{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Brigham Early Learning Center","outOfStateSupporters":22.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":851460,"projectId":10038316,"letterContent":"The Planting the Seeds of Language and Literacy project has had a powerful impact on my classroom by transforming everyday learning into engaging, hands-on experiences. Students are more motivated to participate in language-rich activities, eagerly using new vocabulary, asking questions, and engaging in meaningful conversations during play. The spring-themed materials have sparked curiosity and excitement, helping students build early literacy skills through storytelling, labeling, sequencing, and interactive discussions. I have seen increased confidence, improved attention, and stronger peer interactions as students explore together. These materials have not only strengthened language and literacy development but have also created joyful learning moments that foster a true love of learning.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, their faces lit up with excitement. They eagerly explored the ladybugs, butterflies, and bees, immediately engaging in hands-on play and conversation. Students were excited to sort, build, and pretend, using new vocabulary and sharing ideas with their peers. Even typically hesitant learners became more engaged, participating longer and showing increased confidence in their communication. The classroom quickly filled with laughter, curiosity, and meaningful talk, making it clear that these materials created joyful learning experiences that motivated students to learn and explore.","fullyFundedDate":1769012565352,"projectUrl":"project/planting-the-seeds-of-language-and-liter/10038316/","projectTitle":"Planting the Seeds of Language and Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp851460_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y80&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1768402603161","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/851460"},{"teacherId":10397909,"projectId":10005879,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity in funding Artic Adventures: Big Learning in a Cool World, my preschool students now have access to exciting winter animal–themed toys and materials that have brought new energy to speech-language therapy sessions. Students were immediately eager to explore the new materials, and their excitement has increased motivation and participation during both individual and small-group therapy. These hands-on resources are being used to target speech sound production, vocabulary development, basic concepts, and early language skills in a fun and engaging way.\r\n\r\nThe Arctic animal theme provides a meaningful and consistent context for learning, allowing students to practice skills such as answering WH-questions, expanding sentences, and describing actions and attributes through play-based interactions. When students are excited about the materials, they are more willing to attempt challenging speech sounds and language goals and stay engaged for longer periods of time. Because of your support, therapy sessions are more interactive and developmentally appropriate, helping young learners build foundational communication skills for success in the classroom and beyond.","fullyFundedDate":1769014044374,"projectUrl":"project/arctic-adventures-big-learning-in-a-coo/10005879/","projectTitle":"Arctic Adventures: Big Learning in a Cool World","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lutes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10397909_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767815720860","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10397909"},{"teacherId":851460,"projectId":10005773,"letterContent":"This project truly took our classroom from worn to wonderful. The new materials have transformed our learning space into one that is inviting, engaging, and developmentally supportive for our at-risk preschoolers. Students are now using the updated resources daily during centers, small-group instruction, and play-based learning. These materials support language development, early literacy, problem-solving, and social interaction—skills that are critical for our students' success both now and in the future. Having high-quality, age-appropriate resources has allowed students to practice communication, follow directions, and engage more independently and confidently in learning activities.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, their excitement was immediate and genuine. Smiles, pointing, and eager questions filled the room as they explored the \"new stuff.\" Many students who are typically hesitant or need extra encouragement were motivated to participate and try new activities. The fresh, colorful resources captured their attention and helped sustain engagement for longer periods of time. Several students proudly shared materials with peers, practiced turn-taking, and used new vocabulary while playing—showing that learning felt fun, meaningful, and accessible.\r\n\r\nMy next steps are to continue building on this momentum by expanding our classroom resources to further support language, literacy, and hands-on learning. Future projects will focus on adding more targeted materials for small-group instruction, sensory-based learning, and early STEM exploration. With continued support, I hope to keep our classroom environment updated, engaging, and responsive to the diverse needs of my students—ensuring that every child has the tools they need to grow, communicate, and thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1768426662315,"projectUrl":"project/from-worn-to-wonderful-renewing-an-at-r/10005773/","projectTitle":"From Worn to Wonderful: Renewing an At-Risk Preschool Learning Space","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp851460_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y80&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1768402603161","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/851460"},{"teacherId":10397909,"projectId":9986288,"letterContent":"My Building Language One Story at a Time grant has had a meaningful impact on our preschool speech-language services by providing high-quality children's books that are now being used across both individual therapy sessions and whole-class language lessons. These books have allowed instruction to be embedded within rich, engaging stories, creating natural opportunities to target core language skills such as vocabulary development, comprehension, sentence structure, and answering WH- questions. Students are more attentive and motivated when learning through stories, which has increased participation and improved carryover of skills into classroom routines.