Friday Fund Days: Drop Some Dollars and Help Some Classrooms!
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 bing 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
Learn To Love Reading, Charlotte High School, Punta Gorda, Florida. $400.
My English II consists of low-level readers. The main reason for this apathy for reading is the result of forced classic literature on them without proper engagement, dated themes, and lack of teacher support when dealing with the difficult language. Reading doesn’t have to be torture. It doesn’t have to be something they feel forced to do. They should want to do it, and I can get them there and they won’t even realize they have arrived. They need this.
My Project
This book [Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds] is amazing. It explores a tragedy a young man experienced and we follow him through his coping process. Initially, blinded by emotion, he heads out to make a terrible mistake—to seek his own vengeance. With wisdom from friends and family, he realizes his error and decides to make better choices to secure a great future for himself. The best part? It’s told in poetry form. Poetry is something most lower-level learners hate because it’s unapproachable. Not this. They will learn poetic rules and forms and not even realize it. They will learn about problem solving, empathy, grief, and pride and they won’t. Even. Know. It.
Poetry Comes Alive: A Relevant Story Told With Poetry, West High School, Bakersfield, California. $271
My Students
My classes primarily consist of Hispanic and African American students. My students attend an inner city high school, and need to be exposed to great literature and academics.We are getting ready to embark on a new unit and could really use help getting the novels we need.
My sophomores and seniors are an amazing group of college prep and General education students.
They are constantly improving and growing in their quest to be better. Teaching them is a real honor and pleasure.
My Project
The book Long Way Down is an amazing story told with poems. The story is relevant to my student population. I have students every year that have experienced similar things the main character in this book faces. Inner city issues dealing with gangs, poverty, and loss.
Not only will I be able to teach poetry and English skills, but also current issues that matter in their lives.
We can break each part of the story down by analyzing the poems and writing about them. Ultimately creating our own series of poems. The students will learn a lot from the decisions made in the story and hopefully be able to self examine their own.
Whether you can donate a dollar, donate fifty dollars, or donate a share on social media, you make a difference!
