{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Alcove Trails Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":34.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3826505,"projectId":9713794,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, my students were able to dive into The Giver, a novel that challenged them, surprised them, and opened their eyes to an entirely new genre of reading. Many of my students had never experienced dystopian fiction before, and watching them discover this genre for the first time was truly inspiring.\r\n\r\nThey were captivated by the world of the story—its mysteries, its rules, and its thought-provoking themes. Each reading day brought new questions and discussions, and students who rarely spoke up suddenly had strong opinions about characters, choices, and consequences. Their engagement was incredible.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, The Giver helped my students understand just how diverse and exciting literature can be. They realized that books can transport them to different worlds and challenge them to think in new ways. This novel didn't just add to our curriculum—it helped expand their identities as readers.\r\n\r\nThank you for making this experience possible. Your support helped spark curiosity, deepen comprehension, and strengthen a genuine love of reading in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1757941351920,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-the-giver-to-life-for-8th-grade/9713794/","projectTitle":"Bringing the Giver to Life for 8th Grade Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hester","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/debby-hester"},{"teacherId":3826505,"projectId":9620497,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, my middle school resource reading students experienced something truly special this year. The class set of The Amulet graphic novel made an immediate and powerful impact. From the moment we opened the book, my students were hooked. They asked—every single day—if we were reading again. Their excitement was genuine, contagious, and unlike anything I had seen before.\r\n\r\nFor many of my students, reading has always felt difficult or frustrating. But The Amulet changed that. The engaging artwork and fast-paced storyline helped them experience success and joy in reading—some for the very first time. A few students even went on to read the entire series on their own, something they had never imagined doing before this project.\r\n\r\nYour donation didn't just provide books; it sparked a love of reading that will stay with these students long after they leave my classroom. Thank you for believing in them and helping create readers who are proud, confident, and eager for more.","fullyFundedDate":1757701931189,"projectUrl":"project/reading-reimagined-graphic-novels-for-r/9620497/","projectTitle":"Reading Reimagined: Graphic Novels for Reluctant Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hester","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/debby-hester"},{"teacherId":9437417,"projectId":9191528,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping provide Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief graphic novels for my students. These books have made reading much more engaging in our classroom. The mix of visuals and text has helped students better understand key concepts like character motivation, conflict, and theme. Even students who usually lose interest during reading time are staying involved and contributing to discussions.\r\n\r\nIt's been wonderful to see how much more confident and curious my students have become. Many have told me this is the first book they've actually enjoyed from start to finish. Your support has truly helped make reading more approachable and exciting for them. Thank you for giving my students this opportunity.","fullyFundedDate":1744908485986,"projectUrl":"project/graphic-novels-epic-tales-engaged-mind/9191528/","projectTitle":"Graphic Novels, Epic Tales, Engaged Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shields","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9437417_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y170&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744906641105","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9437417"},{"teacherId":7929858,"projectId":9230127,"letterContent":"Our students have been absolutely captivated by The Outsiders. The new books have opened the door for meaningful discussions about identity, stereotypes, and what it really means to be a hero. Students are discovering that while people may look or act differently, deep down we all share common struggles and emotions. This text has allowed us to introduce important skills like making personal connections, analyzing character motivations, and identifying themes that carry across society and time. Reading doesn't just look like quiet pages turning—it looks like heads nodding in agreement, hands shooting up to share thoughts, and voices eager to jump into spirited debates after each chapter.\r\n\r\nWhat has been most rewarding is seeing how emotionally invested students have become. They see pieces of themselves in Ponyboy, Johnny, and even Dally, which has created a sense of empathy and connection that goes far beyond the classroom. Many students couldn't put the book down, and when Johnny's fate unfolded in Chapter 9, they were heartbroken—some even visibly upset. That reaction alone shows how much they've connected with the story and its characters. These moments have not only built stronger reading comprehension but have also sparked a genuine love of reading. Your donation has given my students a book they'll remember long after they've left middle school, and for that, we are so thankful.","fullyFundedDate":1746459495042,"projectUrl":"project/socs-vs-greasers-classics-in-a-modern/9230127/","projectTitle":"Socs vs. Greasers! Classics in a Modern Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Coach Turnbow","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7929858_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731888548779","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7929858"},{"teacherId":9822423,"projectId":9322800,"letterContent":"Thanks to your support, my 8th graders now have the binders and organizational materials they need to stay on top of their learning. When the supplies arrived, students were genuinely excited—many immediately started organizing their papers and personalizing their binders. One student even said, \"I feel like I finally have my life together!\"\r\nWe've already seen a boost in classroom efficiency. During a recent group project, students were able to quickly access their notes and handouts, which helped them stay focused and collaborate more effectively.