Adopt a Classroom

#GivingTuesday2019: We’ll pooll all donations received today to collectively “adopt” classrooms participating in One Maryland One Book in 2020. Give by clicking DONATE at the top right of your screen!

As of noon, 23 generous donors have given enough for 8 classrooms!

Are you in a book club? Do you enjoy reading our annual One Maryland One Book selection? Then you already know how stimulating and inspiring reading and discussing a book with friends can be.

students at Boonsboro High School.
A classroom full of students from Boonsboro High School hold up their 2016 One Maryland One Book selection "All American Boys."

Help Maryland Humanities make that same experience possible for high school students by “Adopting a Classroom.” You can provide a set of books, bookmarks, and learning materials to a participating classroom—supporting a dedicated teacher and his or her students on a journey of discovery—with a donation of $250. What a fun and affordable way for the members of your book club to come together and share the joy of reading with the next generation! Or, if you’re feeling particularly generous, you can adopt a classroom solo.

Just complete and return an “Adopt a Classroom” form along with your book club members’ checks and/or credit card information or give online by clicking the DONATE button at the top right (be sure to put “Adopt a Classroom” in the Additional Comments field). We’ll handle the rest.

While we cannot guarantee requests for specific schools, we will make every effort to support a classroom in your town or county.

 One Maryland One Book is sponsored by the Institute of Museum & Library Services via LSTA grant funds received from the Maryland State Library, as well as by PNC Foundation and BGE. Additional support is provided by M&T Bank and an anonymous donor.

Huge thanks to all our Adopt a Classroom supporters! Thanks to your collective generosity, you helped us adopt 42 classrooms for 2019.

2019 Adopt a Classroom Sponsors

Brownies & Wine Book Club*, in Memory of Betty Marcell
#GivingTuesday Donors (30): Michele & Daryl Alexander,
Jennifer Andiorio & Matt Hohner, Sean Beattie,
Randi Wallenstein Benesch & Adam Benesch, Carolyn Patty Blum,
Jessica Bodmer, Regina Bullock, Cristina Cammarano,
Elizabeth Cannon & John Guy*, Ross Dannenberg, Betsy Davis,
Hilary Davis, Shannon Davis & Jim DiGloria, Phoebe Ferguson,
Ann Finkbeiner, Leah Flory, Auni & Timmy Gelles,
Adrienne & Lou Gieszl, Catherine Gira, Ryan Haase,
Phoenix & Stefans Hardin, Aaron Heinsman, Julie Heinsman,
Sydney Howe-Barksdale, Lisa & Michael Jablonover,
Lindsay Jacks & Sean Downs, Tim & Kristin Junkin, Andrea Lewis,
Edythe Manza, Dave Millard, Sheri Parks,
Stuart Parnes & Sue Ellen Thompson, Lita Phillips, Jeanne Pirtle,
Jo Pressimone, Nancy Rogers & Law Watkins*, Sara Romeyn,
Emily Schmid, Caroline Schroeder, Jennifer Hall Shea, Clarke Speicher,
Ellen Dennis Stein, Phoebe Stein, Lucia Treasure, Rachel Trentacoste,
Rob & Marilyn Weissman, Sarah Weissman & Cory Luquet,
Lorraine Whittlesey, Jessica Wichmann
Kathryn Greenspan
Link Ladies Literary Society*
Jasmine Richardson (2)
Theresa Silanskis* (2)
University of Maryland, Baltimore Council for the Arts & Culture*
Anne & Chris West* (4)

*Denotes Adopt a Classroom donor every year since 2017

ADOPT A CLASSROOM FORM

Read what Maryland teachers have to say about the impact on students of the One Maryland One Book 2016 selection, All American Boys

  • “I completed the book club with 22 students, all of them on the JV football team— so not your stereotypical group of book club attendees. … The discussions we had were powerful and meaningful—this was truly one of the most moving experiences I have had as an educator.”
  • “This book got our students talking about issues that are often taboo. It was nice to see students from various backgrounds feeling comfortable about communicating their concerns openly.”
  • “This book opened the door to more conversation about race in our school system. It was amazingly powerful to hear the teachers and students come together for open and honest conversations.”
  • “We had a student who failed English last year, and this year with this title they were reading ahead of the class. They were so into it.”
  • “…My students DEVOURED this book! They were completely engaged.”

