{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Mill Swan A Head Start","outOfStateSupporters":23.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7817784,"projectId":9442738,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom project. Because of your kindness, we were able to bring new storage baskets into our Reggio-inspired preschool environment and they have already made a wonderful difference.\r\n\r\nThe children now have inviting, organized spaces to place their toys and materials, which has helped them take ownership of their environment and strengthen their self-help and organizational skills. It's been amazing to watch how something as simple as thoughtful storage can empower them to care for their classroom with pride.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful that you chose to support our students and help us reach our goal. Your generosity is impacting their daily routines, independence, and joy in learning.","fullyFundedDate":1752257524306,"projectUrl":"project/helping-little-learners-stay-organized/9442738/","projectTitle":"Helping Little Learners Stay Organized","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reynolds","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7817784_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1629748599622","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7817784"},{"teacherId":7063063,"projectId":8632142,"letterContent":"Early math is a necessary foundation for children to have as they builds school readiness skills and prepare to enter Kindergarten. Unfortunately, this is a learning center often challenging to offer a variety of open-ended activities without a variety of materials. Previously, I received funding for a project for a variety of math materials I could use to increase participation in my math area. Unfortunately, for most materials, I only ordered one of each. This quickly became a problem due to the math center being set up for four children. This project allowed additional of the same materials to be ordered so more children could interact together in my math area!\r\n\r\nNumber sense is an important skill children must gain in the early years. This includes counting, subitizing, understanding quantity, and so much more! With the variety of ten frames purchased in this project, such as the magnet teddy bears and counting ten frames with pegs, my children practiced filling up the ten frames in different combinations, understanding how smaller numbers create a larger number, and looked at the ten frame quantitively in order to find out how many more they needed to create ten. My children loved the magnet teddy bears the most because of the bright colors and large spaces.\r\n\r\nUnderstanding shapes is another important skill children must master at a young age. They loved the geo boards with colorful rubber bands allowing them to start at the manipulating stage and create their own shapes. This led to using the boards to master creating basic shapes such as triangle, rectangle, and square. This type of hands-on learning allowed children to see and feel the difference in number of sides and points as well as length and width of the three shapes.\r\n\r\nThe quantity puzzle with rings was a favorite with the older children as they were able to count out how many rings matched each number and place the rings on the corresponding peg. These puzzles were great for the younger children as well since they assisted with number and shape recognition.\r\n\r\nAll children were a fan of the rainbow puzzles which increased fine motor skills and the alpha abet and number tracing boards which strengthened writing grip. The variety of materials offered increased participation in my math center and assessments proved an improvement in math skills throughout the class as the year progressed. Thank you for contributing to my children's knowledge in such a core subject!","fullyFundedDate":1731528018591,"projectUrl":"project/math-manipulatives/8632142/","projectTitle":"Math Manipulatives","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Michelle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7063063_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588637215670","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missmichellefisher"},{"teacherId":7063063,"projectId":8155765,"letterContent":"Early math is a necessary foundation for children to have as they builds school readiness skills and prepare to enter Kindergarten. Unfortunately, this is a learning center often challenging to offer a variety of open-ended activities without a variety of materials.\r\n\r\nNumber sense is an important skill children must gain in the early years. This includes counting, subitizing, understanding quantity, and so much more! With the variety of ten frames purchased in this project, such as the magnet teddy bears and counting ten frames with pegs, my children practiced filling up the ten frames in different combinations, understanding how smaller numbers create a larger number, and looked at the ten frame quantitively in order to find out how many more they needed to create ten. My children loved the magnet teddy bears the most because of the bright colors and large spaces.\r\n\r\nUnderstanding shapes is another important skill children must master at a young age. They loved the geo boards with colorful rubber bands allowing them to start at the manipulating stage and create their own shapes. This led to using the boards to master creating basic shapes such as triangle, rectangle, and square. This type of hands-on learning allowed children to see and feel the difference in number of sides and points as well as length and width of the three shapes.\r\n\r\nThe quantity puzzle with rings was a favorite with the older children as they were able to count out how many rings matched each number and place the rings on the corresponding peg. These puzzles were great for the younger children as well since they assisted with number and shape recognition.\r\n\r\nAll children were a fan of the rainbow puzzles which increased fine motor skills and the alpha abet and number tracing boards which strengthened writing grip. The variety of materials offered increased participation in my math center and assessments proved an improvement in math skills throughout the class as the year progressed. Thank you for contributing to my children's knowledge in such a core subject!","fullyFundedDate":1715021020418,"projectUrl":"project/math-manipulatives/8155765/","projectTitle":"Math Manipulatives","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Michelle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7063063_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588637215670","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missmichellefisher"},{"teacherId":7063063,"projectId":8635137,"letterContent":"The classroom is a child's home away from home. We as teacher's work hard each year to ensure our rooms are inviting as possible. Occasionally, materials need a little refresher!