Quail Run Elementary School in Phoenix, Arizona on DonorsChoose

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Being able to see and touch the sounds has made a huge difference in how my students understand and apply these skills.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials were first introduced, students were immediately engaged and eager to participate. There was a noticeable shift in confidence—students who often hesitate with traditional paper-pencil tasks were excited to manipulate letters, play phonemic awareness games, and interact with decodable texts. The hands-on nature of these resources has reduced frustration and increased participation, allowing students to take risks, try new skills, and experience success. It has also allowed me to seamlessly integrate speech and literacy goals, targeting articulation, vocabulary, and reading skills all within the same meaningful activity.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we are continuing to build on these early skills by increasing complexity—working on blending and segmenting longer words, improving fluency with decodable texts, and strengthening comprehension through structured language activities. The variety of materials allows me to individualize instruction so each student is supported at their level while still being challenged to grow. Because of your support, my students are not only developing critical early reading skills—they are gaining confidence, independence, and a stronger belief in their ability to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1765561554265,"projectUrl":"project/phonics-power-in-the-speech-room/9944191/","projectTitle":"Phonics Power in the Speech Room!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rushforth","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/rushforth"},{"teacherId":8646820,"projectId":9926026,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students are now using our LEGO storytelling materials during small group language sessions to build and retell stories in a hands-on, meaningful way. One of our favorite activities has been recreating familiar stories and then changing key elements—like the setting or characters—to create something new. I recently watched a student who typically struggles to form complete sentences build a simple scene and proudly say, \"The dog is running to the house because he is scared,\" independently. Moments like that are exactly why these materials are so powerful—they turn abstract language skills into something concrete, visual, and achievable.\r\n\r\nWhen I first introduced the LEGO sets, the excitement was immediate. Students were eager to explore, touch, and create. What stood out most was how quickly even my more hesitant communicators became engaged. Students who often need prompting were initiating ideas, asking questions, and collaborating with peers. The play-based nature of the materials lowered their anxiety and opened the door for more natural communication, allowing me to target speech and language goals in a way that feels fun rather than frustrating.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we are continuing to build on these skills by expanding into more complex storytelling, including sequencing beginning, middle, and end, and incorporating more descriptive language and early literacy concepts. The additional individualized resources I've been able to access are helping me tailor instruction to each student's needs, ensuring everyone is appropriately challenged and supported. Because of your support, my students are not only improving their communication skills—they are gaining confidence, creativity, and a genuine love for storytelling that will carry into their future learning.","fullyFundedDate":1764609477694,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-stories-to-life-through-lego-pl/9926026/","projectTitle":"Bringing Stories to Life Through LEGO Play & Personalized Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rushforth","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/rushforth"},{"teacherId":8646820,"projectId":8649001,"letterContent":"When I first saw that people had given to our Speech Room Enhancement project, I felt truly hopeful — and excited for the changes our students would experience.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, we were able to add new materials to our speech room: dot markers, paint and painting supplies, flyer holders for \"quick-grab\" activities, and a brand-new book. These items may seem small — but for our PreK–2 students with speech and language needs, they make a big difference.\r\n\r\nAlmost immediately, students began using the new materials. The dot markers and painting activities gave them fun, hands-on ways to practice fine motor skills, letter/sound recognition, and expressive language. The \"quick-grab\" activity holders allowed me to rotate short activities monthly — so therapy stays fresh, engaging, and tailored to each child's pace. The new book provided another valuable language resource for both group and individual sessions.\r\n\r\nI've already seen a shift: children who were hesitant to engage now volunteer to participate, use more words during sessions, and show more confidence when experimenting with sounds, colors, and creative expression. Younger students especially seem more comfortable — sitting with crayons or paints in hand, eager to take turns and talk about what they're doing.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, our speech room has become a welcoming, creative, and safe space — one where learning and self-expression happen naturally. 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About this school

Quail Run Elementary School is an urban public school in Phoenix, Arizona that is part of Paradise Valley Unified School District. It serves 526 students in grades 1 - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.6:1. Its teachers have had 52 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Public School

Grades 1 - 6

526 Students

36 Teachers

3303 E Utopia Rd

Phoenix, AZ 85050 View local requests

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Quail Run Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Quail Run Elementary School Demographics

26%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

25%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Quail Run Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Apr 10, 2026

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