{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS 181 Brooklyn","outOfStateSupporters":38.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7792280,"projectId":9323401,"letterContent":"It was an exciting day last spring when our packages arrived! the students were thrilled to receive the hamster habitat and supplies, as well as the butterfly habitat and caterpillars as a product of your generous donation. \r\n\r\nMy students utilized the resources you donated to upgrade their hamster to a larger and more humane habitat. DJ loves her new home and can be found exploring every nook and cranny of her new digs. \r\n\r\nThe students also utilized the butterfly habitat and caterpillars this spring as they watched the caterpillars grow, change, and fly! We gathered the school community for a butterfly release event that was enjoyed by all. \r\n\r\nLooking forward to providing many more exciting scientific opportunities for my students with help from donors like you!","fullyFundedDate":1746785601381,"projectUrl":"project/float-like-a-butterfly-spin-like-a-hams/9323401/","projectTitle":"Float Like a Butterfly, Spin Like a Hamster!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. B","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lbenasaraf"},{"teacherId":2490093,"projectId":8939917,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for benefitting the OT students at 181 with these most wonderful and supportive sensory tools! The word puzzles and sight words sentence puzzles are fun and intriguing games that promote literacy! The students have been utilizing these to practice their letter-sound correspondence, and word/ sentence building. Research shows that children learn best through play. I have already seen how much more successful the students are at building words and sentences accurately, when they do so with these supports! The noticeable improvement in students' success as a result of these games, has inspired me to think about how these puzzles can be utilized class-wide, to encourage class-wide literacy success.\r\nThe Lakeshore behavior cards have facilitated improvements in behavior that previous verbal prompts and visual cues did not achieve. The visuals on these cards, and the wisdom in their design for encouraging student participation, exceeded my expectations. Specifically, the stop sign, ear (for \"listen\") sign, and \"point to\" signs have been invaluable at redirecting students back to their tasks, and helping them follow classroom directions.\r\nThe weighted lap pad has been helping students sit on their rug spot in class, and perform their fine motor tasks in a more self-regulated way. The weight allows better proximal stability for increased mobility of the limbs during fine-motor work such as writing. \r\nLast, the gator golf has been a really fun way to practice visual-motor coordination, while being the wonderful visual to remind students of their \"alligator fingers\" for proper pencil grasp. \r\nThank you so much for making this all possible!","fullyFundedDate":1743271329361,"projectUrl":"project/alligator-fingers/8939917/","projectTitle":"Alligator Fingers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Handler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2490093_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449357887660","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/goldy-handler"},{"teacherId":2490093,"projectId":9167699,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing my students with the Buttons Pizzaz kit. It is now one of our most utilized tools in occupational therapy. Although we have used busy boards with clothing fasteners before, these did not facilitate the hand & finger strength and buttons skills that this tool makes possible. The large felt button holes, and user friendly buttons, make buttoning easy to understand and learn. The added challenge of replicating the patterns on pattern cards, makes the activity motivating. The students love earning points on their positive reinforcement (prize) charts for copying the patterns while buttoning the pieces.\r\nAdditionally, the weighted lap pad and lap buddy are providing comfort both emotionally and physically. The students can focus on their work while enjoying the soothing and uplifting input of a sensory \"blanket\" (as they like to call it) on their lap. The students pretend to befriend the weighted puppy, as part of their sensory integration activities. \r\n\r\nYour contribution to our project made our OT sessions complete and extraordinarily special. There is no comparison between having the tools the students need to succeed, and making do with whatever's available. Thank you for doing so much for the OT students.","fullyFundedDate":1742815306981,"projectUrl":"project/button-we-cant-weight/9167699/","projectTitle":"But(ton), We Can't \"Weight\"!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Handler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2490093_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449357887660","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/goldy-handler"},{"teacherId":2490093,"projectId":9065753,"letterContent":"Firstly, I want to share how life-changing it was for me when you chose to fund this project. Seeing people recognize the importance, urgency, and value of this initiative gave me the strength I needed to move forward with it. I have been painfully aware of the gap that exists in public schools and social justice conversations when it comes to talking about Jewish people. The lack of inclusion around the topic of Jews in conversations about minorities, equity, and non-discrimination was deeply concerning. I have wanted to take action to make a difference in this area for so long, especially as I noticed the growing trend of Anti-semitism and hate crimes towards Jews, both locally and globally. Recently, I felt the courage to take a drop of the action I've always wanted to take, by posting a project about it on Donors Choose. Donors Choose has always come through for my students, so I was optimistic they can help here. However, I wondered whether the lack of representation for Jews would allow the project to be funded, as compared to other projects about equity and representation. I couldn't be more surprised and ecstatic when I saw the project was funded only 2 days after I posted it!!! The fastest any of my other projects were funded! \r\nYour kindness and care towards this project was the beginning of a life-changing momentum and confidence to share the wonderful culture of Jewish people with my students. The beautiful resources you funded allowed me to demonstrate the value and contributions of Jewish people and all people in our society. The social justice books explained to my students how to treat everyone equally and fairly. \r\nThis project is a living entity. Every day I get to utilize and share the Jewish-themed games, books, and sensory tools with