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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Mercaldo from Brooklyn, NY is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Mercaldo is requesting

Culturally Relevant Books

Help me give my students culturally relevant books like I Am My History that motivate and inspire literacy! Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson is a chapter book with relateable literary themes that will build community in our class.

  • $178 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Mercaldo for his next project!

Help Mr. Mercaldo

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Mercaldo for his next project!

My Students

My students benefiting from this project are in a Title One school where the majority receive free or reduced-price lunch. Many families receive meals/coats from our school's food pantry. They are hard-working scholars who were doing well at school but now, are suddenly forced to work from home and don't have the same daily access to my classroom library. They don't all have books to read at home.

My Project

In my class, we learn about all cultures. We read books, create projects, and watch videos to teach us about all of the cultures of the world through the books my students are exposed to. However, it is very difficult to find children's books about African American History before slavery.

I want my 6th-grade scholars to learn authentic and true facts about history and foster a passion for reading.

The books in this project will provide students with a more well-rounded narrative of African American history that is not purely rooted in trauma.

My scholars will enjoy learning the positive aspects of African-American heritage and leave my class with an elevated sense of self-worth, esteem, and belonging.

While simultaneously, all of my scholars will be glad to learn authentic historical facts that they can connect to their own lives and other content areas throughout the school year.

In addition, this book order provides each scholar in my homeroom with a copy of a chapter book that they can relate with and get excited about reading and discussing together. The theme of the book is about a group of diverse children bonding together and I expect reading this book will bring the bond of my homeroom of 11 students even closer!

Mr. Mercaldo New Heights Middle School 722 Grades 6-8

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

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 Mr. Mercaldo

Brooklyn, NY 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

11 students impacted 4donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Harbor Me • Amazon Business $8.99 11 $98.89
I Am My History • Amazon Business $19.99 1 $19.99

Materials cost

$118.88

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$1.78

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$150.66

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$26.59

Total project goal

$177.25

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $177.25

3 Donors

-$177.25

Donations toward project cost

-$150.66

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$26.59

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 Mr. Mercaldo and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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