\r\n\r\nThe cubbies to my classroom are in the hallway. Therefore, when children make artwork, or receive papers for their parents to take home, they cannot place them in their backpack. I have (what I refer to as) my \"sign-in\" desk located by the door of the classroom. Here, I have a plastic \"bucket\" for each child. There is a bright handprint on the front with their name and their photo. This is where they store all their photos. The children love to check their buckets at the end of the day and pack their papers in their backpacks. My previous buckets were, old, worn, dirty, yellowed, and some even chipped and cracked. These presented a safety hazard and were not pleasant to look at. The new buckets provided with this project truly brightened up the entire sign-in desk. The clean surface makes the colored handprints really pop and I no longer have to be worried about someone getting cut! The children noticed these right away!\r\n\r\nI have a neutral theme in my classroom and utilize wooden containers and baskets as storage containers for materials on my shelves. In previous years, I've purchased small wooden boxes at the dollar store for such materials as crayons, colored pencils, markers, etc. These boxes were flimsy and broken easily. Unfortunately, after the first year, they weren't easy to find. The wooden boxes purchased for me were of such high quality and versatility! I used them for art and writing materials such as glue sticks and markers and even science materials such as tweezers and magnifying glasses! The colored pencil holder was cute and colorful and great for sorting practice which is an important preschool skill, and one found in the Massachusetts Preschool Frameworks.\r\n\r\nThe beautiful baskets purchased were just the right size too! One was large and a perfect fit for all of our magnet tiles which kept sliding out of our previous basket. The smaller size was just right fit for smaller amounts of materials such as manipulatives or block area additions.\r\n\r\nThese simple additions have certainly added a clean touch to some of the mismatched loose ends in my classroom! I thank you for the support in making my classroom feel more natural and warm to the children I invite every day to come learn with me.","fullyFundedDate":1725209198408,"projectUrl":"project/organizing-chaos/8635137/","projectTitle":"Organizing Chaos!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Michelle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7063063_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588637215670","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missmichellefisher"},{"teacherId":7063063,"projectId":6825315,"letterContent":"When you work in a large city, teaching low-income children, you welcome children from all different backgrounds and cultures into your classroom. This can result in multiple languages being spoken at one time. Unfortunately, often, the teacher only speaks one, as I do, or maybe two languages. When looking for a way to connect with all students at a time, we as teachers search for a universal language that we all share together. Music is just that. Even though there are different types of music from different cultures that are sang in different languages, the basics of music are the same. You need some type of instrument and a beat. Children love to sing and dance when they hear music because it is universally recognized. They love to play instruments at this age because there is no expectation except to have fun! Through music, we become a class.\r\n\r\nMy children instantly noticed the new bucket of instruments. Being brand new, the gold and silver shined and caught everyone's attention! Children love to touch new things. This is how they learn what objects are and how they work. The first few experiences were all about manipulation. Children picked up each instrument, gave it a shake or a bang, then moved to the next one. I allowed them to get this excitement out of their system before we could move on to learning how each instrument truly worked. The drum and the cymbals were by far the favorite! However, these were the instruments they needed the most help with. When you have two long rhythm sticks, plus a drum, it makes the most sense that the rhythm sticks act as drumsticks! This is where our instrument exploration began.\r\n\r\nThe children loved learning about each individual instrument including the name and how it was used. We took turns practicing and exploring the different sounds each instrument made. We discussed how we could make sounds louder or softer, and faster or slower. We explored things like the difference in sound when the triangle was hit with the metal stick as opposed to the wooden one.\r\n\r\nThe children's favorite part was when we used instruments for music time! This started as everyone playing at the same time but quickly expanded to more focused playing as the children gained more mastery of the instruments. We traded with friends halfway through. We experimented with tempo and volume as a group. We even made a marching band throughout the school!\r\n\r\nThe instruments have been a staple in my classroom and used as a secondary exploration every year! Thank you for allowing us to start the year with such a strong connection!","fullyFundedDate":1663360187821,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-concerts/6825315/","projectTitle":"Classroom Concerts","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Michelle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7063063_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588637215670","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missmichellefisher"},{"teacherId":7064935,"projectId":8901838,"letterContent":"Early literacy in preschool has a significant positive impact on a child's overall development, setting a strong foundation for future academic success and beyond. It encompasses more than just learning to read and write; it involves developing crucial cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Preschoolers who engage with literacy activities show enhanced communication, improved cognitive abilities, and increased confidence. Early literacy experiences stimulate brain development and enhance cognitive abilities. Engaging with books and stories fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and memory skills. It lays the foundation for logical reasoning and the development of abstract thinking.","fullyFundedDate":1733163406468,"projectUrl":"project/the-world-of-literacy/8901838/","projectTitle":"The World of Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chmaysem","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7064935_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699570897377","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7064935"},{"teacherId":7064935,"projectId":7918168,"letterContent":"Studying color in preschool is crucial for cognitive, creative, and emotional development. Children learn to identify, name, and sort colors, which enhances their visual discrimination skills, language development, and problem-solving abilities. Color exploration also stimulates creativity, fosters emotional expression, and improves fine motor skills through activities like painting and color sorting. \r\nRecognizing and naming colors helps children categorize objects, develop memory, and improve problem-solving skills. For example, sorting toys by color enhances their ability to classify and understand patterns, which is a foundation for future math and reading skills, according to Aurrum Kids. \r\nLanguage Development:\r\n.