With the world being a difficult place for those of any marginalized background, one of the things those of us who are looking to do something can do is donate to those in need. Thousands of teachers each year ask for a little help with seeking supplies for their classrooms via Donors Choose; organizations that do work with at-risk communities like prison populations seek spare change to advocate for and bring literacy to those groups, and nonprofits that provide necessary resources to empower women and people of color are always hoping for a few bucks to make their vital work possible.
Enter: Friday Fund Days.
Book Riot readers have helped fund hundreds of classrooms over the last few years, and we’ll help bring funds to hundreds more. Each Friday, we’ll highlight two classrooms or other literacy-focused, important projects in hopes you’ll help them reach their goals to bring literature, advocacy, and education to others.
Even if you can’t spare money, any social sharing you can offer to the projects each week absolutely helps: you never know who’ll find it and have the means by which to make the project’s fundraising goals reached. More, you’ll bring awareness to the unmet needs in communities around the world, as well as right in your own back yard.
When all else feels hard or hopeless, remember that you can and do make a difference.
This Week’s Projects
Ready to Read! Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ($310)
Help me give my students materials to help them as they learn to read and annotate text.
My Students
My students come from the most trauma exposed neighborhoods in our city. They live through nightly chaos, and yet still arrive to school daily, and with a smile on their face. They inspire me, and I want to give them the world. I can’t do exactly that, but I can give them a classroom filled with everything they need to succeed.
They have made a commitment and have taken on the challenge to be the change.
They want college, they want to learn, they want more—and are starting to gain the confidence that they are capable to do it all.
My Project
Each marking period my students diligently work on tackling tough text. They have made wonderful gains. One area that we struggle with is being able to dive into a text a 2nd and 3rd time and really see the growth in our understanding. It’s hard to switch between pencil and pen, when you only have pencil; or underline on day 1 and highlight one day 2, but you’re without a highlighter.
My students strive for excellence, and I want to provide them with the materials they deserve to get there.
These materials will truly allow my students to dive into texts and show their understanding, and how it has developed. These materials will allow them to worry about the text, and not where to put their materials so they don’t become lost, or fall behind in the classwork because they spent so much time looking for a highlighter. They will be able to focus on becoming better readers.
Graphic Novels to Keep 4th Grade Readers Reading! Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ($398)
Help me give my students age appropriate graphic novels so the can keep up their reading stamina!
My Students
My fourth grade students come to school every day ready to learn and excited to discuss new ideas and tackle new challenges. Students at my school live in one of the most under-served populations in Philadelphia and face hardships that would hold most people back. My students come to class with a smile on their face and an eagerness to expand their minds. Some students deal with trauma that affects their day-to-day school experience and require sensory breaks as well as individualized attention.
My face a great deal of stress outside of the classroom and that stress comes in the door with them every morning.
My fourth graders love research projects, independent reading, and hands-on activities. My students are as interested in poetry as they are in essay-writing and are committed to their education. My 4th graders are dedicated, hard-working, and aware of the importance of growth and learning.
My Project
At the beginning of the school year I was given a number of books for my classroom and the rest have been acquired through friends and family. Nine and ten year olds are veracious readers and need books that will keep them interested. My fourth graders read up to 60 minutes a day and are ploughing through our tiny library.
Many of my students have grown leaps and bounds in their reading this year and I do not want the lack of resources to deter their learning.
Halfway through the school year, students are enjoying independent reading less and less because there are fewer books to choose from.
My students need a positive outlet which many of them find in reading therefore I want to supply with them with current graphic novels as well as some classic books to keep the library well balanced. Having access to these books would change my independent reading block and help students find time and space to get lost in a book!
Whether you can donate a dollar, donate fifty dollars, or donate a share on social media, you make a difference!
