{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Juniper Basin Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":19.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1787349,"projectId":10451087,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity! Because of your support, our classroom has transformed into a vibrant hub of deep reading, thoughtful discussion, and meaningful learning. Teaching reading in upper elementary goes far beyond decoding words on a page; with A Long Walk to Water, Bud, Not Buddy, and Esperanza Rising, we are building critical literacy skills like analyzing dual narratives, understanding figurative language, and tracking character growth, all while helping students explore empathy, historical context, and universal human themes.\r\n\r\nOn any given day, reading in our classroom is dynamic, collaborative, and deeply reflective. You might see students reading together in small groups, sharing observations during lively whole-class discussions, or diving into cross-curricular inquiry projects. Literature serves as our launchpad for deeper exploration—integrating reading directly into social studies, science, and creative writing to bring these stories to life.\r\n\r\nThese specific texts have allowed us to pair rigorous academic lessons with hands-on, meaningful projects. With A Long Walk to Water, students explored perseverance and hope while completing a cross-curricular research project on global water scarcity. While reading Bud, Not Buddy, they investigated point of view during the Great Depression and created personal projects centered on objects and memories that hold deep meaning to them. Now, as we begin Esperanza Rising, students are eager to analyze themes of resilience and adaptation across different socio-economic backgrounds.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, these books have met our students right where they are. The fast-paced, dual perspective of A Long Walk to Water hooked several reluctant readers who couldn't wait to see how the storylines connected, while the real-world connections inspired them to ask how young people can help solve global issues. Meanwhile, Bud, Not Buddy sparked heartfelt sharing among students who saw themselves in Bud's humor, resilience, and search for belonging. Your contribution didn't just put books on a shelf—it provided our students with windows into new worlds and mirrors to reflect on their own lives.","fullyFundedDate":1786413743997,"projectUrl":"project/the-joy-of-finishing-a-book/10451087/","projectTitle":"The Joy of Finishing a Book","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Perkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1787349_orig.png?crop=916,916,x79,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1786054045775","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1787349"},{"teacherId":8282420,"projectId":10492933,"letterContent":"cannot begin to express how grateful I am for the generosity of our amazing donors who helped bring The Lemonade War and Because of Winn-Dixie into our fourth-grade classroom! These books have given my students so much more than just new stories to read. They have provided wonderful opportunities to strengthen important reading skills while exploring meaningful life lessons that students can relate to in their own lives. Through The Lemonade War, students are introduced to topics such as sibling relationships, competition, problem-solving, teamwork, and understanding different perspectives. The story also provides opportunities to connect reading with real-world math skills, including money, budgeting, and running a small business. Because of Winn-Dixie introduces equally valuable lessons about friendship, kindness, empathy, loneliness, forgiveness, and the importance of accepting others for who they are. Both books provide opportunities for students to practice making inferences, identifying character traits, analyzing how characters change throughout a story, determining theme, making predictions, and supporting their thinking with evidence from the text. One of my favorite things about teaching these novels is watching students realize that reading is about so much more than simply understanding the words on a page. It is about making connections, asking questions, understanding emotions, and discovering lessons that can stay with them long after they finish a book.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is an interactive and engaging experience where students are encouraged to think, share, question, and explore. We spend time reading together as a class, discussing important events, practicing reading fluency, and working on comprehension skills. Students also have opportunities to read with partners, participate in small-group discussions, and complete activities that encourage them to dig deeper into the stories. I love hearing students share their predictions about what might happen next or explain why they think a character made a particular decision. Sometimes our discussions lead to wonderful conversations about friendship, family, feelings, and how we treat others. These are moments when I know that the books are making a difference beyond academics. Having access to engaging chapter books also allows me to support students with different reading abilities. Some students benefit from listening to fluent reading and following along, while others are ready to explore more challenging questions and make deeper connections. These shared reading experiences help create a classroom community where students can learn from one another and feel comfortable sharing their ideas. Most importantly, these novels help make reading something students look forward to rather than simply another assignment they need to complete. My goal is to help every student grow as a reader while developing the confidence and excitement that come from discovering a really good book.\r\n\r\nOne of the most rewarding parts of having these books in our classroom is seeing the excitement they can bring to students with different interests and reading abilities. Stories like The Lemonade War are especially appealing to students who enjoy competition, humor, and creative problem-solving, while Because of Winn-Dixie offers wonderful connections for students who love animals, friendships, and heartfelt stories. These books give students opportunities to see parts of themselves in the characters and recognize that people can experience similar feelings and challenges in different ways. I especially love when students who are usually quieter during reading discussions begin sharing their thoughts because something in a story connects with them. It is equally rewarding when students who sometimes struggle with reading can participate in meaningful conversations and demonstrate that they understand the story, even when reading itself requires extra effort. Those moments help build confidence and remind students that their ideas matter. My hope is that these books will continue to inspire conversations, encourage students to become more thoughtful readers, and help them discover a genuine love for literature. Thanks to your kindness and generosity, my students have access to meaningful stories that support their academic growth while also helping them develop empathy, understanding, and important life skills. You have helped provide experiences that go far beyond the pages of these books, and I am truly grateful for the difference you have made in our classroom. Thank you for investing in my students, believing in the importance of literacy, and helping us create lasting memories through the joy of reading!","fullyFundedDate":1787061380933,"projectUrl":"project/same-book-same-time-total-focus-we-ho/10492933/","projectTitle":"Same Book, Same Time, Total Focus (We Hope!)","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Payne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8282420_orig.png?crop=724,724,x0,y65&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1642696214101","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8282420"},{"teacherId":9563568,"projectId":10479907,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my DonorsChoose project and helping me create a classroom that meets the needs of all my first-grade learners! Your generosity has made such a positive difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nEvery student learns differently, and some of my students benefit from having extra opportunities to move, fidget, and take a break when they need one. Thanks to your support, I was able to add fidget toys for my students who need a little extra movement throughout the day, as well as items for our calm-down corner where students can practice managing their emotions and finding strategies to feel calm and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nWe also received some amazing wiggle ball chairs that my students have absolutely LOVED! These chairs give students an alternative seating option that allows them to move while still participating in classroom learning. It has been so fun to see how excited they are to use them!