  • “My students have been removed from their home schools. Right away, they made comments about the diction of the text, how it seemed realistic to them and they pointed out words they would have changed. We talked about word choice, slang, etc. I had 2 instances where students were excited to see me because they had events similar to the book happen to them and they needed to tell someone. They want to know how to change things. […] These kids typically failed English class or were chronic non-attenders or were removed before they came here. They are excited about reading a book! Teacher librarian win!”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher

  • “I completed the book club with 22 students, all of them on the JV football team – so not your stereotypical group of book club attendees. On the last day of our book club experience I asked students for some feedback and also asked if they would be interested in participating in another book club. Nearly all of them said that this was the first time they had ever participated in a book club, and a few said it was the first time they had actually read an entire book. I keep hearing back from them, too, [asking] ‘When is the next book club starting up?’. The discussions we had were powerful and meaningful–this was truly one of the most moving experiences I have had as an educator.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher

  • “[One Maryland One Book] is wonderful; enlightening, explorative, innovative, [and] educational.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “[One Maryland One Book] brings cross curricular teachers together to the library to read, discuss topics and social issues in the book. It’s a way for students to read good books without the pressure of an assignment.”

    One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “The OMOB 2014 selection seemed to touch the hearts of so many teachers and students. Everyone who read the story was in awe of the struggles, the will to survive, and then the motivation to write the memoir. The Distance Between Us created such an impact on each reader that s/he handed the book to someone with the request, “you must read this story!” Plus, the selection was inter-disciplinary and ‘captured’ students in all grade and academic levels. Renya Grande captivated the readers who, “couldn’t put the book down.” It is one of the best selections. Thank you!!”

    ​One Maryland One Book 2014 teacher

  • “The discussion of the [2015 One Maryland One] book could not have been better. Everyone had a particular part of the story that touched them. One of the newcomers was an experienced rower and gave us wonderful insight into the physical and spiritual aspects of the sport. It is the first time in my ten years with this group that everyone loved the book.”

    One Maryland One Book 2015 participant

  • “The school I am reporting on is designed as an alternative center for students who are not successful in the “regular” classrooms in our district. These students are challenged by a number of factors, including emotional problems, discipline issues, etc. This particular book was one that a number of students were able to relate to and engage with. As a consequence, students who do not normally read became active participants in both reading and discussing!”

    One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “A sophomore on our school’s state-champ runner-up varsity football team was so taken by Joe’s story of the sophomore year on the boat that he got his dad (the coach) and several members of his team to read the book even though they weren’t assigned it in class. Another student described a discussion she got into with her math teacher after school about the relevance of the English curriculum and used her experience with Brown’s work and the field trip to convince her teacher that humanities are just as important as STEM. Great stuff!”

    ​One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “[One Maryland One Book] taught me how much we need to talk and listen to one another.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “One of my students, a boy who works 35 hours a week at McDonalds, took the time to write me a letter stating the book had changed his life.”

    ​One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “I had two students participate who told me they’ve never finished a book before and they finished this one and want to read more!”

    ​One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “[One Maryland One Book taught me that] these types of book discussions that include diverse populations across the state open necessary dialogues to help solve problems. We need to have many more.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “I distributed copies of the book and we engaged in an afterschool discussion which included students and staff. Everyone who participated was so engaged that our 45 minute planned discussion ended up stretching into an hour and a half!”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher

  • “Left on my own, I would choose the same kind of books over and over again. Now, [participating in One Maryland One Book,] my reading experience is broader and richer and all the more enjoyable.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “One student who has been held back several years and suffers from emotional disorders spent several minutes asking One Maryland One Book [author Daniel James Brown] questions. He very patiently listened and answered each question. He then signed her book: ‘Write with your heart not your head.’ To watch this interaction was very touching.”

    One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher
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Maryland Humanities is a statewide, educational nonprofit organization that creates and supports educational experiences in the humanities that inspire all Marylanders to embrace lifelong learning, exchange ideas openly, and enrich their communities.
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