Hello! My name is Ms. Matsumura and I am a 4th grade teacher in California. In June, I completed my first year of teaching in a Title I public middle school in Los Angeles, and I recently began my second year at an elementary school in Northern California. I have an extremely diverse class of 29 students, and a majority of my students are bilingual, developing English as their second language.

My students and I have started the year fully online, and I have been working tirelessly to find ways to engage them in a virtual environment. I adapt my instruction to meet their needs and interests, create interdisciplinary activities that are meaningful and relevant to them, and have been composing and performing community-building songs for and with my students. 

Recently, I was lucky to win a giveaway for a virtual author visit with Angela Murphy, who has written fabulous children's books that promote social emotional learning (SEL).  This was all of my students' first time ever meeting an author, and they were incredibly grateful to her for reading one of her books ("Breathe Up , Wonder Pup ") and leading them in mindful SEL activities that fit perfectly with the story. These activities helped them to feel calm and centered in a challenging time, and since her visit, my students have continued to practice those strategies.

This virtual author visit experience stimulated my students' curiosity and creativity. Having a conversation with the author about her experiences as a writer inspired my students to want to grow as readers and writers. To keep fueling this love for literacy while also supporting SEL, especially during a time where we cannot be together in person, my hope is to put a copy of Angela Murphy's book, "Breathe Up, Wonder Pup" into the hands of each of my students.

Last year when I started my teaching career, I paid out of pocket for all classroom expenses. This is my very first time creating a campaign for my class, and I am doing so because this is a project that I strongly believe in. I would be forever grateful for your support in making this happen for my 4th graders. 

Itemization:
1 book ($11.48) x 29 students = ~$333
GoFundMe fees (assuming 24 people donate) = ~$17
PayPal fees (US to CAD) = ~$17

Any donations made after reaching our goal will go toward creating more meaningful opportunities for my students during distance learning. Thank you in advance for your support. ANY amount or share is greatly appreciated!