\r\nNext, we're starting a unit on persuasive writing, and students will use their binders to track drafts, peer feedback, and final submissions. These materials have made a real difference—thank you for helping us build better habits and a more organized learning space!","fullyFundedDate":1746623603862,"projectUrl":"project/effective-organization/9322800/","projectTitle":"Effective Organization","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Phenix","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9822423_orig.jpg?crop=640,640,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730408431168","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9822423"},{"teacherId":10025679,"projectId":9354505,"letterContent":"I am using the donated homework folders as an essential part of our classroom routine to help students stay organized and focused. Recently, during a lesson on goal-setting, students used their folders to record upcoming assignments and test dates. They then set personal academic goals based on their progress. One memorable moment was when a student proudly shared how tracking their missing assignments in the folder helped them complete all tasks on time for the first time. This simple tool has empowered students to take ownership of their learning and build confidence in managing their responsibilities. \r\n\r\nThanks to your generous donation of homework folders, our students are more organized. The next step in our current project is for students to use their folders to set weekly academic goals and reflect on their progress regularly. I will guide them in reviewing their tracked assignments and test results to identify areas for improvement and celebrate their achievements. This ongoing process helps build strong habits of self-monitoring and responsibility, preparing them for success both inside and beyond the classroom. Your support continues to inspire and empower our learners every day!","fullyFundedDate":1747411688879,"projectUrl":"project/protecting-learning-poly-homework-fold/9354505/","projectTitle":"\"Protecting Learning: Poly Homework Folders for Every Student!\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Curry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10025679_orig.jpg?crop=654,654,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747176066744","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10025679"},{"teacherId":3826505,"projectId":9470882,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students now have the tools they need to learn with greater focus and independence. The headphones have been especially powerful in our classroom. They allow students to use technology for reading support, fluency practice, and interactive literacy activities without being distracted by background noise. For many of my students, this simple resource has made it possible to stay engaged and complete tasks they once found overwhelming.\r\n\r\nThe Teachers Pay Teachers gift card has also been a game changer. I've been able to bring in differentiated lessons, visuals, and hands-on literacy activities created by educators who understand diverse learning needs. These resources have made reading and writing more accessible and engaging for my students. On top of that, the colorful paper has turned writing into something fun and creative—students are more motivated to draft and share their work because they feel proud of how it looks.\r\n\r\nOne of my students who often struggled to stay on task now puts on his headphones, logs into his reading program, and stays focused for an entire session—a huge victory for him. Another student was thrilled to see her writing displayed on bright paper, telling the class, \"It looks like a real project now!\" These moments show just how much your support has meant. Thank you for giving my students the confidence, tools, and joy they need to continue growing as readers and writers.","fullyFundedDate":1753626627957,"projectUrl":"project/bright-minds-big-dreams-and-the-right/9470882/","projectTitle":"Bright Minds, Big Dreams, and the Right Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hester","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/debby-hester"},{"teacherId":3826505,"projectId":9111145,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my 7th grade resource reading students now have the opportunity to engage with Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Alamo All-Stars. This graphic novel has transformed the way my students connect to nonfiction. Many of them struggle with traditional text-heavy books, but this engaging format allows them to practice essential reading skills such as identifying main ideas, making inferences, and connecting historical events to broader themes—all while genuinely enjoying what they're reading.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading now looks more like excitement than frustration. Students gather in small groups, eagerly pointing out details in the illustrations, retelling events in their own words, and even asking questions about history that go beyond the book itself. One student, who normally avoids reading aloud, has been confidently volunteering to read dialogue from the speech bubbles. Another has started checking out similar nonfiction graphic novels from our school library because he \"didn't know history could be fun.\"\r\n\r\nYour support has not only provided us with a set of books, but it has also given my students confidence and joy in reading nonfiction—a skill that will serve them across every subject area. Thank you for helping me expand their minds and open new doors through reading.","fullyFundedDate":1745846996374,"projectUrl":"project/expanding-minds-with-nonfiction-engagin/9111145/","projectTitle":"Expanding Minds With Nonfiction: Engaging Reads for Special Education Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hester","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/debby-hester"},{"teacherId":9521199,"projectId":9134293,"letterContent":"I would like to say how much your donation has meant to our classroom and the learning experience for my students. We have used these boards at least three times a week for our learning assignments. Students are grouped and assigned a learning board. They work together to complete short assignments or brainstorming sessions. Students rotate who is writing and who is speaking. They really love this because it gets them out of their seats, sharing ideas, and takes away the anxiety of working by themselves. They are able to share and learn from each other.","fullyFundedDate":1740955467840,"projectUrl":"project/vertical-learning-boards/9134293/","projectTitle":"Vertical Learning Boards","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cloud","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9521199_orig.png?crop=481,481,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1714157606322","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/amy-cloud"},{"teacherId":8810214,"projectId":8532786,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your