\r\nDescribing colors helps children build vocabulary and express themselves more effectively. They learn to articulate their observations and understand how colors relate to the world around them. \r\nFine Motor Skills:\r\n.\r\nActivities like painting, drawing, and using tools to sort and manipulate colored objects help children develop hand-eye coordination and control over small muscles. \r\nEmotional Development:\r\n.\r\nColors can evoke different emotions, and learning about these associations helps children understand and express their feelings. For instance, red might be associated with excitement, while blue could be linked to calmness. \r\nCreativity:\r\n.\r\nColor exploration allows children to express themselves artistically, experiment with color combinations, and develop their own unique artistic style. \r\nWayfinding and Organization:\r\n.\r\nColor can be used to create distinct zones within the classroom, making it easier for children to navigate and understand the purpose of different areas, according to McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture.","fullyFundedDate":1699470838200,"projectUrl":"project/the-study-of-color/7918168/","projectTitle":"The Study of Color","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chmaysem","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7064935_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699570897377","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7064935"},{"teacherId":7064935,"projectId":6472474,"letterContent":"Loose parts play has a significant positive impact on preschool children, fostering creativity, problem-solving skills, and social-emotional development. These open-ended materials, like blocks, stones, or fabric scraps, encourage children to explore, experiment, and create, leading to deeper learning and self-discovery. In essence, loose parts play offers a rich and engaging environment for preschool children to learn and grow in a holistic way, supporting their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.","fullyFundedDate":1662563967752,"projectUrl":"project/loose-parts/6472474/","projectTitle":"Loose Parts","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chmaysem","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7064935_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699570897377","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7064935"},{"teacherId":7064935,"projectId":6256029,"letterContent":"Art supplies have been always needed in any preschool classroom. Children enjoyed the art supplies and the used them to draw, write and sort them by color. \r\nChildren have been using the art supplies every day in the classroom and they have been sharing the art materials among each other. \r\nChildren have been responsible in taking care with the materials. When it is time to wrap up children were responsible in taking care of the materials. Children used the materials mostly in drawing and coloring they have expressing their feelings through art throughtout the school year.","fullyFundedDate":1649362498657,"projectUrl":"project/art-supplies-needed/6256029/","projectTitle":"Art Supplies Needed","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chmaysem","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7064935_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699570897377","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7064935"},{"teacherId":5933770,"projectId":9003567,"letterContent":"With your generous donation, this shelving unit and easel has improved the classroom environment greatly for the students this year and will continue to benefit many classrooms of students for years to come. \r\n The students in this classroom have been able to independently collect materials they need from the shelving unit and use them at the easel without asking for help. This has enabled many more children to express their creativity through art which also helps support increasing both fine and gross motor skills. It has been a joy to see the sense of pride and accomplishment in themselves each time they finish their master pieces.","fullyFundedDate":1735657810205,"projectUrl":"project/easel-y-inspired/9003567/","projectTitle":"Easel-y inspired!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rebecca","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5933770_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1541208062807","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/rebeccalondono"},{"teacherId":7064935,"projectId":6242916,"letterContent":"thank you for the support \r\nThe impact was very successful to my students. The children enjoyed using he materials and showed lot of progress in Math and Literacy. My children enjoyed Math such as recognizing shapes, counting and sorting by colors. \r\nThe children also enjoyed recognizing letters and alphabets. They also enjoyed listening to read also stories and exhcange their thoughts with the teachers.\r\nThe materials athta the children used in my classroom had a great impact on them they also took care of the materials so they can use them over and over. \r\nThank you so much for your support","fullyFundedDate":1646165463058,"projectUrl":"project/math-and-literacy/6242916/","projectTitle":"Math and Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chmaysem","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7064935_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699570897377","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7064935"},{"teacherId":7817784,"projectId":9026904,"letterContent":"I am so very appreciative that you took the time to donate to these wonderful children I get the privilege to have in my class. They were SO excited to use their new hats, scarves, and gloves to go outside and play in the snow. It has been below freezing outside and we finally were able to get to a temperature where even with hats, scarves, and mittens they could play in the snow! Seeing their excitement and faces as they explored was everything! They were kept nice and warm and this gave them the chance to play with some snow toys, make snow angels, and make a snowman! \r\nThank you again so much for supporting these amazing children!","fullyFundedDate":1736395577683,"projectUrl":"project/do-you-want-to-build-a-snowman/9026904/","projectTitle":"Do You Want to Build a Snowman?","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reynolds","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7817784_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1629748599622","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7817784"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_108473","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":null,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":73,"percentAsian":6,"percentBlack":16,"percentWhite":24,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":43,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Not specified","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"UNCLASSIFIED","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":76.5,"schoolId":108473,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Mill Swan A Head Start on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Mill Swan A Head Start","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/massachusetts/worcester-public-schools/mill-swan-head-start/108473"}