My students need 35 books selected by our school district's Department of Libraries to compete in the district-wide 2010 Elementary Battle of the Books this school year.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Hicks's classroom raised $555
This project is fully funded
Elementary Battle of the Books is a reading incentive program for students in grades 4th-8th. Elementary students from Chicago Public Schools read the same 20 books and come together to demonstrate their academic and reading abilities and test their knowledge of the books they have read in rigorous, but fun, three round-the-school team competitions.
The school I teach in is a predominately African-American school in a working class neighborhood in Chicago. Reading is a crucial component in these children's academic and social success, many of whom come to their first year of school not knowing the fundamentals of reading - their alphabet, letter recognition and sounds. From there on reading is a struggle for them.
It is extremely important that such a rewarding opportunity be available consistently for our children to discover the joy of reading. Moreover, through books and the challenging and exciting Battle of the Books competition, children will explore their world, each other and themselves. Finally, through Battle of the Books, children will develop the skill of critical reading that will benefit them through high school, college and the rest of their lives and a lifelong love of reading and learning.
Our students have risen to the challenge every year to compete in the Battle of the Books, with the generous help of DonorsChoose donors. This year our school budget has been cut, and though our school has been very supportive, it has not been able to afford to buy enough sets of each title for our students to read and discuss as a team. I hope to receive enough copies of each book for each team member to be able to read independently at school, as a team, and at home.
Ultimately, our aim is to support our students in their love and discovery of reading by introducing them to quality literature, to offer books across the genres, that build upon historical, cultural and scientific values, the dignity of life, and to develop friendships between students based upon socialization, competition and mutual respect.
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
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom Margarita Engle
• Barnes and Noble
$13.56
1
$13.56
The Smell of Old Lady Perfume Claudia Guadalupe Martinez
• Barnes and Noble
$14.35
1
$14.35
Confetti Girl Diana Lopez
• Barnes and Noble
$14.39
1
$14.39
Meet Josefina: An American Girl (American Girls Collection Series: Josefina #1) Valerie Tripp, Susan McAliley, Pleasant Co, Jean-Paul Tibbles (Illustrator), Susan McAliley (Illustrator)
• Barnes and Noble
$6.25
1
$6.25
More Bones: Scary Stories from Around the World Arielle North Olson, Howard Schwartz, E. M. Gist (Illustrator)
• Barnes and Noble
$6.29
1
$6.29
The Mozart Question Michael Morpurgo, Michael Foreman (Illustrator)
• Barnes and Noble
$12.79
1
$12.79
The Naked Mole-Rat Letters Mary Amato
• Barnes and Noble
$7.15
1
$7.15
The Name of this Book is Secret Pseudonymous Bosch, Gillbert Ford (Illustrator)
• Barnes and Noble
$5.39
1
$5.39
Our White House: Looking in, Looking Out Various, Various (Illustrator), Created by N.C.B.L.A., David McCullough (Introduction)
• Barnes and Noble
$23.99
1
$23.99
Rapunzel's Revenge Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, Nathan Hale (Illustrator)
• Barnes and Noble
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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. Hicks and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.