skit, poster, powerpoint, animoto video, rap, poem, etc.) and share it with the class. Book clubs teach the kids collaboration skills, teamwork, tolerance, respect, empathy, kindness, and self-monitoring skills. They look forward to their time to come together as a group and discuss!

These materials would give students a variety of books to choose from for book clubs so they can feel in control of their learning and be interested in what they are doing. The bean bags, pillows, and bean bag filler would amp up our book nook as well.

Mrs. Castro Chase Elementary School Grades 3-5

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 Mrs. Castro

El Cajon, CA View local requests

More than three‑quarters of 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

55 students impacted 8donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mrs. Castro is requesting.

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Pictures of Hollis Woods • Amazon Business $5.14 27 $138.78
Big Joe Bean Bag, 98-Inch (Spicy Lime) • Amazon Business $36.67 2 $73.34
Wonder • Amazon Business $9.75 6 $58.50
Nightbird • Amazon Business $7.78 6 $46.68
Stargirl • Amazon Business $8.90 5 $44.50
One Crazy Summer • Amazon Business $6.99 6 $41.94
Island of the Blue Dolphins • Amazon Business $6.00 6 $36.00
Out of My Mind • Amazon Business $5.09 6 $30.54
Sykting Set of Two 18" X 18" Square Cotton Super Soft Short Plush Throw Pillow Cover Turquoise • Amazon Business $14.99 2 $29.98
Big Joe Comfort Research UltimaX Bean Bags Refill (2 Pack), 100 L • Amazon Business $28.99 1 $28.99
The BFG • Amazon Business $6.82 4 $27.28
The Secret Garden • Amazon Business $3.56 7 $24.92
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (Puffin Modern Classics) • Amazon Business $5.99 1 $5.99

Materials cost

$587.44

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $53.75

3rd party payment processing fee

$8.81

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$680.00

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$120.00

Total project goal

$800.00

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $800.00

3 Donors

-$681.50

Donations toward project cost

-$680.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$1.50

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$118.50

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 Mrs. Castro and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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