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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Ayala from N. Hollywood, CA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Ayala is requesting

Developing Great Writers

My students need 47 books, such as "William's Doll," "Blackbeard the Pirate King," and "Owl Moon," to read during writing time.

  • $513 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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

Help Mrs. Ayala

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

My Students

Writing five paragraph essays presents a challenging task for many students, especially English Language Learners. In order to improve our students' writing ability, our school has adopted the Write from the Beginning program. Certain books will highlight key writing features.

Our school is a suburban elementary located within the second largest school district.

Like many other districts, we are suffering from serious financial problems, so our school was unable to budget for classroom purchases. Our parents qualify for Title 1 services, which means they are considered to be economically disadvantaged. I am unable to ask for donations to pay for books for my class. Donors are the only hope we have for our students to completely access the curriculum in a memorable and meaningful way. My classroom is comprised of 100% Latino population. Many come from single parent homes where some parents work odd hours or double shifts. Despite the challenges faced by my students, both parents and students are determined to succeed and willing to work hard. My students' efforts are evident in much of their work and many are achieving grade level standards.

My Project

The developer of the Write from the Beginning program, Jane Buckner, conducted extensive research, looking for characteristics of great writing. She gathered award-winning children’s books (both narrative and expository), analyzed them, and compiled a list of essential features. She included this list in her program to assist educators when teaching the various elements. The list includes various books by Patricia Cunningham, Charlotte Zolotow, and great classics such as The Giving Tree and Rosie’s Walk. The selected books highlight essential strategies in writing. Some of the books have effective openings, while others have great examples of description. I can read all the book or portions of a book that exemplify a particular writing strategy such as effective openings and embedded transitions. These books are essential to the program since they provide examples of key characteristics and strategies that students need to incorporate into their writing to become proficient writers.

Books to support our writing program are essential to inspire and motivate writing.

I can read a book to demonstrate how an author uses the element of humor, suspension, or surprise. The book can also be used as a springboard for a particular writing prompt and allows students to listen to examples of a certain genre. Our school library doesn't have all the necessary books and I often go to the public library to gather the books. This is problematic since my library has cut some of its hours.

Mrs. Ayala Victory Boulevard Elementary School Grades 3-5

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. Ayala

N. Hollywood, CA 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

200 students impacted 11donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Flossie and the Fox Patricia McKissack, Rachel Isadora (Illu • AKJ Books $12.57 1 $12.57
Blackbeard the Pirate King • AKJ Books $12.54 1 $12.54
No More Water in the Tub! • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
Relatives Came • AKJ Books $5.91 1 $5.91
Charlotte''s Web • AKJ Books $5.91 1 $5.91
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever • AKJ Books $4.43 1 $4.43
I Love You the Purplest Barbara M. Joosse, Barbara Lavallee • AKJ Books $15.29 1 $15.29
Like Jake and Me Mavis Jukes, Lloyd Bloom (Illustrator) • AKJ Books $4.81 1 $4.81
Cloudy Wt Chance Meatballs • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
A Chair for My Mother • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
Two Bad Ants • AKJ Books $14.02 1 $14.02
El flautista de hamelin/ The Pied Piper Of Hamelin • AKJ Books $9.61 1 $9.61
Indian in the Cupboard, The • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
Miss Rumphius • AKJ Books $5.91 1 $5.91
Bridge to Terabithia (rpkg) • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
The Polar Express Chris Van Allsburg • AKJ Books $14.02 1 $14.02
Storm Book Charlotte Zolotow, Margaret Bloy Graham (Illustra • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
There''s a Nightmare in My Closet, Vol. 1 Mercer Mayer • AKJ Books $12.57 1 $12.57
Ira Sleeps Over • AKJ Books $5.91 1 $5.91
Tenth Good Thing about Barney • AKJ Books $4.43 1 $4.43
William''s Doll • AKJ Books $13.31 1 $13.31
Aplachia • AKJ Books $5.18 1 $5.18
Mysteries of Harris Burdick • AKJ Books $14.02 1 $14.02
Big Sister and Little Sister Charlotte Zolotow, Martha Alexa • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
Louis the Fish • AKJ Books $6.65 1 $6.65
Crow Boy • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
My Mama Had a Dancing Heart Gray, Raul Colon (Illustrator) • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
Do Not Open • AKJ Books $14.79 1 $14.79
Today Was a Terrible Day Patricia Reilly Giff, Susanna Natti • AKJ Books $4.43 1 $4.43
Very Last First Time • AKJ Books $14.02 1 $14.02
The Cloud Book • AKJ Books $5.14 1 $5.14
Wednesday Surprise • AKJ Books $4.40 1 $4.40
Day Jimmy''s Boa Ate the Wash, The • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
My Dad Is Awesome • AKJ Books $4.43 1 $4.43
Wumpworld • AKJ Books $6.62 1 $6.62
Stone Fox • AKJ Books $11.83 1 $11.83
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel • AKJ Books $5.91 1 $5.91
I Know a Lady • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
The Principal from the Black Lagoon Mike Thaler, Jared Lee ( • AKJ Books $2.95 1 $2.95
Corduroy • AKJ Books $12.73 1 $12.73
Just Like Daddy • AKJ Books $4.43 1 $4.43
Gold Coin • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17
Owl Moon • AKJ Books $12.57 1 $12.57
Silver Packages • AKJ Books $12.57 1 $12.57
Great Kapok Tree • AKJ Books $5.91 1 $5.91
Keeping Quilt • AKJ Books $5.17 1 $5.17

Materials cost

$362.20

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $33.14

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.43

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$435.77

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$76.90

Total project goal

$512.67

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $512.67

6 Donors

-$190.00

Donations toward project cost

-$161.50

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$28.50

Matching donations from our partners

-$322.67

Match offers toward project cost

-$274.27

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$48.40

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. Ayala and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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