Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Donors Choose: Schools Need Books



We talk about books here a lot on Mystery Playground because we love them. I recently found out that my friend Cory, who teaches high school in Washington State, doesn't have enough or the right textbooks for all of his students. At the very least, students should have text books. 

He's working with an organization called DonorsChoose.org that helps teachers get the resources they need to teach. Cory, known as Mr. Campbell to his students, works in an economically challenged district with 40% of his students meeting the criteria for school lunch. Cory has purchased half a new set with his own money, on a teacher's salary. 

Here is his story and request:


"My two economics classes are currently using a partial set of textbooks from 1995. Not only is the book old, but it is also poorly organized. We need a better set of textbooks. I've purchased half of a class set with my own money, but need help completing the set.
My students are mostly seniors. My school serves a diverse population, including over 40% students receiving free and reduced lunch. Some of my students are taking the class in order to make up credit for previously failed social studies classes. Others are taking it to better prepare themselves for college. 
Our request is simple: we need good textbooks! We have made do so far with photocopies of a good textbook I have, occasionally sharing the old textbooks we have, and also watching some lectures from Khan Academy. 
The text I am requesting is very well organized, and while it is still about 8 years old, it is a decade newer than the one we have currently. 
This project will help my students learn the basics of economics, which will better prepare them to succeed in college and make informed decisions, both personal, and public (i.e. voting)."

To learn more about DonorsChoose.org you can visit their website here

Update:

GREAT NEWS! This textbook project has been fully funded. 


3 comments:

  1. How sad not tot have proper text books. Educating our youth should be a priority.

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  2. Hi Deborah,

    The community you have built on your blog is so lovely. I wanted to reach out because I am the community manager for the USC Rossier School of Education. We are wrapping up a blogger link up contest about classroom supplies that ends this Monday. I see that you are raising funds for your classroom and I was wondering if you would be interested in submitting your post into our contest. We are looking for classrooms that have a genuine need for additional supplies, and I feel that your classroom would be a perfect fit for this contest.The reality is that the average teacher spends $485 out of pocket for classroom supplies each year. The #ClassroomProject gives a voice to educators who are spending money out of pocket. This is an exciting contest for K-12 teacher bloggers to win one of 30 prizes that total more than $3,000 to purchase classroom supplies You can click here for more information: http://rossieronline.usc.edu/the-classroom-project-classroom-supplies-for-teachers-contest/ or feel free to reach out to me directly at erika.phyall@usc.edu. Thank you so much for sharing about your classroom with us, and I hope you join The Classroom Project!

    Sincerely,

    Erika Phyall
    USC Campaign Manager
    erika.phyall@usc.edu

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    Replies
    1. Hi Erika:
      This Donors Choose project was actually for a teacher in Washington State and it has been fully funded. I am not a teacher, but I like to be supportive of learning. Thank you for your comment. Good luck with your project.

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