{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Marengo Valley Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":31.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9567730,"projectId":10092524,"letterContent":"I am writing to share the remarkable progress I've observed in my students' literacy development since we prioritized the use of decodable readers in our first-grade curriculum. The shift toward these phonics-based texts has fundamentally changed the landscape of reading instruction in our classroom.\r\n The most significant impact has been the alignment between our whole-group phonics lessons and independent reading time. Previously, students often encountered \"leveled\" texts filled with unpredictable patterns, forcing them to rely on pictures or guessing. With decodable readers, students are now applying the specific GPCs (Grapheme-Phoneme Correspondences) they've just learned.\r\n\r\nIncreased Success Rate: Because the vocabulary is controlled to match their current phonetic knowledge, students are experiencing immediate wins.\r\n\r\nReduced Frustration: The \"guessing game\" has been replaced by intentional sounding out, which builds genuine orthographic mapping.","fullyFundedDate":1770778230722,"projectUrl":"project/cracking-the-code-systematic-phonics-fo/10092524/","projectTitle":"Cracking the Code: Systematic Phonics for All","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Swiston","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9567730"},{"teacherId":10403424,"projectId":10016408,"letterContent":"In kindergarten, we use both CVC decodable books and high-interest texts to build strong readers. Decodable books help students develop foundational skills like phonemic awareness, decoding, and reading confidence. At the same time, interest-based books build vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of reading.\r\n\r\nBy combining both, students learn not only how to read, but also to enjoy and connect with books.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is active, engaging, and student-centered. Students practice reading through small groups, partner work, and independent reading with both decodable (CVC) books and high-interest texts.\r\n\r\nSeveral students have been especially excited about the new books. Some are feeling proud and more confident as they're able to independently read CVC decodable texts. Others are really drawn to the high-interest books and are eager to talk about the stories, make connections, and revisit favorites.","fullyFundedDate":1770075046898,"projectUrl":"project/from-sounds-to-stories-in-kindergarten/10016408/","projectTitle":"From Sounds to Stories in Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Zar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10403424"},{"teacherId":10403313,"projectId":10015865,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for supporting our \"Letters To Literacy\" project! When the boxes arrived, my students were beyond excited—it felt like a holiday in our classroom. As soon as they saw the books, letter/phonic games and hands on materials, their faces lit up with curiosity and joy.\r\n\r\nWe have already integrated these resources into our daily \"Small Group Reading\" time. One specific moment that stands out was watching a student who previously struggled with letter sounds finally \"click\" while using the Elkonin boxes magnet boards to build their first three-letter word. Seeing that spark of confidence is exactly why these materials are so vital.\r\n\r\nThese resources have laid a solid foundation for our kindergarten reading journey. Our next step is to move from individual letter sounds into full sentence blending, and having these tactile tools makes that transition so much more engaging. Your generosity has truly changed the landscape of our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1768754259508,"projectUrl":"project/letters-to-literacy-kindergarten-readin/10015865/","projectTitle":"Letters To Literacy: Kindergarten Reading Foundation","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hudack","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10403313"},{"teacherId":3579320,"projectId":9961950,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, \"Decoding Our Way to Reading Success\" is already making a meaningful difference. The materials and books you helped provide are giving my students the tools they need to grow into confident, capable readers, and I am so excited to share the impact you are having.\r\n\r\nThe new texts you provided are helping students develop foundational skills such as blending sounds together to read words, recognizing common spelling patterns, and building automatic recognition of high-frequency words. Instead of guessing words based on pictures, students are learning how to truly decode them. This is a huge step toward long-term reading success.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom now looks more focused, confident, and joyful. During small-group instruction, students use the new books to practice sounding out words, rereading to build fluency, and discussing what they read. My kindergarten through 2nd grade students are especially enjoying our new books and other resources.","fullyFundedDate":1766282486574,"projectUrl":"project/decoding-our-way-to-reading-success/9961950/","projectTitle":"Decoding Our Way to Reading Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Erickson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3579320_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1462818147291","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/elizabeth-erickson"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_36883","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":190,"numTeachers":14,"percentFrplEligible":75,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":98,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":1,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"13.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":68.6,"schoolId":36883,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Marengo Valley Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Marengo Valley Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/wisconsin/school-district-of-ashland/marengo-valley-elementary-school/36883"}
Join the 51 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Marengo Valley Elementary School is
a rural public school
in Ashland, Wisconsin that is part of School District Of Ashland.
It serves 190 students
in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 13.6:1.
Its teachers have had 10 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Share and help support Marengo Valley Elementary School
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of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
1%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Marengo Valley Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Apr 9, 2026
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
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Marengo Valley Elementary School
$9,066
raised using DonorsChoose
10
projects
funded
9
teachers
funded
51
donors
3
projects for
books
Marengo Valley Elementary School has received support from
35 individuals from Wisconsin and
16 individuals out-of-state.
