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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. McDowell from Spartanburg, SC is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. McDowell is requesting

Culturally Relevant Books for Reluctant Readers

Help me give my students choices to get them excited about reading! My reluctant readers need books that reflect their own cultures and match their interests.

  • $510 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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

Help Mrs. McDowell

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

My Students

As you walk our halls, you see how our diverse school celebrates the beauty of differences while recognizing what holds us together. Photographs and artwork reflect the joy of connection and the creative spirit that unites us. The diverse cultures that come together in our school make each of us richer. When you visit our classrooms, you hear our students' energy as they read aloud, share their ideas, and learn together.

Each student in my school is working to find his or her place in a student body of 900 middle schoolers.

They choose books based on their interests, their strengths, their cultures, and their questions. Many of them enjoy the safety and stability of school because their home lives are less comfortable; over 70% of them live in poverty. At school, they find validity and encouragement...and books!

Our students have big dreams. We've told them that they can change the world, and they believe us. I believe us. The compassion and intelligence I see in them encourages me to believe even more.

My Project

I am requesting books that reflect my students' own cultures and match their interests. Books such as Julia Alvarez's ANTES DE SER LIBRES, R. J. Palacio's WONDER, and Laurie Halse Anderson's CHAINS will allow my students to read about characters who share their cultural and social heritages.

Because most of my students live in poverty, interesting, well-written books are a luxury.

I want to offer them many choices to build their enthusiasm for reading. I believe they will fall in love with reading as I did as a child when they have access to a wide variety of interesting, culturally relevant books. The love of reading will increase their chances of success both in school and for years to come.

Now more than ever, my students need empathy, confidence, and vision.

Mrs. McDowell Fairforest Middle 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 Mrs. McDowell

Spartanburg, SC 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

300 students impacted 6donors

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

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Hiaasen 4-Book Trade Paperback Box Set: Chomp; Flush; Hoot; Scat • Amazon Business $23.99 1 $23.99
Wonder • Amazon Business $9.74 2 $19.48
Some Places More Than Others • Amazon Business $8.49 2 $16.98
Devolver al Remitente (Return to Sender Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $7.59 2 $15.18
Antes de ser libres (Before We Were Free Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $7.59 2 $15.18
Smile • Amazon Business $7.00 2 $14.00
Piecing Me Together • Amazon Business $6.39 2 $12.78
Other Words for Home • Amazon Business $11.99 1 $11.99
The Similars • Amazon Business $5.49 2 $10.98
The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book 1) • Amazon Business $9.75 1 $9.75
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Tristan Strong (1)) • Amazon Business $8.99 1 $8.99
Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever. • Amazon Business $8.99 1 $8.99
Charlie y la fábrica de chocolate / Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dalh Collection) (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $8.59 1 $8.59
The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 • Amazon Business $8.50 1 $8.50
Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls: From the Creator of Captain Underpants (Dog Man #7) • Amazon Business $8.49 1 $8.49
The River (A Hatchet Adventure) • Amazon Business $8.49 1 $8.49
The Declaration • Amazon Business $8.40 1 $8.40
Travel Team • Amazon Business $7.99 1 $7.99
Summer of the Woods (The Virginia Mysteries) • Amazon Business $7.99 1 $7.99
The Secret Lake: A children's mystery adventure • Amazon Business $7.99 1 $7.99
Telaraña de Carlota: Charlotte's Web (Spanish Edition) • Amazon Business $7.89 1 $7.89
The Boy Who Saved Baseball • Amazon Business $7.89 1 $7.89
Heat • Amazon Business $7.69 1 $7.69
Out of My Mind • Amazon Business $7.64 1 $7.64
Million-Dollar Throw • Amazon Business $7.59 1 $7.59
Holes (Holes Series) • Amazon Business $7.55 1 $7.55
The One and Only Ivan • Amazon Business $7.17 1 $7.17
Esperanza Rising (Scholastic Gold) • Amazon Business $6.99 1 $6.99
De como tia Lola vino (de visita) a quedarse (How Aunt Lola Came to (Visit) Stay Spanish Edition) (The Tia Lola Stories) • Amazon Business $6.99 1 $6.99
As Brave As You • Amazon Business $6.61 1 $6.61
One Crazy Summer • Amazon Business $6.32 1 $6.32
Fish in a Tree • Amazon Business $6.29 1 $6.29
Hatchet • Amazon Business $6.17 1 $6.17
Wish • Amazon Business $6.11 1 $6.11
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) • Amazon Business $5.99 1 $5.99
Pax • Amazon Business $5.89 1 $5.89
Chains (The Seeds of America Trilogy) • Amazon Business $5.59 1 $5.59
Inside Out and Back Again • Amazon Business $5.29 1 $5.29
A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story • Amazon Business $5.29 1 $5.29
All American Boys • Amazon Business $5.07 1 $5.07
Maniac Magee • Amazon Business $4.69 1 $4.69

Materials cost

$371.44

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $26.19

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.57

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$433.20

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$76.45

Total project goal

$509.65

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $509.65

4 Donors

-$329.82

Donations toward project cost

-$280.35

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$49.47

Matching donations from our partners

-$179.82

Match offers toward project cost

-$152.85

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$26.97

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. McDowell and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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