\r\n\r\nAs a first-grade teacher, one of my biggest goals is to create a classroom where every student feels supported, comfortable, and ready to learn. These resources help me do just that by giving my students tools to meet their individual needs and be successful throughout the school day.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping me make our classroom a place where everyone can learn and grow. Your kindness and generosity mean so much to me and my 26 little learners!\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,\r\n\r\nMrs. Burr\r\nFirst Grade Teacher 💗","fullyFundedDate":1787261390867,"projectUrl":"project/helping-little-learners-focus-move-fe/10479907/","projectTitle":"Helping Little Learners Focus, Move & Feel Their Best","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Burr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9563568_orig.jpg?crop=1592,1592,x635,y1139&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1778533883405","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-ovard"},{"teacherId":9563568,"projectId":10393406,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my DonorsChoose project and helping bring a listening center into our first-grade classroom! Your generosity means so much to me and my students.\r\n\r\nAs a first-grade teacher, I love finding ways to make learning engaging, meaningful, and accessible for every student. A listening center will give my students the opportunity to listen to stories, build their reading comprehension, develop their vocabulary, and grow their love of reading. It will also allow my young learners to practice important literacy skills while building independence and confidence as readers.\r\n\r\nYour support helps make our classroom a place where students can explore, learn, and discover just how exciting reading can be. Because of you, my students will have new opportunities to grow as readers and develop skills that will benefit them for years to come.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping make a difference in their education. I am so grateful for people like you who believe in the power of learning and are willing to support teachers and their classrooms!\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,\r\n\r\nMrs. Burr\r\nFirst Grade Teacher 💗","fullyFundedDate":1785182871058,"projectUrl":"project/where-stories-come-to-life-building-a-l/10393406/","projectTitle":"Where Stories Come to Life: Building a Literacy Listening Center","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Burr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9563568_orig.jpg?crop=1592,1592,x635,y1139&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1778533883405","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-ovard"},{"teacherId":8282420,"projectId":10313974,"letterContent":"I am so grateful for the opportunity to bring new books into my classroom through this generous grant! All of my students absolutely loved the book we received! It was funny, entertaining, and kept every one of my readers engaged from beginning to end. It was so fun to see their excitement as we read together, especially when something unexpected or humorous happened in the story. Even some of my more reluctant readers were eager to participate and find out what would happen next!\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is all about building confidence, developing comprehension skills, and helping students discover a love for books. Through this new text, we were able to practice important reading skills such as making predictions, identifying character traits, discussing story elements, and supporting our thinking with evidence from the text. The story also encouraged meaningful classroom discussions, allowing students of all reading abilities to share their ideas and make connections.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite things about receiving this grant was seeing how much joy a single book could bring to our entire class. There is something special about watching students laugh together, get excited about reading, and genuinely enjoy a story. Thank you so much for your generosity and for helping me create these wonderful reading experiences for my students. Your support has made a meaningful difference in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1781200947628,"projectUrl":"project/building-bookworms-one-novel-at-a-time/10313974/","projectTitle":"Building Bookworms, One Novel at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Payne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8282420_orig.png?crop=724,724,x0,y65&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1642696214101","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8282420"},{"teacherId":10100024,"projectId":10498860,"letterContent":"Thank you for your support! My first-grade students are loving their new math games, and I am too! Everyday, they look forward to playing them with their friends. These games are engaging, fun, and reinforce the skills I am teaching them. \r\n\r\nMy students are having many more opportunities to practice important math skills, while learning to problem-solve, and work cooperatively together. I love that all of these games are hands-on, because that keeps them engaged and wanting to learn more. They are so happy to have new choices during their center time, and I appreciate them having choices that they are excited about. I can see their confidence building as well! \r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students! These were very meaningful donations, and I am truly thankful you chose to support my classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1786993262209,"projectUrl":"project/game-on-for-math-and-learning/10498860/","projectTitle":"Game on for Math and Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sperry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10100024_orig.jpg?crop=3483,3483,x0,y429&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1786674549639","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10100024"},{"teacherId":10100024,"projectId":10482788,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting my classroom with your generous donations! You have helped me create a comfortable and inviting reading area for my first-grade students. \r\nThey were all so excited to see the corner come to life! I truly appreciate every item that was provided. The stools have also helpful for those students who prefer a quiet space of their own. They appreciate how easily the light stools can be moved around the room.\r\n\r\nThey have been using their new reading corner everyday and absolutely love it! Having this cozy corner dedicated to reading, has been the perfect addition to my classroom. In first grade, developing a love for reading is the key to helping students, as they build on the skills they learned in kindergarten. \r\n\r\nThank you for for making my classroom more inviting! Your kindness has made a difference for each one of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1787061387532,"projectUrl":"project/a-cozy-corner-to-grow-lifelong-readers/10482788/","projectTitle":"A Cozy Corner to Grow Lifelong Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sperry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10100024_orig.jpg?crop=3483,3483,x0,y429&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1786674549639","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10100024"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_134760","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":null,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":22,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":75,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":17,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":1,"percentMultiracialImputed":4,"gradesServed":"Not specified","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"UNCLASSIFIED","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":81.0,"schoolId":134760,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Juniper Basin Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Juniper Basin Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/utah/alpine-school-district/juniper-basin-elementary-school/134760"}