\r\n\r\nIn addition to supporting language development, the books have been instrumental in addressing speech sound targets within a meaningful context. Rather than practicing isolated words or drills, students are able to practice target sounds while retelling stories, labeling pictures, and responding to questions about characters and events. This approach has led to more functional speech practice and improved generalization of skills beyond the therapy setting.\r\n\r\nOverall, this grant has strengthened the connection between speech-language therapy and classroom literacy instruction. By integrating therapy goals with engaging, age-appropriate books, students are developing communication skills in a way that is both developmentally appropriate and motivating. The materials purchased through this grant will continue to support language growth, early literacy development, and communication success for preschool students throughout the school year and beyond.","fullyFundedDate":1768003060079,"projectUrl":"project/building-language-one-story-at-a-time/9986288/","projectTitle":"Building Language One Story at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lutes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10397909_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767815720860","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10397909"},{"teacherId":9433031,"projectId":8965785,"letterContent":"Thank you for your contribution and commitment to my classroom. Thank you for allowing my students to explore, create, and experience hands on learning. Without your support my students would not have access to these amazing resources. \r\n\r\nThis project has helped my students learn, grow, and explore in new ways. They are able to practice hands on learning with meaningful instructions. They are able to measure , compare, and understand new ways to grow in their knowledge. Thank you for your support in helping my students reach their learning goals!","fullyFundedDate":1740755974910,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-sensory/8965785/","projectTitle":"Exploring Sensory","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Howes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9433031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1705094997272","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9433031"},{"teacherId":9174144,"projectId":8700054,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been transformed into a vibrant learning kitchen! The cooking materials you helped provide such as the child-safe knives, cutting boards, and adorable chef outfits, have not only made our lessons more engaging but have also sparked a sense of excitement and responsibility in our young chefs.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, their eyes lit up with joy. It was a heartwarming moment that truly showed how much these items meant to them.\r\n\r\nWe've completed our first classroom cooking project: making fruit salad! Students practiced safe cutting techniques using their new knives and cutting boards, learning about food safety and teamwork along the way. It was amazing to watch them take ownership of their tasks, follow instructions, and help one another.\r\n\r\nThank you for making this experience possible. You've given my students more than materials, you've given them confidence, life skills, and a sense of joy in learning.","fullyFundedDate":1733431927957,"projectUrl":"project/cooking-in-the-classroom/8700054/","projectTitle":"Cooking in the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Herrera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9174144_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701499238856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9174144"},{"teacherId":8979037,"projectId":8683209,"letterContent":"Art is an important way to express ourselves. Whether it's through painting, cutting, or gluing, students are using their imagination to create wonderful works of art that feature themselves, their families and friends, and even things they learn about! Art is a great way for all students to learn many different skills like fine-motor, turn-taking and sharing, and inventive thinking!\r\n\r\nSo, I wanted to thank you again to everyone who helped anyway they could in getting our favorite center full of fun, messy things to play with!","fullyFundedDate":1734643188787,"projectUrl":"project/art-supplies-for-preschoolers/8683209/","projectTitle":"Art Supplies for Preschoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sherwin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8979037_orig.jpg?crop=686,687,x128,y435&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724270836560","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8979037"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_25339","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":180,"numTeachers":12,"percentFrplEligible":65,"percentAsian":14,"percentBlack":22,"percentWhite":32,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":21,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - Pre-K","studentTeacherRatio":"15.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":77.6,"schoolId":25339,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Brigham Early Learning Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Brigham Early Learning Center","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/mclean-co-unit-district-5/brigham-elementary-school/25339"}