{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Geraldine W Johnson School","outOfStateSupporters":49.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4611676,"projectId":10322992,"letterContent":"Thank you for making our project a reality! Because of your generosity, my second-grade bilingual readers now have engaging, hands-on phonics materials that are transforming our small-group literacy instruction. When I introduced the new phonics word work sets, my students were immediately excited to explore the colorful letter tiles and word-building mats. They couldn't wait to build words, test different spelling patterns, and challenge themselves to read new words. What once felt like a difficult reading lesson quickly became an exciting learning game.\r\n\r\nThese materials have become an essential part of our daily literacy block. During small-group instruction, students manipulate letters to build words with blends, digraphs, vowel teams, and other advanced phonics patterns. Instead of simply memorizing words, they are discovering how words work by moving, changing, and rebuilding them. One of my favorite moments was watching a student who had struggled with decoding suddenly realize that changing just one sound could create an entirely new word. The smile on their face when they confidently read several new words independently was priceless. Students are becoming more willing to take risks, help one another, and celebrate each other's successes as they grow into stronger readers.\r\n\r\nThese resources will continue supporting our literacy instruction every day. As students strengthen their decoding skills, they are becoming more fluent readers and more confident writers. The phonics kits also allow me to differentiate instruction so every student receives the support they need while classmates continue meaningful independent practice. Thanks to your generosity, my students are building the strong reading foundation they need for future success. Thank you for believing in my students and investing in their futures. Your kindness is helping create lifelong readers, one word at a time!","fullyFundedDate":1781533251618,"projectUrl":"project/words-work-and-wonder-winning-at-word/10322992/","projectTitle":"Words, Work, and Wonder: Winning at Word Work!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Angel Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4611676_orig.png?crop=423,423,x7,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667404637737","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/rodrigueza"},{"teacherId":4611676,"projectId":10079210,"letterContent":"Because of your incredible generosity, our second-grade classroom has become a place where science comes to life! The moment I introduced our new composting materials, my students were full of excitement and curiosity. They couldn't wait to put on their compostable gloves, explore the see-through compost container, and begin asking questions about what happens to banana peels, apple cores, and leaves after we throw them away. Instead of simply reading about decomposition in a book, my students are now observing it with their own eyes. \r\nOne of my favorite moments happened when students worked together to sort materials into \"compost\" and \"not compost\" categories before adding them to our classroom compost bin. They carefully used the observation tools to check the temperature and moisture inside the container and excitedly recorded changes in their science journals. Students who are sometimes hesitant to participate were eagerly raising their hands to share observations and ask thoughtful questions like, \"Why are there tiny bugs helping the compost?\" and \"How does this become soil?\" Their enthusiasm sparked meaningful conversations about recycling, reducing waste, and taking care of our planet. The hands-on experience helped every student become an active scientist while strengthening their reading comprehension, vocabulary, speaking, and writing skills.\r\n\r\nThis project is just the beginning of our environmental learning journey. Over the coming weeks, students will continue monitoring our compost, collecting data, writing informational pieces about the composting process, and discovering how healthy soil helps plants grow. We are even planning to use the finished compost to enrich soil for future classroom planting activities, allowing students to see the complete life cycle from food scraps to healthy plants. \r\nThanks to your generosity, my students are learning that even small actions can make a big difference. You have helped create unforgettable learning experiences that are inspiring my bilingual second graders to become curious readers, thoughtful scientists, and caring stewards of our Earth. Thank you for believing in our classroom and investing in our future. Your kindness has planted seeds of curiosity that will continue growing for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1780499195598,"projectUrl":"project/composting-champions-second-graders-sav/10079210/","projectTitle":"Composting Champions: Second Graders Save the Soil","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Angel Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4611676_orig.png?crop=423,423,x7,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667404637737","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/rodrigueza"},{"teacherId":4611676,"projectId":10154274,"letterContent":"WOW! Thank you for making our Meg & Greg decodable book project come to life! Your generosity has filled our classroom with excitement, confidence, and countless reading adventures. The day the books arrived felt like Christmas morning! My second-grade bilingual students couldn't wait to open the boxes, flip through the colorful pages, and find a book they could proudly read all by themselves. Hearing cheers of \"I can read this one!\" and seeing huge smiles spread across their faces reminded me just how powerful the right books can be.\r\n\r\nThese decodable books have completely transformed our small-group reading time. Every day, my students eagerly grab their books and become reading detectives, searching for phonics patterns we've been learning, celebrating \"aha!