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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Derouche from Lewiston, ME is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Derouche is requesting

Celebrating Who We Are Through Picture Books

My students need diverse books that represent them and their families.

  • $797 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Mrs. Derouche has another project! Donate to Calm and Collected Classroom to help her classroom.

$394 - complete this project and be a hero
Help Mrs. Derouche

Mrs. Derouche has another project! Donate to Calm and Collected Classroom to help her classroom.

$394 - complete this project and be a hero

My Students

My students are inquisitive, motivated, and excited about learning. They work hard and are dedicated to their education and their teachers.

They are members of a Title I school in Maine with over 30% of them being from refugee Somali families.

We have English Language Learners that operate with a wide range of abilities, fully integrated into the general education classroom. Because of their low socioeconomic status, all students receive free lunch and fresh fruit and vegetable snacks, while some bring home bags of food for their families on the weekend.

In order to bridge the gap, our school has employed multiple guidance counselors and social workers to meet the needs of our students. We have also implemented an Extended Day and Extended School Year Program where students have access to further learning with regard to social/emotional needs, as well as enrichment and STEM activities. Teachers with no classroom budget spend money out of pocket to provide students with essentials like winter coats, hats, mittens, and school supplies that their families can't afford. In our school we definitely live by the motto "It takes a village" to raise our children.

My Project

I have been thinking a lot lately about the students represented in my classroom. My students come from different countries, religions, and financial backgrounds. Yet, we all come together and work as a cohesive and strong team in our third grade world.

Something that makes me sad is that our classroom library doesn't represent the students who are with me every day.

I have done a lot of reading and hunting for various book lists that represent the cultures, beliefs, or refugees in my classroom. I also looked for books on empathy and diversity to supplement our learning about our differences. I hope that these books that I have found will be able to further our understanding and respect for one another as we read them together this year and in future classes that I teach, as well.

Mrs. Derouche Montello Elementary School 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. Derouche

Lewiston, ME 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

20 students impacted 11donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
The Last Night of Ramadan • Amazon Business $19.95 1 $19.95
The Best Eid Ever • Amazon Business $15.30 1 $15.30
The Night of the Moon A Muslim Holiday Story • AKJ Education $15.29 1 $15.29
Across the Alley • AKJ Education $15.29 1 $15.29
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation (Jane Addams Award Book (Awards)) • Amazon Business $15.15 1 $15.15
Let Them Play (True Story) • Amazon Business $15.03 1 $15.03
Deep in the Sahara • Amazon Business $14.39 1 $14.39
Teacup • Amazon Business $14.39 1 $14.39
Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 • Amazon Business $14.39 1 $14.39
The Water Princess • Amazon Business $14.39 1 $14.39
Ruth and the Green Book • Amazon Business $14.35 1 $14.35
Let the Children March • Amazon Business $14.11 1 $14.11
The Arrival • Amazon Business $13.99 1 $13.99
Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey (English and Arabic Edition) • Amazon Business $13.95 1 $13.95
Brothers In Hope The Story Of The Lost Boys Of Sudan • AKJ Education $13.83 1 $13.83
Playing War • Amazon Business $13.80 1 $13.80
Dario and the Whale • Amazon Business $13.69 1 $13.69
I'm New Here • Amazon Business $13.56 1 $13.56
Same, Same But Different • Amazon Business $13.56 1 $13.56
Beautiful • Amazon Business $13.47 1 $13.47
My Name Is Sangoel • Amazon Business $13.47 1 $13.47
Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story • Amazon Business $13.37 1 $13.37
Zen Socks • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13
Zen Ties • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13
Zen Shorts • AKJ Education $13.13 1 $13.13
Ada Twist, Scientist • AKJ Education $13.10 1 $13.10
The Journey • Amazon Business $12.56 1 $12.56
A Family Is a Family Is a Family • Amazon Business $12.56 1 $12.56
A Piece of Home • Amazon Business $12.51 1 $12.51
Four Feet, Two Sandals • AKJ Education $12.41 1 $12.41
Boycott Blues How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation • AKJ Education $12.40 1 $12.40
Rude Cakes • AKJ Education $12.40 1 $12.40
The Blessing Cup (Paula Wiseman Books) • Amazon Business $12.39 1 $12.39
Malala's Magic Pencil • Amazon Business $12.35 1 $12.35
Snow White: An Islamic Tale (Islamic Fairy Tales) • Amazon Business $12.18 1 $12.18
Colour of Home • Amazon Business $11.06 1 $11.06
Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down (Jane Addams Honor Book (Awards)) • Amazon Business $10.98 1 $10.98
Journey Home (Avenues) • Amazon Business $9.95 1 $9.95
Sam and the Lucky Money • Amazon Business $9.95 1 $9.95
My Two Blankets • Amazon Business $9.69 1 $9.69
Last Stop on Market Street • Amazon Business $9.39 1 $9.39
The Name Jar • Amazon Business $7.67 1 $7.67
Baseball Saved Us • AKJ Education $7.26 1 $7.26
A Sweet Smell of Roses • AKJ Education $6.56 1 $6.56
For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai's Story (Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Picture Books) • Amazon Business $6.12 1 $6.12
Let's Talk About Race • Amazon Business $5.94 1 $5.94
Martin's Big Words The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. • AKJ Education $5.83 1 $5.83
Freedom Summer • AKJ Education $5.83 1 $5.83
Two eggs, please. • AKJ Education $5.83 1 $5.83
The Spiffiest Giant in Town • Amazon Business $4.76 1 $4.76
Who Is Malala Yousafzai? • AKJ Education $4.37 1 $4.37
Everywhere Babies Send-a-story • AKJ Education $3.64 1 $3.64

Materials cost

$607.80

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $30.39

3rd party payment processing fee

$9.12

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$677.31

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$119.53

Total project goal

$796.84

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $796.84

9 Donors

-$729.19

Donations toward project cost

-$634.81

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$94.38

match offer

-$50.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$42.50

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$7.50

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$17.65

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. Derouche and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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