{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Graham Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":38.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10201834,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping bring Finding Langston into our classroom. Your generosity allowed my students to engage with a text that builds essential reading skills while also helping them explore themes of identity, grief, resilience, and belonging. With their own copies of the novel, students practiced annotation, close reading, and character analysis. They learned how to examine an author's choices, track emotional development, and connect historical context to a character's personal journey. These skills support their growth as thoughtful and confident readers.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is active and reflective. Students annotate directly in their books, discuss their ideas in small groups, and return to the text to support their thinking with evidence. Having individual copies made it possible for them to mark meaningful lines, track Langston's growth, and build interpretations over time. Several students connected deeply with Langston's feelings of loss and transition, especially those who have experienced moves or changes in their own families. Others were inspired by the way Langston discovers poetry and finds comfort in literature, which encouraged them to explore new genres and authors.\r\n\r\nThis project created a reading experience that felt personal, accessible, and emotionally meaningful. Thank you for believing in the power of books and for giving my students the opportunity to read a story that honors the strength and vulnerability of young people finding their place in the world.","fullyFundedDate":1779370991658,"projectUrl":"project/finding-home-finding-self-a-class-set/10201834/","projectTitle":"Finding Home, Finding Self: A Class Set of Finding Langston","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"},{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10201793,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping bring The House on Mango Street into our classroom. Your generosity allowed my students to engage with a text that supports essential reading skills while also helping them explore identity, culture, and community. With their own copies of the book, students practiced annotation, close reading, and thematic analysis. They learned how to examine vignettes for figurative language, character development, and author purpose. These skills help them grow as readers who can think critically and connect literature to their own lives.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is active and student centered. Students annotate directly in their books, discuss their ideas in small groups, and return to the text to support their thinking with evidence. Having individual copies made it possible for them to mark meaningful lines, track recurring images, and build interpretations over time. Many students saw themselves reflected in Esperanza's experiences and felt proud to read a story that honors the complexities of growing up in a neighborhood that shapes you. Others who had never read a book written in this style were excited by the short chapters and the poetic voice, which helped them feel successful and engaged.\r\n\r\nThis project created a reading experience that felt personal, relevant, and empowering. Thank you for believing in the importance of representation and for giving my students the opportunity to read a book that helps them see the value of their own stories.","fullyFundedDate":1778008239239,"projectUrl":"project/a-chicago-classroom-meets-mango-street/10201793/","projectTitle":"A Chicago Classroom Meets Mango Street","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"},{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10182875,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping bring Fahrenheit 451 into our classroom. Your generosity allowed my students to engage with a complex and thought provoking text that strengthened their reading, discussion, and critical thinking skills. With their own copies of the novel, students practiced annotation, close reading, and evidence based analysis. They learned how to track character development, examine author choices, and explore themes related to censorship, independent thought, and the role of knowledge in society. These skills support their growth as readers who can think deeply and question the world around them.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is active and collaborative. Students annotate directly in their books, participate in small group discussions, and return to the text to support their ideas with evidence. Having individual copies allowed them to mark important passages, ask questions in the margins, and build interpretations over time. Several students who are usually hesitant to speak up found themselves eager to discuss the book's ideas about technology, distraction, and personal agency. Others who love science fiction were excited to see how the novel connects to real issues in our world today.\r\n\r\nThis project helped create a learning environment where students felt challenged, engaged, and empowered to think for themselves. Thank you for believing in the power of literature and for giving my students the opportunity to explore a text that encourages curiosity, reflection, and independent thought.","fullyFundedDate":1776384228129,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-independent-thinkers-with-fahren/10182875/","projectTitle":"Fueling Independent Thinkers With Fahrenheit 451","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"},{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10163877,"letterContent":"Thank you for bringing Refugee into our classroom. Your generosity allowed my students to engage with a text that builds essential reading skills while also expanding their understanding of the world. Through this novel, students practiced close reading, annotation, and evidence gathering. They learned how to track multiple narratives, identify themes across different time periods, and analyze how authors use structure to build empathy and understanding. These are skills that help them grow as readers and thinkers.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is active and collaborative. Students annotate directly in their books, discuss their ideas in small groups, and return to the text to support their thinking with evidence. With their own copies of Refugee, students were able to mark important moments, ask questions in the margins, and make personal connections that deepened their comprehension. Several students who are newer to the United States connected strongly with the characters' experiences. They shared stories from their own families and expressed pride in seeing their histories reflected in literature. Others who had never encountered stories like these before showed a new level of curiosity and compassion.