\" moments, and helping one another decode tricky words. Instead of feeling frustrated by difficult texts, my students are experiencing success from the very first page. Watching a struggling reader finish an entire book independently, close it with a huge grin, and proudly announce, \"I'm a reader!\" has been one of the most rewarding moments of my teaching career. Those moments are only possible because of your kindness.\r\n\r\nThe excitement doesn't stop there! Our classroom has become a community of enthusiastic readers who can't wait to share stories with classmates, practice reading with expression, and revisit their favorite books again and again. These books are helping my students build fluency, strengthen comprehension, expand vocabulary, and most importantly, develop a genuine love of reading. As bilingual learners, every successful reading experience builds confidence not only in English but in themselves as capable, lifelong learners.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has given my students so much more than books. You have given them confidence, joy, opportunities to succeed, and a reason to believe that they are capable of accomplishing amazing things. Every page they turn, every new word they decode, and every smile they share is a direct result of your incredible support. Thank you for believing in my students, investing in their futures, and helping create a classroom where every child has the opportunity to experience the magic of reading. We are endlessly grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1781709887291,"projectUrl":"project/magnificent-meg-great-greg-grow-great/10154274/","projectTitle":"Magnificent Meg & Great Greg Grow Great Readers!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Angel Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4611676_orig.png?crop=423,423,x7,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667404637737","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/rodrigueza"},{"teacherId":4611676,"projectId":10084505,"letterContent":"¡Muchas gracias! I wish you could have been in our classroom when these boxes arrived, the pure excitement was absolutely infectious! When my second graders saw the massive haul of MAGNA-TILES, from the tiny microMAGS to the epic Fire Station and Downhill Duo sets, there were literal gasps, cheers, and a few high-fives. You didn't just fund a project; you delivered pure joy and a massive wave of motivation straight to our classroom door!\r\n\r\nWe jumped right into building, and our room has officially transformed into a high-energy, bilingual engineering lab. Just this week, a brilliant team of mini-architects collaborated to design a massive city grid on our play-mat. It was amazing to hear them naturally bouncing back and forth between English and Spanish, shouting things like, \"We need a stronger foundation here!\" and \"Let's put the intersection next to the fire station!\" They are having so much fun creating transit lines for their cars and habitats for the forest and farm animals that they don't even realize how much heavy-duty math, spatial reasoning, and technical vocabulary they are mastering.\r\n\r\nNext up, we are taking our city-building to the next level by planning a full \"bilingual blueprint\" map, challenging the students to use symmetry and geometric shapes to build even taller structures. Beyond the engineering skills, they are also doing a fantastic job learning how to carefully sort and pack the pieces back into their 2-in-1 storage mat (a total lifesaver for keeping our new treasures safe!). Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving my vibrant learners the perfect building blocks to dream, speak, and create big. You have made a lasting impact on our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1781716208862,"projectUrl":"project/building-bridges-to-bilingualism/10084505/","projectTitle":"Building Bridges to Bilingualism","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Angel Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4611676_orig.png?crop=423,423,x7,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667404637737","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/rodrigueza"},{"teacherId":4611676,"projectId":10204447,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for making our project, \"Puzzles with a Purpose: Building Bilingual Bravery!\" a reality! Because of your generosity, my second-grade bilingual learners now have access to engaging Janod Magneti'Books that are helping them build confidence in speaking English while having fun. Your support has brought excitement, creativity, and meaningful language practice into our classroom, and we are incredibly grateful.\r\n\r\nThe day I introduced the Magneti'Books to my students was unforgettable. As soon as they saw the colorful animals, dinosaurs, fairy tales, sports, jobs, and space-themed sets, their eyes lit up with excitement. Students immediately gathered around the materials, eager to explore and create. What amazed me most was how quickly they began talking to one another about what they were building. Students who are often quiet during whole-group discussions were suddenly volunteering words, describing pictures, and practicing complete sentences with their classmates. The hands-on nature of the activities helped remove the fear of making mistakes and encouraged them to take risks with their English speaking skills.\r\n\r\nWe have been using the Magneti'Books during our English Language Development time as conversation stations. Students work with partners to build scenes and characters while practicing vocabulary and sentence structure. I hear students saying things like, \"The astronaut is flying in space,\" \"The dinosaur is green and big,\" and \"The firefighter helps people.\" These simple conversations are incredibly important because they allow students to practice oral language in a natural and meaningful way. The magnets have transformed language practice from something that can feel intimidating into something joyful and engaging.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments happened when a student who is currently in the silent period of language acquisition proudly described an entire animal scene to a classmate. This student rarely volunteers to speak in English, but the visual support and hands-on interaction gave them the confidence they needed. Watching that student's smile after successfully communicating was a reminder of why resources like these are so valuable.