{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Elwood Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":26.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10080270,"projectId":9464585,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation. In the past 9 weeks, it has been a joy to watch my students dive into our classroom books. I have watched them grow a deep interest in some of my personal favorite authors. We have read the entire Mo Willems Elephant and Piggie series as a class. They are a class favorite. Because of your generous donation, I have yet to hear a student say, \"I can't find a book to read in our library\". I often find pictures that students drew of characters from these books lying around the room. Your generosity has sparked excitement in the hearts of new readers. Thank you so much again for your willingness to support my students.","fullyFundedDate":1752784502136,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-deep-and-rich-elementary-libr/9464585/","projectTitle":"Building a Deep and Rich Elementary Library","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harbert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10080270_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y544&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752706870340","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10080270"},{"teacherId":4087731,"projectId":9243864,"letterContent":"Children's picture books are a powerful tool for helping second graders understand character traits because the illustrations and text work together to make characters' personalities more concrete. At this age, children are still developing their ability to infer and often rely heavily on visual cues. The facial expressions, body language, and actions shown in the illustrations give young readers clear evidence of how a character feels or behaves. For example, a character who is drawn with slumped shoulders and a frown can help students recognize traits like sadness or disappointment without relying solely on the words. These visual supports allow children to make connections between what they see and the traits being described, making abstract ideas more accessible.\r\n\r\nIn addition, picture books often use repetitive patterns, simple dialogue, and strong contrasts between characters, which make identifying traits easier. A \"kind\" character may repeatedly share, help others, or speak gently, while an \"unfriendly\" character may be shown grabbing toys or speaking harshly. Because these actions are emphasized both in the story and in the pictures, children can practice noticing patterns of behavior that reveal traits. Discussing these examples in class encourages students to provide \"evidence\" for their thinking, a skill they will need as reading becomes more complex.\r\n\r\nBy reading and discussing picture books, second graders can also begin to recognize that characters are not defined by just one trait. Many picture books show characters growing, changing, or showing different sides of themselves in different situations. This helps children understand that people are complex, which deepens their comprehension and empathy. Ultimately, picture books provide an engaging and age-appropriate way to teach students how to analyze characters by looking closely at words, actions, and illustrations together.","fullyFundedDate":1746787257939,"projectUrl":"project/wow-these-book-options-provide-outstand/9243864/","projectTitle":"Wow! These Book Options Provide Outstanding Opportunities","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4087731_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1529321286142","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-natasha-smith"},{"teacherId":9847117,"projectId":8965533,"letterContent":"We have been so thankful for all of the snacks and drinks for our snack time. These students have benefited from a healthy snack and a refreshing recharge after playing outside or in the gym. We were about to have a nice snack at the end of our day of learning, we also utilized the number pops in our math groups almost everyday they were great for number identification and matching amounts to the number. My students were so excited to see all of the treats and juices arrive to the classroom! I'm excited to start a classroom project for materials!","fullyFundedDate":1733278100126,"projectUrl":"project/mrs-penwells-classroom-project/8965533/","projectTitle":"Mrs. Penwell’s Classroom Project!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Penwell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9847117_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1733359223521","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9847117"},{"teacherId":9103029,"projectId":9073303,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donations. Our students were so excited when they got the boxes and thought it was Christmas or our birthdays. Every day we read a page out of our Countries Around the world and talk about the countries and what they have, and what's the same and different from our country. We also read a page every morning from Encyclopedia in pictures and learn about different things. The kids love our conversation cards that we do first thing in the morning on the carpet. They like the fun questions that they are asked. \r\n\r\nWe have put a calm down sticker on every student's name tag on their desk that way while they are sitting they can calm themselves down. The students have been using the letter matching llamas and the letter threading boards to work on their lowercase letters! The kids have also really loved having different snacks for after nap time especially the apple sauce pouches. My class is so thankful for your donations and getting our new things have been a great experience!","fullyFundedDate":1739550984120,"projectUrl":"project/beat-the-winter-blues/9073303/","projectTitle":"Beat the Winter Blues","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Aryn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9103029"},{"teacherId":9625221,"projectId":8551518,"letterContent":"We are using our new snacks to fuel our bodies and minds! snack time is so important for littles, it gives them the opportunity to hydrate and gain more energy after learning and playing hard with friends. After snack they love doing dance breaks or sometimes watching an educational show depending on their day. \r\nThe kiddos were SO excited when they saw all of the boxes asking what they were, their eyes lit up when they saw some of their favorite things goldfish and juice being some of their top choices.","fullyFundedDate":1731630384325,"projectUrl":"project/mrs-beth-miss-katies-snack-frenzy/8551518/","projectTitle":"Mrs. Beth & Miss. Katie’s Snack Frenzy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Katie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9625221"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_20323","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":412,"numTeachers":25,"percentFrplEligible":57,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":87,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":7,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 2","studentTeacherRatio":"16.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":73.4,"schoolId":20323,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Elwood Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Elwood Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/indiana/elwood-community-school-district/edgewood-elementary-school/20323"}

Elwood Elementary School

Join the 184 supporters who believe in this school.

About this school

Elwood Elementary School is a town public school in Elwood, Indiana that is part of Elwood Community School District. It serves 412 students in grades Pre-K - 2 with a student/teacher ratio of 16.5:1. Its teachers have had 45 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 2

412 Students

25 Teachers

940 N 19th St

Elwood, IN 46036 View local requests

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Elwood Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Ms. Sierra and Hannah

Ms. Sierra

Ms. Smith

Ms. katie

See more teachers from Elwood Elementary School

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works

Elwood Elementary School Demographics

57%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Elwood Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.

Elwood Elementary School

$19,216

raised using DonorsChoose

projects funded

teachers funded

184

donors

project for basic supplies

projects for technology

projects for books

project for art supplies

Elwood Elementary School has received support from 135 individuals from Indiana and 49 individuals out-of-state.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Elwood Elementary School

About this school

Equity Focus School

Elwood Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Share & help us grow support

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Elwood Elementary School Demographics

Elwood Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

Elwood Elementary School

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.