{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"East Central Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":61.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9198054,"projectId":9897153,"letterContent":"My students read the first chapter of Number the Stars today, and it sparked the start of some important conversations. I introduced the historical setting we will be exploring, and students began to understand that this story will take them into a real moment in history where ordinary people faced extraordinary danger. Even with only a preview, they were already asking questions about bravery, discrimination, and what it means to protect others. This book will let us build skills in close reading and historical analysis while helping students develop empathy through a child's perspective.\r\n\r\nReading in my classroom is an active process. Students annotate, discuss in small groups, and write reflections as they move through the text. Having a full class set means that when we begin the unit in February, every student will be able to read at the same pace, revisit key scenes, and participate in discussions without delay. It also allows me to plan deeper lessons that connect the novel directly to our study of World War Two and the Holocaust in an age appropriate but meaningful way.\r\n\r\nA few students mentioned today that they are already looking forward to continuing the book next semester. Some were surprised by how quickly chapter one pulled them in. Others were curious about the real history behind the story. These moments of interest are possible because donors made sure each student has a copy of the book. Your support created the foundation for a thoughtful, well prepared unit that will challenge students in all the right ways.","fullyFundedDate":1764727302582,"projectUrl":"project/other-words-for-home-bringing-identity/9897153/","projectTitle":"Other Words for Home: Bringing Identity and Resilience Into the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ward","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9198054_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y247&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757262220028","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9198054"},{"teacherId":9198054,"projectId":9870668,"letterContent":"My students were excited to preview Other Words for Home, especially because they have already read The Door of No Return and are familiar with the verse style. Many of them said right away that they liked the rhythm and flow of the writing and were curious about Jude's journey. This book will help us continue building skills in close reading, annotation, and character analysis while giving students a story that challenges them to think about identity, courage, and belonging.\r\n\r\nReading in my classroom is active. Students annotate, work in small groups, write reflections, and talk through the choices characters make. Because we now have a full class set, every student will begin January with their own copy in hand, which means no waiting for shared books and no interruptions to the reading process. They will be able to mark important lines in their notebooks, revisit earlier scenes, and work at a pace that pushes their thinking.\r\n\r\nSeveral students have already said they cannot wait to start this unit next semester. One student told me she wanted to read ahead over winter break. Another said he likes books that feel real and connected this one to things happening in his own family. Even before we open to chapter one, these books have sparked anticipation and genuine interest. Your support made that possible, and it will help set the tone for a strong start to the new semester.","fullyFundedDate":1764674618557,"projectUrl":"project/number-the-stars-courage-and-compassion/9870668/","projectTitle":"Number the Stars: Courage and Compassion Lessons Through Literature","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ward","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9198054_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y247&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757262220028","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9198054"},{"teacherId":9198054,"projectId":9870644,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting this project. The books arrived today, and my students were immediately excited to have their own copies. Having a complete class set changes the whole atmosphere. Everyone can follow along without sharing or waiting, and it gives each student a sense of ownership over the reading. Hope Was Here is going to support both our reading goals and our social studies work. The story deals with local government, elections, and how communities make decisions. These are ideas we talk about in class, but the book gives them a clearer picture of what those concepts look like in real life. It will help them understand voting, leadership, and civic responsibility in a way that feels accessible and relevant. Several students have already flipped through the first chapters and pointed out things they want to talk about. A few who usually hang back during reading activities were the first to grab their copies. I can already tell this project is going to help them read with more interest and engage more deeply in our discussions about community and government. Thank you for giving my students this opportunity.","fullyFundedDate":1763961830759,"projectUrl":"project/hope-was-here-inspiring-readers-to-beli/9870644/","projectTitle":"Hope Was Here: Inspiring Readers to Believe in Themselves","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ward","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9198054_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y247&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757262220028","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9198054"},{"teacherId":9198054,"projectId":9667180,"letterContent":"The headphones and voice amplifier arrived at the perfect time. Our ACCESS testing is beginning, and these tools immediately became essential. The headphones allow my English learners to complete their listening and speaking tasks without distractions, and they give them the privacy and focus they need to perform at their best. For a lot of these students, the listening portion is the most stressful part of the exam. Having enough headphones for everyone has already reduced that anxiety and helped them feel more prepared.\r\n\r\nThe voice amplifier is also already making a difference. My students know I am hard of hearing, and they often hesitate to speak up or repeat themselves. With the amplifier in place, we can communicate more easily. Students can speak at a normal volume and feel confident that they are understood. It also helps create a calmer, more supportive testing environment because no one has to raise their voice or get frustrated.\r\n\r\nEven though these tools have only been in the classroom for a short time, their impact is clear. They remove barriers that would have made ACCESS testing far more difficult for my students. Thank you for helping them enter this important assessment feeling supported and equipped for success.","fullyFundedDate":1761672345388,"projectUrl":"project/helping-every-student-be-heard-and-under/9667180/","projectTitle":"Helping Every Student Be Heard and Understood","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ward","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9198054_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y247&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757262220028","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9198054"},{"teacherId":9198054,"projectId":9564988,"letterContent":"When my students first walked into the room after the \"Let's Get Geographical\" materials arrived, their reactions said it all. Eyes widened, hands pointed, and voices filled the air as they found maps of continents, government charts, and posters covering every wall. What used to be a plain classroom is now alive with color and information. They immediately started asking questions, comparing landforms, tracing borders, and even quizzing each other on flags from around the world. The new visuals have transformed how they engage with social studies and helped them make real connections between geography and history.