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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Somma from Las Vegas, NV is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Somma is requesting

Hey, That Character Looks Like Me!

Help me give my students diverse literature that represents all of my students.

  • $523 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Mrs. Somma has another project! Donate to Loving the Library to help her classroom.

$323 - complete this project and be a hero
Help Mrs. Somma

Mrs. Somma has another project! Donate to Loving the Library to help her classroom.

$323 - complete this project and be a hero

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

Next year, I will be transitioning back to my roots of teaching fifth grade. This will be the first time I have the chance to teach some of my former students (third graders) for the second time. My fifth graders are eager to become global citizens and learn about the world around them. These thoughtful, curious, inquisitive young scholars and scientists are hungry for learning. They enjoy creative brain breaks, challenging real-world math problems, and critical thinking. Above all, they value being kind and being fair. I have never been prouder of a group of students.

We are a Title I public elementary school in the eastern part of our city full of kind, thoughtful, inquisitive young learners.

Our inclusion classroom welcomes a plethora of different types of learners and embraces all.

My Project

I am requesting 32 mentor texts that reflect my diverse classroom. These books will not only be used to address reading standards such as summarizing fiction stories and understanding poetry, but will connect with broader life themes of empathy, diversity, being inclusive, and supporting one another. These books purposefully reflect multi-racial and female main characters to better match the diversity found in my classroom. By highlighting the works of Kwame Alexander and showcasing female STEM leaders, I will empower my students by providing literature examples that look like them.

Many of these texts also correspond with the growth mindset philosophy; it is important that all of my students know that nothing is impossible, even if we aren't quite there (yet)!

A few of the books focus on reducing anxiety and other mental health coping strategies. With an increase in pressures related to standardized testing, giving my students strategies to minimize anxiety is crucial. Several of the mentor texts also focus on animal conservation, reducing plastic waste, and protecting our planet.

Mrs. Somma Mervin Iverson 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. Somma

Las Vegas, NV 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

35 students impacted 14donors

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

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Mae Among the Stars • Amazon Business $16.22 1 $16.22
Viva Frida (Morales, Yuyi) • Amazon Business $14.59 1 $14.59
Dreamers • Amazon Business $14.24 1 $14.24
Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World • Amazon Business $14.24 1 $14.24
All Are Welcome • Amazon Business $14.00 1 $14.00
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It • Amazon Business $13.84 1 $13.84
What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety (What-to-Do Guides for Kids) • Amazon Business $13.76 1 $13.76
Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos (1) • Amazon Business $13.64 1 $13.64
She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History • Amazon Business $12.99 1 $12.99
Julián Is a Mermaid • Amazon Business $12.90 1 $12.90
How to Read a Book • Amazon Business $12.77 1 $12.77
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist • Amazon Business $12.59 1 $12.59
Pink Is for Boys • Amazon Business $12.59 1 $12.59
Where Are You From? • Amazon Business $12.51 1 $12.51
The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague (Amazing Scientists) • Amazon Business $12.20 1 $12.20
Beyoncé: Shine Your Light • Amazon Business $12.15 1 $12.15
I Can't Do That, YET: Growth Mindset • Amazon Business $11.69 1 $11.69
Help Your Dragon Deal With Anxiety: Train Your Dragon To Overcome Anxiety. A Cute Children Story To Teach Kids How To Deal With Anxiety, Worry And Fear. (My Dragon Books) • Amazon Business $11.66 1 $11.66
Don't Let Them Disappear • Amazon Business $11.51 1 $11.51
Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 • Amazon Business $11.48 1 $11.48
Heal the Earth (Julian Lennon White Feather Flier Advent) • Amazon Business $11.33 1 $11.33
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin (Amazing Scientists) • Amazon Business $11.27 1 $11.27
Giraffes Can't Dance • Amazon Business $11.07 1 $11.07
The Day You Begin • Amazon Business $10.63 1 $10.63
Alma and How She Got Her Name • Amazon Business $10.59 1 $10.59
Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets • Amazon Business $10.50 1 $10.50
Teacher Created Materials - Primary Source Readers: Amazing Americans: Thurgood Marshall - Grade 3 - Guided Reading Level O • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
My Teacher Dad • Amazon Business $9.95 1 $9.95
Save the Ocean • Amazon Business $9.62 1 $9.62
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau • Amazon Business $7.98 1 $7.98
Sleep Like a Tiger (Caldecott Medal - Honors Winning Title(s)) • Amazon Business $7.60 1 $7.60
Riley Can Be Anything • Amazon Business $6.99 1 $6.99

Materials cost

$379.09

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $29.76

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.69

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$444.54

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$78.45

Total project goal

$522.99

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $522.99

9 Donors

-$260.00

Donations toward project cost

-$224.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$36.00

Matching donations from our partners

-$259.46

Match offers toward project cost

-$220.54

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$38.92

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$3.53

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. Somma and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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