\r\n\r\nThis project helped create a reading community where students feel seen, challenged, and inspired. Thank you for believing in the power of books and for giving my students the opportunity to learn through stories that matter.","fullyFundedDate":1777651719810,"projectUrl":"project/stories-that-reflect-our-journeys-refug/10163877/","projectTitle":"Stories That Reflect Our Journeys: Refugee","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"},{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10162608,"letterContent":"I am truly grateful for your support of our project, Language Confidence for All. The new curriculum has already transformed the way my students engage with language instruction. From the first day we introduced the materials, students were eager to explore the lessons, visual supports, and interactive routines. Their enthusiasm was immediate and inspiring.\r\n\r\nWe have incorporated the curriculum into daily literacy rotations, and the impact is clear. During a recent vocabulary lesson, students used the provided scaffolds to analyze a text and share their ideas with clarity. One student proudly said, \"I finally know how to explain what I am thinking.\" That statement reflects the purpose of this project and the difference your generosity has made.\r\n\r\nOur next unit will focus on collaborative writing, where students will draft, revise, and publish their own informational pieces. Thank you for giving them the tools they need to grow as readers, writers, and confident communicators.","fullyFundedDate":1773950470639,"projectUrl":"project/language-confidence-for-all-choosing-th/10162608/","projectTitle":"Language Confidence for All: Choosing the Best Curriculum","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"},{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10161436,"letterContent":"Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to read Night with their own books in hand. This text has opened the door to important conversations about identity, memory, and the responsibility we carry when learning about the Holocaust. With these new copies, students are practicing close reading, annotating for key themes, and discussing how Elie Wiesel's experiences shape his understanding of humanity. These skills help them build empathy and strengthen their ability to analyze complex nonfiction.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom has become more focused and thoughtful. Students sit together comparing annotations, asking questions about moments that feel confusing or painful, and supporting one another as they move through difficult chapters. Several students who usually struggle to stay engaged have been especially invested because having their own book allows them to track their thinking and return to important passages. One student shared that this is the first time a book has made them stop and think about what it means to speak up for others.\r\n\r\nYour support has made it possible for my students to approach this text with care and confidence. You have helped them read deeply, reflect honestly, and understand why stories like this must be remembered. I am grateful for the impact you have made on their learning.","fullyFundedDate":1774541694212,"projectUrl":"project/reading-to-remember-night-by-elie-wiese/10161436/","projectTitle":"Reading to Remember: Night by Elie Wiesel in Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"},{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10092226,"letterContent":"Thank you for giving my students the chance to read My Brother Sam Is Dead with their own books in hand. This novel has helped them think about responsibility, loyalty, and the difficult choices young people faced during the American Revolution. With these new texts, students have been practicing close reading, annotating for character motivation, and discussing how a single decision can change the course of a family's life.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom feels active and thoughtful. Students gather in small groups to compare notes, underline powerful lines, and debate whether Tim is making the right choices as he tries to balance family and country. Several students who usually hesitate to speak up have been more confident because they can follow along easily and mark their thinking directly in the book. One student told me that this is the first historical novel that made him feel like he was \"right there in the moment,\" and that sense of connection has made a real difference.\r\n\r\nYour support has helped my students see history as something lived by real people, not just something written in a textbook. You have given them the chance to read deeply, talk openly, and build the kind of understanding that stays with them long after the unit ends. Thank you for believing in their learning.","fullyFundedDate":1773847212407,"projectUrl":"project/my-brother-sam-is-dead-learning-respons/10092226/","projectTitle":"My Brother Sam Is Dead: Learning Responsibility Through Revolution","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"},{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10162260,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping my students find a sense of home and belonging through The Distance Between Us. Because of your generosity, each student now has their own copy to read closely, annotate, and discuss with confidence. This memoir has opened powerful conversations about family, migration, resilience, and the ways our early experiences shape who we become. Students are learning to analyze narrative structure, trace themes across chapters, and reflect on how authors use personal stories to illuminate larger truths.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom looks like students leaning over their books, marking lines that feel familiar, and sharing connections that come from lived experience. Many of my multilingual learners have been especially engaged with this text. One student said, \"It feels like she is telling my family's story too.\" That moment of recognition and validation is exactly what your support made possible. With their own books, students can annotate freely, revisit important passages, and build the stamina and confidence needed for deeper reading.