\r\n\r\nAs we continue through the school year, we will use these Magneti'Books to strengthen vocabulary, oral language development, descriptive writing, and collaborative problem-solving skills. Students will create stories, describe characters, compare and contrast objects, and even practice academic vocabulary connected to our science and literacy units. These materials will continue to support both language growth and student confidence for years to come.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has given my students much more than educational materials. You have given them opportunities to find their voices, share their ideas, and grow as bilingual learners. Thank you for believing in my students and investing in their future. Your kindness has made a lasting impact on our classroom, and we are so excited to continue learning, creating, and communicating because of your support.","fullyFundedDate":1780499194358,"projectUrl":"project/puzzles-with-a-purpose-building-bilingu/10204447/","projectTitle":"Puzzles with a Purpose: Building Bilingual Bravery!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Angel Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4611676_orig.png?crop=423,423,x7,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667404637737","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/rodrigueza"},{"teacherId":1944654,"projectId":10140870,"letterContent":"Thank you so much your kind of nations my classroom. It was wonderful to be able to finally get the two new beanbag chairs for my classroom for as soon as to use during their sensory times. \r\n\r\nWe used to be bags every day and the students were able to use them for their breaks and for reading circles it was wonderful to have these as part of our classroom and to incorporate them in our daily lessons. \r\n\r\n\r\nIt is such a wonderful thing when people take a time out of their busy schedules to provide funding to projects like these individuals especially needs. Thank you so much for your kind generation and donation.","fullyFundedDate":1775568011996,"projectUrl":"project/bean-bag-chairs-for-my-special-needs-stu/10140870/","projectTitle":"Bean Bag Chairs For My Special Needs Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Joseph M. Valentino","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1944654_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1781926843322","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/joey-valentino"},{"teacherId":4611676,"projectId":9985216,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! My students were incredibly excited when our new iPad arrived, and it has already become a valuable tool in our daily learning.\r\n\r\nThe iPad helps me provide small-group instruction, monitor student progress, and administer online assessments more efficiently. It has been especially helpful for my MLLs and students who need additional support, allowing me to provide immediate feedback and personalized instruction.\r\n\r\nMy students love using technology as part of their learning. The interactive activities keep them engaged, motivated, and excited to participate. I have already seen students become more confident as they use digital tools to practice important literacy and math skills.\r\n\r\nBecause nearly all of my students come from low-income households, your generosity helps provide access to technology that supports both academic growth and future-ready skills. Your donation is more than just an iPad, it is an investment in my students' success and a gift that will benefit them for years to come.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and helping create meaningful learning opportunities for every child in our classroom. We are truly grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1776184469253,"projectUrl":"project/progress-practice-and-an-ipad-for-grow/9985216/","projectTitle":"Progress, Practice, and an iPad for Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Angel Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4611676_orig.png?crop=423,423,x7,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667404637737","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/rodrigueza"},{"teacherId":9966488,"projectId":10038099,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in bringing social-emotional learning (SEL) books like A Little Spot of Feelings into our classroom. Your kindness is already making a meaningful difference in the daily lives of my students. These books give children the language and tools they need to identify, understand, and express their emotions in healthy ways.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, my students are more able to pause, reflect, and communicate their feelings respectfully. I have seen students use the strategies from these books to calm themselves, show empathy to classmates, and solve conflicts more independently. These moments might seem small, but they represent powerful growth in self-awareness and emotional regulation that will benefit them far beyond our classroom.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has helped create a safe, supportive environment where every child feels seen, heard, and valued. Thank you for investing in both the academic and emotional success of my students. Your generosity is shaping not just better learners, but kinder, more resilient individuals.","fullyFundedDate":1772235590427,"projectUrl":"project/big-feelings-bright-minds/10038099/","projectTitle":"Big Feelings, Bright Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Slater","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9966488_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x67,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742351582034","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/slatera"},{"teacherId":9427122,"projectId":9682789,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our Gelli printing plate and accessories project! Because of your generosity, my students were introduced to an exciting new art tool and technique that sparked creativity, curiosity, and enthusiasm throughout the classroom.