incredible generosity and support. Because of your thoughtful contributions, my students ended the school year with the tools they needed to succeed—everything from basic supplies to special materials for our classroom projects. The excitement on their faces when they saw the fully stocked shelves and new learning materials was truly priceless. You've helped create a welcoming, resourceful environment where each child feels seen, supported, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nYour donations have already made a huge difference in our day-to-day activities and long-term goals. We've been able to dive into engaging projects that promote creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking—all made possible by your kindness. Thank you for believing in our students and investing in their future. Your impact is deeply felt and greatly appreciated by all of us.","fullyFundedDate":1726846131843,"projectUrl":"project/making-math-magic-in-middle-school/8532786/","projectTitle":"Making Math Magic in Middle School","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Patino","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8810214"},{"teacherId":7929858,"projectId":9136537,"letterContent":"I can't thank you enough for your support and generosity. Because of your donation, my students got to experience something really special in our classroom—a project that brought books to life, sparked creativity, and brought lots of laughter during a time of year when we all really needed it.\r\n\r\nAfter finishing up our big STAAR test, we wanted to do something fun, but still meaningful, with our reading time. Thanks to you, each of my students was able to read a different Hank the Cowdog book. Some had never heard of the series before, while others were excited to revisit it. Either way, it didn't take long for Hank and his crazy adventures to win everyone over!\r\n\r\nEvery student got their own title, and they loved being able to talk about which Hank book they had and how ridiculous or funny the plot was. Once they finished reading, we started analyzing Hank's antics—his overconfidence, his detective \"skills,\" and the trouble he always seems to find. Then we switched things up and rewrote part of the story from Drover's point of view. That was a challenge, but a fun one! It made the kids think hard about how stories change depending on who's telling them, and some of the retellings were absolutely hilarious. They really captured Drover's nervous, sweet personality in their writing.\r\n\r\nThe highlight for most students, though, was the comic strip project. Each student picked a major conflict in their book and turned it into a comic strip. They wrote dialogue, designed panels, and added so many fun and creative touches. Some students even gave their comics a graphic novel feel! Watching them combine their reading and writing skills with artistic expression was amazing. Even kids who are usually a little hesitant with reading or writing were totally engaged.\r\n\r\nThis project was the perfect way to wrap up our year—low pressure, lots of learning, and tons of fun. And honestly, it wouldn't have been possible without you. Having access to a wide range of Hank the Cowdog books meant students could each have their own copy, and that made them feel like real readers with real ownership over their book.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, my students got to end the year with smiles, creativity, and confidence. They saw themselves as readers, writers, and even comic creators. Your support made a difference in my classroom, and I'm so grateful for it.\r\n\r\nThank you again for giving my students this opportunity. We truly appreciate you!","fullyFundedDate":1741003530863,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-ranching-to-life-one-book-at-a/9136537/","projectTitle":"Bringing Ranching to Life One Book At A Time","teacherDisplayName":"Coach Turnbow","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7929858_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731888548779","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7929858"},{"teacherId":9986367,"projectId":9216111,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing my students with the shared reading experience of The Curse of Castillo Bay Lighthouse. Watching my students develop their own ideas of character motivation, themes, and other plot elements was so exciting and fulfilling. In the book, there are many scenarios that lead to discussions about empathy such as understanding the main character's feelings surrounding finding good friendships, dealing with his parents' divorce, and the every day struggles of being a middle school kid. There is also a sister with ANSD, a syndrome where a person's hearing is impaired. This led to many conversations where students talked about the importance of understanding people with different needs and doing what they can to help them. There are ethical conversations surrounding bravery, friendship, honesty, and doing the right thing when no one is watching. Having these conversations with students allowed them the opportunity to process out loud how important it is to listen to that voice on the inside that tells you what is right. \r\nWe also played UNO as a class after the chapter in the book where characters play UNO. I invited a special classroom guest to play with us along with co-teachers. The students had so much fun building class culture, strengthening relationships, and continuing conversations about the book while playing the game. We also just had fun! Kids need that these days. \r\nThank you for promoting literacy, conversations, and fun in my classroom! We shared an experience we will never forget.","fullyFundedDate":1743303828406,"projectUrl":"project/building-empathy-honesty-and-classroom/9216111/","projectTitle":"Building Empathy, Honesty, and Classroom Community with Books and UNO!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Denning","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9986367_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743125879706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9986367"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_131859","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":432,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":52,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":39,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":50,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":65.8,"schoolId":131859,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Alcove Trails Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Alcove Trails Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/frenship-independent-school-district/alcove-trails-middle-school/131859"}