\r\n\r\nYour gift has helped students see that their stories matter and that literature can be a mirror that reflects their strength. Thank you for believing in them and for helping us create a classroom where every student feels seen and valued.","fullyFundedDate":1774541694186,"projectUrl":"project/finding-home-through-reading-distance-b/10162260/","projectTitle":"Finding Home Through Reading: Distance Between Us","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"},{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10162249,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping my students learn about justice, one page at a time, through Just Mercy. Because of your generosity, each student now has their own copy to read, annotate, and discuss. This book has opened powerful conversations about fairness, empathy, and the importance of understanding the justice system. Students are learning to analyze nonfiction text structure, evaluate evidence, and connect Bryan Stevenson's message to their own sense of right and wrong.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom looks like students leaning over their books, highlighting passages that challenge their thinking, and sharing reflections in small groups. They ask questions about accountability and compassion, and they write responses that show how deeply they are engaging with the text. One student said, \"I didn't know stories like this were real. It makes me want to do something.\" That spark of awareness and action is exactly what your support made possible.\r\n\r\nYour gift has helped students see that reading can be a way to understand the world and imagine how to make it better. Thank you for believing in their potential and for helping us build a classroom where justice and empathy are part of every lesson.","fullyFundedDate":1773948978863,"projectUrl":"project/learning-about-justice-one-page-at-a-ti/10162249/","projectTitle":"Learning About Justice, One Page at a Time: Just Mercy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"},{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10161334,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping my students open doors through verse novels with Long Way Down. Because of your generosity, each student now has their own copy to read, annotate, and discuss. This book has become a powerful tool for exploring choices, grief, and community. Students are learning to analyze structure, tone, and figurative language while connecting those elements to real‑world experiences. Verse novels like this one help readers build fluency and confidence, especially for multilingual learners who find rhythm and white space inviting rather than intimidating.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom looks like students leaning over their books, marking lines that hit hard, and sharing their thoughts aloud. They pause to ask questions about justice and empathy, and they write poems in response to Jason Reynolds' craft. One student said, \"It feels like he's talking to us, not at us.\" That sense of connection and ownership is exactly what your support made possible.\r\n\r\nYour gift has helped students see that literature can be both personal and transformative. Thank you for believing in their voices and for helping us build a classroom where every reader feels seen.","fullyFundedDate":1773881827103,"projectUrl":"project/opening-doors-through-verse-novels-long/10161334/","projectTitle":"Opening Doors Through Verse Novels: Long Way Down","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"},{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10163871,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping my students find power in their stories through Brown Girl Dreaming. Because of your generosity, each student now has their own copy to annotate, reflect on, and connect with deeply. This text has opened space for conversations about identity, family, and the ways our voices shape the world. Students are learning to analyze figurative language, explore author's purpose, and write their own poems inspired by Jacqueline Woodson's craft.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom looks like students leaning over their books, marking lines that speak to them, and sharing those moments aloud. They practice close reading, compare experiences, and build confidence in expressing their truths. One student said, \"Her story feels like mine, but she says it in a way that makes me proud.\" That sense of pride and belonging is exactly what your support made possible.\r\n\r\nYour gift has helped students see that their words matter. Thank you for believing in their stories and for helping us build a classroom where every voice is valued.","fullyFundedDate":1774899993350,"projectUrl":"project/finding-power-in-our-stories-brown-girl/10163871/","projectTitle":"Finding Power in Our Stories: Brown Girl Dreaming","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"},{"teacherId":10426523,"projectId":10161310,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping bring The Outsiders into our classroom. Your support allowed every student to hold their own copy, which completely changed the way we read and learn together. With books in hand, students can annotate, track character growth, and practice skills such as analyzing theme, identifying author craft moves, and understanding point of view. These materials help us build lessons that encourage students to think deeply about belonging, identity, and the choices young people face.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is active and collaborative. Students move between independent annotation, small group conversations, and whole class discussions where they practice citing evidence and responding to one another with care and curiosity. Many of my hesitant readers have been especially engaged with this novel. One student who rarely speaks in class told me, \"I actually want to keep reading this one. It feels real.\" Having their own books gives students confidence and a sense of ownership over their learning.\r\n\r\nYour generosity created a shared reading experience that strengthens community and helps students see themselves as capable readers and thinkers. Thank you for believing in them and supporting their growth.","fullyFundedDate":1773887568185,"projectUrl":"project/finding-our-place-bringing-the-outsider/10161310/","projectTitle":"Finding Our Place: Bringing the Outsiders to Life","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanghera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426523_orig.png?crop=580,580,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770039701491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/simransanghera"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5469","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":299,"numTeachers":25,"percentFrplEligible":89,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":23,"percentWhite":25,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":49,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"12.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":62.0,"schoolId":5469,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Graham Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Graham Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/graham-elementary-school/5469"}