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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Darcy Castellanos from Chicago, IL is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Darcy Castellanos is requesting

Help Motivate Readers Which Will Inspire Future Leaders

My students need a multitude of texts, such as,The Amulet, series and A Wrinkle in Time, to help develop their reading skills while inspiring them to read a variety of texts.

  • $674 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Darcy Castellanos for her next project!

Help Ms. Darcy Castellanos

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Darcy Castellanos for her next project!

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

The majority of my students live in the inner city of Chicago and are Latino or African American and come from families with diverse backgrounds. Some of our families are immigrants, single parent households, or are working several jobs to help support their families. Many of my students do not have access to new reading books or do not live in neighborhoods where it is safe to walk to their public library.

In the words of beloved writer, Dr. Seuss, "The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” This quote is embodied whole-heartedly at our school, where we implement reading workshop. We are working hard to help close the achievement gap in the city by making sure our students are well-rounded readers, and who become "college and career ready" by getting into the high school of their choosing. It is imperative that these students consistently read book to increase their reading abilities. But most importantly, I hope to foster a love of reading within their souls so that they feel empowered to continue their love of reading and learning.

My Project

My students need a multitude of texts, such as, The Amulet, series and A Wrinkle in Time, to help develop their reading skills while inspiring them to read a variety of texts.My students have grown up in a technologically savvy environment. Due to students being constantly stimulated by their phones and video games, the great novels that I grew up with, feel irrelevant to their lives and the issues they face. My students often do not want to read because they cannot visualize what they have read or they feel the story lines are boring. I have been personally investing in graphic novels which fly off of my shelves because the students are so excited to see pictures that connect to the story they are reading. The project will fund a plethora of graphic novels to help the struggling readers, English language learners, and even students who accelerate at reading. These books not only provide motivation for the students to read, they also help students visualize the story they are reading, leading to a higher level of comprehension.

Ms. Darcy Castellanos Albert Sabin Magnet 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 Ms. Darcy Castellanos

Chicago, IL 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

75 students impacted 11donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Darcy Castellanos is requesting.

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Amulet #1-7 Box Set by Kazu Kibuishi (2016-10-25) • Amazon Business $57.26 2 $114.52
El Deafo • Amazon Business $7.65 4 $30.60
Lumberjanes Vol. 1: Beware The Kitten Holy • Amazon Business $11.30 2 $22.60
All's Faire in Middle School • Amazon Business $11.18 2 $22.36
Explorer (The Lost Islands #2) • Amazon Business $10.55 2 $21.10
Nimona • Amazon Business $10.49 2 $20.98
Lumberjanes Vol. 2: Friendship To The Max • Amazon Business $10.49 2 $20.98
Lumberjanes Vol. 3: A Terrible Plan • Amazon Business $10.19 2 $20.38
Ghostopolis • Amazon Business $10.18 2 $20.36
Explorer: The Mystery Boxes • Amazon Business $10.03 2 $20.06
Bad Island • Amazon Business $9.90 2 $19.80
In Real Life • Amazon Business $9.87 2 $19.74
Brave • Amazon Business $9.83 2 $19.66
A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel • Amazon Business $9.51 2 $19.02
Awkward • Amazon Business $9.12 2 $18.24
Firelight (Amulet #7) • Amazon Business $8.68 2 $17.36
Cardboard • Amazon Business $8.52 2 $17.04
Real Friends • Amazon Business $8.48 2 $16.96
Anya's Ghost • Amazon Business $7.67 2 $15.34
Invisible Emmie • Amazon Business $7.61 2 $15.22
The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book 1) • Amazon Business $7.36 2 $14.72
The Hidden Doors (Explorer) • Amazon Business $6.90 2 $13.80
Ghosts • Amazon Business $6.89 1 $6.89
Drama • Amazon Business $6.56 1 $6.56

Materials cost

$534.29

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$8.01

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$572.30

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$100.99

Total project goal

$673.29

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $673.29

11 Donors

-$672.59

Donations toward project cost

-$572.30

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$100.29

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$0.70

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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 Ms. Darcy Castellanos and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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