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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Darcy Castellanos from Chicago, IL is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Darcy Castellanos is requesting

A Powerful Reader Becomes a Powerful Leader

My students need books at various levels and a magazine subscription about real-world news which will allow them to have access to a variety of text.

  • $589 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Darcy Castellanos for her next project!

Help Ms. Darcy Castellanos

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Darcy Castellanos for her next project!

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

My dad taught me that readers are leaders, and I embody this phrase in the classroom. Our students are often sheltered from all that reading has to offer them. When readers say, "They hate to read," I say to them they just haven't found the right book yet. I hope to find them the right book!

My school is a dual language school located just northwest of downtown Chicago.

We are 80% Hispanic, 17% Black, and 93% of our students are low income students. We have many students who are bilingual speakers, with their native language being Spanish. Our parents are hard workers, but often have to work the 2nd and 3rd shifts at their jobs. Many of my 6th grade students spend their afternoons and night time helping take care of their younger brothers and sisters. We are lucky that our students make good choices for their lives, and we have no students affiliated with any gangs. They are enthusiastic to learn is what inspires me to continuously find books, reading material, and any other resources that will help inspire my students to learn how to read, but furthermore enjoy reading and see that their lives will become richer by the materials they read and connect with in their lives.

My Project

In order for students to engage themselves in reading, they need to understand what they are reading. Like many things in life, learners come in all shapes and sizes, and this applies to reading as well. That is why my readers need access to books and magazines that are different reading levels so that they understand what they are reading and do not become frustrated by reading material that is so hard for them. It is also important that they have access to materials that are based on their interests. The magazine subscriptions will help the students understand world news in student-friendly language, that will also help build up their background knowledge to help them build up their depth of knowledge so that they can handle text at a more advanced level.

My students are inner city kids, who do not have opportunities most students get, lack of resources and poverty impact their lives.

They often are not exposed to real world articles and issues and not know what is happening around the world. By using magazines written at their level and bringing in books to motivate them to read, we are opening them up to a "world" they may have never had access to. Knowledge is power, and it is time these students start getting the power to become successful.

Ms. Darcy Castellanos Albert Sabin Magnet School Grades 6-8

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. Darcy Castellanos

Chicago, IL 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

75 students impacted 7donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
I Am Malala • AKJ Books $7.95 25 $198.75
Scholastic News, Grades 5/6 (min. 10 subscriptions per order) - 24 Issues / Min. 10 Subscriptions / Grades 5/6 • Scholastic Classroom Magazines $4.75 27 $128.25
Wonder • AKJ Books $9.50 5 $47.50
Firegirl • AKJ Books $5.11 4 $20.44
TJ Secret Pitch • AKJ Books $4.34 2 $8.68
Unfriended • AKJ Books $6.56 1 $6.56
Escaping The Giant Wave • AKJ Books $5.10 1 $5.10
Keeper • AKJ Books $5.10 1 $5.10
Soccer Hero • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37
Soccer Duel • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37
Soccer Scoop : Who''s Making a Fool of Mac? • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37
Soccer Duel • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37
Night of the Twisters • AKJ Books $4.37 1 $4.37
Soccer Team Upset (All-Star Sports) • AKJ Books $4.34 1 $4.34
Minn and Jake • AKJ Books $2.00 2 $4.00

Materials cost

$450.57

Vendor shipping charges

 $12.82

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.76

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$500.15

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$88.26

Total project goal

$588.41

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $588.41

2 Donors

-$588.41

Donations toward project cost

-$500.15

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$88.26

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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. Darcy Castellanos and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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