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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Thom from Hartford, CT is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Thom is requesting

Summer Reading and Battle of the Books with Nutmeg Nominees

My students need books for summer reading and The Battle of the Books, a cart to store and transport the books, as well as bean bags for comfortable places to read.

  • $835 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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Help Ms. Thom

My Students

Imagine students walking through the hallway with their noses in a book--and the main problem we have is that they run into the person in front of them. Then, upon arriving back at the classroom--students go crazy because a book in their favorite series has arrived and is on display! Bibliomania.

The students in my school are bibliomaniacs!

I cannot keep up with their voracious reading...they consume books like other students consume candy. Every day, we do books hooks. A book hook is like a commercial and book review rolled all in one~and is meant to help students add to their "Books to Read in the Future" list. Our school is made up of students in grades 4-10 who have a constant dialog about favorite authors, new books coming out, and the latest movies based on their favorite books. Because our school is located in a large city within a high-poverty area and has a limited budget, students do not have the benefit of a school library--an issue we are working to solve. As a result, a group of students have asked to create a library club and are working on generating a book collection that will keep up with our community of readers. The overall student population is made up of positive and motivated learners who are dedicated to solving the issues in their environment!

My Project

My students need copies of the 2015 Nutmeg Nominee books in order to complete their summer reading requirement and participate in a Battle of the Books in the Fall. The book truck will be used to transport the books to each classroom (since we are do not have a school library (yet!). The bean bags will provide some comfortable reading spaces on our tiled floors in the classroom during reading time. Every day, students can be seen spread out around the classroom, getting lost in the plot of their book. A unique feature of the reading time consists of students getting comfortable by leaving their desks and sitting in other areas around the room. Since we have tile flooring, comfy beanbags would enhance our current reading environment. Lastly, one of my goals for our reading program is to expose students to a wide variety of genres, authors, and high quality titles. A focus on award-winning books is a priority; all the requested titles are nominees from the annual state book award.

This project will enable students to participate in a school sponsored "Battle of the Books." Getting these books in the hands of the students will allow them to play an active and informed role in the decision of the best books for our state.

It will give them practice in identifying the attributes of high quality literature, as well as confidence in both identifying these attributes and implementing them in their own writing. Lastly, the books will be added to our growing school library!

Ms. Thom Dr Joseph S Renzulli G&T Academy 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 Ms. Thom

Hartford, CT View local requests

More than half 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

106 students impacted 14donors

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

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
Double-Sided Sloped-Shelf Book Truck - Specialty Colors Color: Charcoal, Colors: Red (01) • Teachers' School Supply $235.99 1 $235.99
Round Bean Bag Chairs Color: Blue, Size: 35" Diameter • Teachers' School Supply $69.99 2 $139.98
Joshua Dread • Amazon $15.23 1 $15.23
The Unwanteds • Amazon $14.66 1 $14.66
Insignia (Insignia Trilogy) • Amazon $14.62 1 $14.62
King of the Mound: My Summer with Satchel Paige • Amazon $14.39 1 $14.39
Liar & Spy • Amazon $14.25 1 $14.25
Don't Turn Around • Amazon $14.23 1 $14.23
The Last Dragonslayer: The Chronicles of Kazam, Book 1 • Amazon $14.04 1 $14.04
The Final Four • Amazon $13.74 1 $13.74
Tuesdays at the Castle • Amazon $13.65 1 $13.65
Saint Louis Armstrong Beach • Amazon $13.60 1 $13.60
One for the Murphys • Amazon $13.28 1 $13.28
Eye of the Storm • Amazon $13.23 1 $13.23
The Raft • Amazon $13.23 1 $13.23
Walls Within Walls • Amazon $13.07 1 $13.07
White Fur Flying • Amazon $12.92 1 $12.92
The False Prince (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Ascendance Trilogy) • Amazon $12.81 1 $12.81
Spy School • Amazon $12.70 1 $12.70
Guitar Notes • Amazon $12.67 1 $12.67
Shadow • Amazon $6.29 1 $6.29

Materials cost

$628.58

Vendor shipping charges

$41.36

Sales tax

$0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$9.43

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$709.37

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$125.18

Total project goal

$834.55

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

$834.55

5 Donors

-$635.00

Donations toward project cost

-$539.75

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$95.25

match offer

-$199.55

Match offer toward project cost

-$169.62

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$29.93

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

$0.00

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

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Project Activity

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