\r\n\r\nUsing the Gelli printing plates, students explored the process of printmaking through layering colors, textures, and patterns to create one-of-a-kind artworks. For many students, this was their first experience with this type of artmaking, and they absolutely loved it! The hands-on experience encouraged experimentation, problem-solving, and creative risk-taking while helping students build confidence in their artistic abilities.\r\n\r\nThis project also allowed students to learn a new lesson in mixed media art and discover how different materials and techniques can work together to create unique visual effects. The excitement and engagement in the classroom were incredible as students eagerly shared their prints and creative ideas with one another.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in our students and helping bring meaningful artistic experiences into our classroom. Your support truly made a lasting impact.","fullyFundedDate":1767209315071,"projectUrl":"project/innovate-create-educate-gelli-printin/9682789/","projectTitle":"Innovate, Create, Educate: Gelli Printing in Steam","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Serrano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9427122_orig.jpg?crop=1244,1244,x0,y617&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1704670099976","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/art-smart-mrs-serrano"},{"teacherId":9427122,"projectId":9732135,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of watercolor supplies to our art classroom. Because of your support, my students were able to explore new artistic techniques and create vibrant watercolor artworks that were proudly displayed in our school art show.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting experiences for students was using neon watercolors under blacklight lighting. The glowing colors created a stunning visual effect that transformed the artwork into an immersive experience for families, students, and faculty members attending the show. Students were amazed to see how color, light, and creativity could work together to create something so unique and memorable.\r\n\r\nYour donation encouraged creativity, experimentation, and confidence in our young artists. It also helped make our art show an engaging community experience that celebrated student talent in an exciting new way.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting arts education and helping our students bring their creative visions to life.","fullyFundedDate":1765289926461,"projectUrl":"project/stem-meets-watercolor-blending-science/9732135/","projectTitle":"STEM Meets Watercolor: Blending Science and Creativity","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Serrano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9427122_orig.jpg?crop=1244,1244,x0,y617&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1704670099976","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/art-smart-mrs-serrano"},{"teacherId":3237886,"projectId":8872331,"letterContent":"Having novels to read has motivated my students and created a newfound excitement for reading. They look forward to reading from the books now! I've never had a class that is actually excited about reading. I can't wait to get more books to read with them and get them even more excited about reading. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for changing my students' perspective on reading. They are no longer frustrated and bored by the stories they are provided with. The opportunity to provide them with high-interest novels has ignited a spark inside them that I hope to continue to foster.","fullyFundedDate":1729088489100,"projectUrl":"project/novels-for-new-readers/8872331/","projectTitle":"Novels for New Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gaudio","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3237886_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1518700980179","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mgaudio"},{"teacherId":8549267,"projectId":9622349,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project. The classroom mailboxes and organization bins have made a meaningful difference in our daily routines and learning environment. Since incorporating these tools, student work has become far more organized, making it easier for students to locate, submit, and take pride in their work. As a result, students are showing increased accountability and responsibility for managing their assignments, which has positively impacted their independence and confidence.\r\nThese organizational tools have also been incredibly helpful from a teaching and planning perspective. The bins allow me to clearly organize work for the entire week, helping lessons flow more smoothly and ensuring that materials are readily available for each day. This has improved classroom efficiency and allowed me to spend more time focused on instruction and supporting students rather than managing materials.\r\nYour kindness and support have directly enhanced both student ownership of learning and overall classroom organization. We are truly grateful for your investment in our classroom and for helping create an environment where students can succeed. Thank you for making a lasting impact on our learning community.","fullyFundedDate":1766006697994,"projectUrl":"project/from-chaos-to-clarity-mailboxes-turn-/9622349/","projectTitle":"From Chaos to Clarity: Mailboxes & Turn-In Tools for Organization","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rickel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8549267_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1781736849432","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrshattani"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_96256","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":825,"numTeachers":51,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":22,"percentWhite":5,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":66,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":50.2,"schoolId":96256,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Geraldine W Johnson School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Geraldine W Johnson School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/bridgeport-public-schools/geraldine-w-johnson-school/96256"}