\r\n\r\nWe now use the maps, posters, and globes in almost every lesson. During our unit on global cultures, students used the placemat maps to track migration routes and identify shared environments across continents. The Bluetooth speaker plays music from different regions while students work, and the hanging globes help them visualize trade routes and climates. What started as classroom decor has become a set of working tools for exploration, collaboration, and creativity.\r\n\r\nThe next step for us is bringing these lessons to life through video and storytelling. My students are eager to record short geography segments, interview one another, and teach others about what they have learned. The foundation built through this project made our classroom a true hub for global learning, and it continues to inspire curiosity every day. Because of your generosity, my students are not just studying the world; they are discovering their place within it.","fullyFundedDate":1757434651043,"projectUrl":"project/lets-get-geographical/9564988/","projectTitle":"Let’s Get Geographical","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ward","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9198054_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y247&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757262220028","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9198054"},{"teacherId":9198054,"projectId":9562469,"letterContent":"When the stools and headphones arrived, my students were excited to put them to use right away. The cushioned stools have already made a huge difference in our classroom. Instead of shuffling in uncomfortable chairs, students can now sit comfortably in small groups, which makes class discussions and partner work run much smoother. I've noticed that students who usually struggle to stay focused are more engaged when they can sit in a space that feels comfortable and purposeful.\r\n\r\nThe headphones have also been a big hit in my advisory class. Students use them for independent reading, listening to audiobooks, and online assignments without distraction. One of my students who often has trouble concentrating told me, \"It's easier for me to focus when I can block everything else out.\" That moment really showed me how important these resources are.It's not just about learning, but also about helping students build confidence in their own ability to succeed.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, my students now have a classroom space that better supports their focus and learning. The next step is continuing to use these resources daily to prepare for upcoming projects and state assessments. With the stools and headphones, my students have the tools they need to learn more effectively, and they know their community believes in them.","fullyFundedDate":1756595133097,"projectUrl":"project/focused-seating/9562469/","projectTitle":"Focused Seating","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ward","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9198054_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y247&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757262220028","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9198054"},{"teacherId":9205936,"projectId":7708349,"letterContent":"I apologize for this late message! However, I have come to tell you about what these headphones have done for our classroom since receiving them. \r\n\r\nWe have been able to have students self-pace in their work, which means they were able to take their time (or speed ahead in come cases!) at whatever pace worked best for them. The sound quality was fantastic and none of them had any issues. \r\n\r\nWe really appreciate having the chance to have a classroom set of headphones for students. Now, they don't have to bring their own!","fullyFundedDate":1692740465562,"projectUrl":"project/sound-squad-headphones-for-6th-grade-st/7708349/","projectTitle":"Sound Squad: Headphones for 6th Grade Stars!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Qualls","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9205936_orig.jpg?crop=1852,1853,x0,y92&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692467006150","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9205936"},{"teacherId":9602105,"projectId":8644011,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donations for the playdough for my classroom, the package arrived two days before my students arrived for the school year. The playdough is a great edition to our classroom because it helps my autism students with sensory needs, the first day my students arrived in my classroom I had the playdough displayed on the art table, and the students immediately was drawn to playing with the playdough, making shapes, and long snakes. It is because of people like you that our students thrive and teachers feel even more supported, most of the time we as teacher's care about our students that we sometimes dig in our own pockets so that our students can continue to have the best education possible, but when it comes to generous people like you it is greatly appreciated, I thank you and my students thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1727487580096,"projectUrl":"project/autism-classroom/8644011/","projectTitle":"Autism Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Powell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9602105_orig.jpg?crop=526,526,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754599246823","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9602105"},{"teacherId":8623631,"projectId":8455649,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks for your support in helping make our fossil investigation experience a success. The hands-on opportunity to explore real fossils had such a meaningful impact on my students. Unlike in past years, they've been continuously engaged with the topic, even seeking out rocks outside of school in hopes of finding traces of fossils themselves!\r\n\r\nThis experience not only allowed them to see fossils up close but also helped them understand that these are real, tangible pieces of history. It has truly sparked their curiosity and created a lasting impression.\r\n\r\nThank you again for making this experience possible. Your contribution has had a profound effect on their learning, and I'm so grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1727488180445,"projectUrl":"project/learning-about-fossils-and-geologic-time/8455649/","projectTitle":"Learning about Fossils and Geologic Time Scale","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Treadwell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8623631"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_87433","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":655,"numTeachers":34,"percentFrplEligible":94,"percentAsian":5,"percentBlack":13,"percentWhite":12,"percentIndigenous":3,"percentLatinx":58,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"19.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":38.9,"schoolId":87433,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about East Central Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"East Central Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/oklahoma/tulsa-public-schools/foster-middle-school/87433"}