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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Hays from Saint Petersburg, FL is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Hays is requesting

Building an Inclusive Classroom Library for My Girls

Help me give my students books that will inspire them to take challenges, grow, make mistakes, dream, believe and succeed. Most of the books are part of a series so students can increase comprehension quickly.

  • $519 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Hays for her next project!

Help Mrs. Hays

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Hays for her next project!

My Students

My students are just starting third grade and we have a lot of work to do to be successful. One key skill we are working on to accomplish that is our ability to read independently with engagement and stamina.

However, many of the books I have collected for the classroom library are not reflective of the diversity of my students - the scholars need to be able to see themselves and their experiences in fiction so they can have validation, make connections and foster empathy.

These kids are eager to learn and determined to pass the grade level and move up. At just 8 and 9 they know the importance of education and all express the desire to go to college and earn a degree. The best start to that is within the classroom and through building their enjoyment of reading. At this age, they truly need to see their lives within the lives of characters.

These students want to thrive and have so much potential. I'm excited to see their growth and know that we will make gains!

My Project

If funded, these books will become a part of the classroom library. Everyday the students have an independent reading station and they also are invited to take home books so they can log their 30 minutes of reading at home as part of their homework. These books will provide more options - options that include characters who look like them, talk like them and have similar experiences and backgrounds.

Series reading helps students progress with comprehension since they don't have to learn new characters - they are already established and the students come to love, understand and relate to them.

The three sets I chose, "Dyamonde Daniel," "Lulu" and "Shai and Emmie" were picked specifically because the characters have similarities with my students and the stories are what they need developmentally. Multiples were chosen of the series books so several students can enjoy the same text and progress within the series at once.

The individual books are diverse and inspiring - often highlighting character building and/or historical figures.

Mrs. Hays Midtown Academy Grades 3-5

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Mrs. Hays

Saint Petersburg, FL 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

16 students impacted 2donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls - Gift Box Set • Amazon Business $65.00 1 $65.00
Lulu Boxed Set #1-6 • Amazon Business $17.49 3 $52.47
Shai & Emmie Star in Dancy Pants! (A Shai & Emmie Story) • Amazon Business $6.99 3 $20.97
Shai & Emmie Star in To the Rescue! (A Shai & Emmie Story) • Amazon Business $6.99 3 $20.97
Halfway to Perfect: A Dyamonde Daniel Book • Amazon Business $5.99 3 $17.97
Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 • Amazon Business $17.48 1 $17.48
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race • Amazon Business $16.19 1 $16.19
The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague (Amazing Scientists) • Amazon Business $16.19 1 $16.19
Turning Pages: My Life Story • Amazon Business $16.19 1 $16.19
Shai & Emmie Star in Break an Egg! (A Shai & Emmie Story) • Amazon Business $5.08 3 $15.24
Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel (A Dyamonde Daniel Book) • Amazon Business $4.99 3 $14.97
I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness • Amazon Business $14.88 1 $14.88
Rich: A Dyamonde Daniel Book • Amazon Business $4.79 3 $14.37
Almost Zero: A Dyamonde Daniel Book • Amazon Business $4.79 3 $14.37
She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World • Amazon Business $13.49 1 $13.49
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist • Amazon Business $12.59 1 $12.59
Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World (Vashti Harrison) • Amazon Business $12.32 1 $12.32
The Big Umbrella • Amazon Business $11.48 1 $11.48
The Day You Begin • Amazon Business $11.39 1 $11.39
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History (Vashti Harrison) • Amazon Business $11.16 1 $11.16
Eraser • Amazon Business $10.99 1 $10.99
Katherine Johnson (You Should Meet) • Amazon Business $3.99 1 $3.99

Materials cost

$404.67

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.07

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$440.74

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$77.78

Total project goal

$518.52

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $518.52

2 Donors

-$500.74

Donations toward project cost

-$440.74

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$60.00

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$17.78

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 Mrs. Hays and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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