my students, alongside our other therapeutic and learning tools.These makes us all better humans. With this project, finally all minorities are included, and no one is left behind. Words cannot express my gratitude for your making this possible, and for giving me the confidence that this positive change indeed can occur in our world. Thank you for all the good that will come from this, both now and in the future.","fullyFundedDate":1737500976039,"projectUrl":"project/we-are-all-human/9065753/","projectTitle":"We Are All Human","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Handler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2490093_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449357887660","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/goldy-handler"},{"teacherId":2490093,"projectId":8915528,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing us ink to print all our favorite worksheets! Ink is a mainstay of our occupational therapy work. Students love having the choice of which character-themed worksheets to complete, and which pictures to utilize as part of their projects! They get to print radiant worksheets with images of Sonic the Hedgehog, unicorns, Mickey Mouse, Spiderman, etc on which they excitedly practice their spelling, writing and math. \r\nAlso, the students recently requested to fix an old and worn alphabet book that was missing segments of the animal pictures.They were able to peruse online with me, and choose the perfect images to renew the book. They practiced their fine-motor skills by cutting out the designs they chose, and incorporated visual-motor skills by pasting, aligning, and fitting the images perfectly to complete the book illustrations. \r\nWith sufficient ink, the students' imaginations can roam and we can create activities that motivate them to learn and grow.\r\nThank you for making this possible.","fullyFundedDate":1738333108618,"projectUrl":"project/ink-in-a-blink-to-help-us-think/8915528/","projectTitle":"Ink in a Blink to Help Us Think!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Handler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2490093_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449357887660","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/goldy-handler"},{"teacherId":2490093,"projectId":8915163,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the most wonderful handwriting and occupational tools! Occupational therapy students have been so motivated to write their letters properly, using the gel writing pad. The visual and tactile input received while practicing proper formation, makes writing enjoyable and fun. We use the handwriting paper daily. The Landscape handwriting paper resembles the Fundations phonics and writing program utilized by the school. Therefore, the students are able to demonstrate what they know and reinforce what they learn in class, by practicing in the same (albeit a drop more fun!) way in therapy. The multi-program handwriting paper provides a large supply of adaptive writing lines, so that we never run out of handwriting paper. The pencil grip corrector is one of the most effective ways I've seen so far for facilitating the proper pencil grip. I am so grateful you've made this available for the many students who need help in this area! The handwriting practice books are a favorite for students, especially the joke book. Many students receiving OT have a wonderful sense of humor, and are particularly excited about learning materials that have a funny side. The line stamp roller allows the students to create professional handwriting paper, on any writing surface of their choice including card-stock. It is also an original and therefore refreshing way to present new handwriting activities and games.","fullyFundedDate":1736829369782,"projectUrl":"project/a-hand-for-handwriting/8915163/","projectTitle":"A Hand for Handwriting!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Handler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2490093_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449357887660","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/goldy-handler"},{"teacherId":2490093,"projectId":8466357,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the incredible writing, word building, and finger strengthening tools! The students are utilizing the tongs to sort colored letters and toys. The squeezing and opening/closing movements are building the dexterity and movement patterns necessary to utilize classroom scissors and pencils. The colorful and kid-friendly eye droppers provide a fun sensory break for students to play with water, while strengthening their writing fingers. The LCD Writing Tablet has been revolutionary in terms of motivating students to write. They absolutely love the way the letters look with the gel lines. They utilize stencils, and also write on their own, making beautiful writing pieces. The See and Spell word building game has also been a game changer in helping students practice sounding out individual letters and then combining them into words. The sensory input they receive as they practice with this tool is phenomenal and helps them retain the information, which is often a difficulty. The toolbox provides the means for students to practice their classroom measuring skills with the sensory friendly soft silicon measuring tape. The hammer and nails as well as the screwdriver and nuts and bolts, motivate students to strengthen their hand flexion and rotation skills, which are essential for their daily independence and living skills. This game has also been wonderful for desensitizing students to loud noise, as the fun they are having distracts them from being bothered by input that would usually interrupt them. These tools will continue to benefit the students in similar and new ways that will be demonstrated as the students continue to enjoy them.","fullyFundedDate":1728918853697,"projectUrl":"project/handy-handwriting/8466357/","projectTitle":"Handy Handwriting!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Handler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2490093_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449357887660","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/goldy-handler"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_621","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":569,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":82,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":80,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":2,"percentLatinx":10,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"12.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":61.5,"schoolId":621,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about PS 181 Brooklyn on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"PS 181 Brooklyn","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-ed/ps-181-john-steptoe/621"}