Special Education students have great academic achievement with environmental education. I teach 7th grade special education. The students I work with live in deep poverty and need a set of books for the 2009-2010 academic year. The children I work with have special needs that include learning disabilities and emotional disabilities. They are truly amazing, caring, compassionate , hard working young people who greatly care about their community and the environment they live in. My students are involved in many community projects to reduce pollution, find solutions to climate change, and create a healthy ecosystem. This type of learning helps children with intellectual growth, social-emotional well-being, and evaluative development. My students love learning about the environment and need a new set of books with a focus on the environment. We plan on developing a science book club. Citizen science projects are great !

My students are challenged by poverty, neglect, lack of a healthy diet, lack of sleep, lack of parental support, and lack of support form school officials regarding the books we need. New books inspire my students, and the environment is a topic they really want to learn more about. They want to take care of their planet and want to learn how to do it. This gives my students a great lift regarding their self esteem. They feel they have a place in the world when they work to learn or take care of the natural world. The environment and the problems related to this topic have inspired my students to learn and stay in school. Many of my students even say to me " I want to be a scientist". Once given the opportunity the students seek new information on their own. Learning about the environment sparks imagination and curiosity in my students. The local environment will benefit from the work of my students. The first step is to develop great reading and writing skills. The more the students read the better students they will become. The goal is also for the kids to stay in school and work towards getting a college education.

We need a new set of books. I found this great new book from a great small publishing house called 'Dawn Publications'. They have a mission of sharing nature with children. I know from my teaching experience that children benefit from a connection to the nature and the natural world. I feel it is also important for students to learn about the place they live in. They benefit from understanding the ecosystem services that maintain life in their local community and around the world. School becomes important and meaningful when students learn about the water, sewage, parks, biodiversity, and climate of the place where they live. The book I am requesting will help students connect to thinkers and scientists who looked at their world to make it a better place. My students have the opportunity to learn and make the world a better place. Thanks greatly for the opportunity to request a set of books. I greatly appreciate your time.

Your help will help my students grow as readers and thinkers. Books have a lot of power in the lives of my students. It is true magic ! You will also make it possible for my students to make a difference in the world. The environment will benefit from the work of citizen scientists. I heard a Harvard University professor say this recently. These books are a true inspiration and will mean so much to the wonderful children I work with. Thanks again for your interest and support. It is greatly appreciated.