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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Pollak from Jackson Hts., NY is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Pollak is requesting

We Need Books!

My students need 45+ books in order to become more motivated, better readers, and to have books that can relate to who they are.

  • $438 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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

Help Ms. Pollak

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Pollak 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

Have you ever wanted to go into someone else's world just to escape for a moment? Have you ever felt that nobody in your life could relate to what you were going through? These are some of the things my students feel on a daily basis and have no way of coping. These books can be their saving grace.

My students are 13-14 years old; this in itself illustrates their struggle.

On top of being confused about who they are, what they want, and/or how to stay under the radar but not be completely ignored, my students are faced with many more adverse situations, such as abuse in their homes, gang members on the streets,and exposure to drugs/alcohol like it is candy. Despite all of this, my students come to school everyday to learn and even to escape home for those 7-8 hours. My students crave an environment that gives them a chance, a possibility to leave their realities; school is that place. Unfortunately, resources are limited and funds are restricted. In a world filled with technology and innovation, my classroom lives in the "stone ages" with a simple blackboard and pull down map. My students work hard and are at a point in their lives where they will soon go to high school where they will either sink or swim. In order for them to swim, they need to be taught...which requires materials.

My Project

Everyday my students go through my classroom library and walk away defeated. They are constantly looking for books that relate to their lives, something that they can get lost in. Unfortunately, I am a first year English teacher who has "hand-me downs" and books that are not fresh, pertinent, or inspiring for these young teens. My students don't have the money to go out and buy books and the library isn't somewhere they can get to easily or safely. Giving my students the opportunity to read in a way that promotes self-awareness, growth, and motivation is the greatest gift you could ever give. 98% of my students' first language is not English and they have learned the language and require as much exposure to new words, ideas, and different perspectives as possible. For them, reading will not only strengthen their vocabulary and imagination, but it will give them an outlet, an escape from their turbulent lives. It will give them the opportunity to validate their thoughts and feelings.

When I told my students that I was going to get them new books, one of my students replied, "Miss...it's about time!" This illustrates their desire, their need for literature in their lives.

Your donations can truly help to keep their troubled lives at bay and instill knowledge at the same time. Please give my students the opportunity to have books that they can get lost it. I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes,"Readers read to be changed, writers write to change others." Be the change!

Ms. Pollak Intermediate School 145 Joseph Pulitzer 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. Pollak

Jackson Hts., NY 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

95 students impacted 7donors

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

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Airhead (Airhead Series #1) Meg Cabot • AKJ Books $7.79 1 $7.79
All-American Girl • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Avalon High • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Avalon High: Coronation #3: Hunter''s Moon • AKJ Books $7.79 1 $7.79
Sarah Dessen Gift Set Sarah Dessen • AKJ Books $21.04 1 $21.04
Solitary Blue • AKJ Books $4.89 1 $4.89
A Swift Pure Cry • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
After • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Abduction • AKJ Books $5.45 1 $5.45
Ask Me No Questions • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Back Norah McClintock • AKJ Books $7.76 1 $7.76
Bad Girls Don''t Die Katie Alender • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Battle of the Bands • AKJ Books $7.76 1 $7.76
Because I Am Furniture Thalia Chaltas • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Before, After, and Somebody in Between • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Being • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Belle of the Brawl (Alphas Series #3) Lisi Harrison • AKJ Books $7.79 1 $7.79
Beyond the Reflection''s Edge Bryan Davis • AKJ Books $10.13 1 $10.13
Black Box Julie Schumacher • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Blood is Thicker • AKJ Books $3.11 1 $3.11
Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods Series #1) Melissa de la Cruz • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Bottled Up Jaye Murray • AKJ Books $5.45 1 $5.45
Bounce Natasha Friend • AKJ Books $13.25 1 $13.25
Breaking Point • AKJ Books $7.02 1 $7.02
Breathless Lurlene McDaniel • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Bronx Masquerade • AKJ Books $5.45 1 $5.45
Bullyville • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Can''t Get There From Here • AKJ Books $5.45 1 $5.45
Crooked Tom McNeal, Laura McNeal • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Crossover Jeff Rud • AKJ Books $7.76 1 $7.76
Define "Normal" • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Cruise Control • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Deadly Game Of Magic • AKJ Books $4.64 1 $4.64
Frostbite • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Taken Norah McClintock • AKJ Books $10.10 1 $10.10
Picture This Norah McClintock • AKJ Books $7.76 1 $7.76
Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, The: Eighth Grade Bites • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Abarat • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
Airborn • AKJ Books $7.01 1 $7.01
The Battle of the Labyrinth • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Briar Rose • AKJ Books $5.45 1 $5.45
If I Should Die Before I Wake • AKJ Books $5.42 1 $5.42
Box Out John Coy • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Heart of a Champion • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Shots on Goal • AKJ Books $4.67 1 $4.67
On the Devil''s Court • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23
Spanking Shakespeare • AKJ Books $6.23 1 $6.23

Materials cost

$331.82

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.98

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$371.80

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$65.61

Total project goal

$437.41

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $437.41

5 Donors

-$218.70

Donations toward project cost

-$185.90

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$32.80

match offer

-$218.71

Match offer toward project cost

-$185.90

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$32.81

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 Ms. Pollak and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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