{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Rachel Carson Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":44.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":9457101,"letterContent":"We've been integrating these new resources—Splash, multiplication dominoes, Multiplication Jenga, and flashcards—by setting up flexible math centers and \"fast-finisher\" stations. The variety of games allows me to differentiate instruction, ensuring that students practice their facts in ways that suit their individual learning styles, from the quick recall needed for Splash to the strategic thinking required for Multiplication Jenga. Using these games has completely transformed our review time from passive worksheet work into an active, collaborative challenge. Instead of drilling facts in isolation, students are now working together, using the materials to reinforce concepts like the commutative property with the dominoes and building fluency through peer-to-peer quizzing with the flashcards. This shift has not only improved their practice habits but has also created a more positive and supportive learning environment where teamwork is essential to success.\r\n\r\nThe students' reaction to the new materials was one of pure excitement and energy. When they first saw familiar game formats, like the Jenga tower, but with a math twist, there was an audible buzz of anticipation. They instantly recognized that math class was about to become an opportunity to play and challenge one another. This initial excitement has translated into sustained engagement; students who often show anxiety during timed tests are now eagerly asking to start their day with a round of Splash or after a lesson to finish a game of Multiplication Jenga. The games have genuinely instilled a sense of fun and mastery, making fact practice highly anticipated and reducing the stress often associated with memorization. They are truly enjoying the chance to be hands-on and competitive while mastering their multiplication facts.","fullyFundedDate":1755720295193,"projectUrl":"project/multiply-the-fun-help-us-learn/9457101/","projectTitle":"Multiply the Fun: Help Us Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"},{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":9445917,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations to support our third grade classroom with a new collection of graphic novels! These books are more than just stories—they are powerful learning tools that spark our students' imaginations while teaching valuable lessons. Through engaging narratives filled with adventure and perseverance, students learn to face challenges with courage and resilience. Graphic novels also help build reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills by combining visual storytelling with rich dialogue and plot. For some reluctant readers, they offer an accessible and exciting entry point into literature. Your support is helping us cultivate a love of reading and learning in a way that truly resonates with young minds. \r\n\r\nAs soon as they walk into the classroom, you can see their excitement as they head straight for the book bins, eager to pick out a new story. They love finding a cozy spot—whether it's on a beanbag, our carpets, or wobble cushion—to dive into their books. We've organized the graphic novels in clearly labeled bins by series and genre, making it easy for students to find what they're looking for and explore new titles independently. This simple system has encouraged more choice and ownership in their reading, and it's incredible to watch their enthusiasm for reading grow every day.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1754323092402,"projectUrl":"project/graphic-novels-wanted-third-grade-heroe/9445917/","projectTitle":"Graphic Novels Wanted: Third Grade Heroes Need New Adventures!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"},{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":9132807,"letterContent":"We've been using our set of Colors of the World crayons, colored pencils, and markers daily for drawing and coloring activities, and they've made a meaningful difference in our classroom. Students are now able to choose shades that closely match their own skin tones when creating pictures of themselves and others, which has been especially powerful. During a recent self-portrait art project, these supplies allowed each child to accurately and proudly represent themselves in their artwork. Having access to such inclusive materials has been incredibly important—it helps students feel seen, valued, and empowered to express their identities through art.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw our new Colors of the World crayons, colored pencils, and markers, their faces lit up with excitement and curiosity. Many of them had never seen such a wide variety of skin tone shades before—until now, they had only limited color choices that didn't reflect the beautiful diversity of our classroom. It was a powerful moment for them to realize that they could finally find a color that looked like their own skin. Each student now has access to their own set, and they are always eager to use them anytime we do art or coloring activities. These supplies have not only enhanced their creativity but also helped them feel seen and represented in their work.\r\n\r\nWe are currently working on narrative writing, and my students are so excited to write their own stories inspired by the Magic Tree House book series. They are using what they've learned about storytelling—like setting, characters, and plot—to create their very own adventures to add to the series. As part of this project, they will also be illustrating their books, and our Colors of the World crayons, colored pencils, and markers will play a big role in helping them bring their stories to life. These resources allow them to add meaningful, personal touches to their characters and scenes, and give them the tools to truly express their ideas and identities through both writing and art.","fullyFundedDate":1746785539079,"projectUrl":"project/beautiful-skin-tones/9132807/","projectTitle":"Beautiful Skin Tones","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"},{"teacherId":9614723,"projectId":9174941,"letterContent":"my students were diving into hands-on exploration with the new materials! They had the opportunity to observe the butterfly life cycle, examining other insects, and use discovery kits to investigate the world around them. One favorite project was creating a \"Butterfly Life Cycle\" observation chart, where students recorded and drew the changes they saw in the caterpillars every day.\r\n\r\nThe excitement was contagious! When we opened the butterfly kit, students gasped and cheered. They eagerly gathered around to watch, touch, and ask questions. Their curiosity sparked discussions about nature, life cycles, and habitats, showing just how engaged they were with these real-life discoveries. Students loved coming up with names for the butterflies and releasing them wasn't too hard after all.","fullyFundedDate":1746785430150,"projectUrl":"project/little-explorers-big-discoveries/9174941/","projectTitle":"“Little Explorers, Big Discoveries!”","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Guzman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9614723"},{"teacherId":8897179,"projectId":9029922,"letterContent":"I want to thank you on behalf of my students and myself for the generous gift of books. As a bibliophile, I love the smell and feel of new books, and I want to pass this experience down to my students. Having a library that is filled with modern and classic books will allow my students to experience different worlds.\r\n\r\nAs a reading teacher, I allocate time for independent reading during class to ensure students have sufficient reading time. During independent reading, I check in on students' reading and ask them questions. Some questions are general, such as what will happen next, how has this character changed, provide a summary, etc. Some questions I ask students to find their favorite quote, write it down, and explain it to their group. We then post the quotes on the board. Another way I use the books is to have students focus on a skill we are working on in class - students have to find examples of it in their books.\r\n\r\nFinally, I can not express how excited and thankful I am to continue building my library of Spanish books!! I love seeing their faces filled with joy when they have a selection of books to choose from!","fullyFundedDate":1745789549265,"projectUrl":"project/in-2025-we-come-alive-through-books/9029922/","projectTitle":"In 2025, We Come Alive Through Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ilic","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8897179_orig.jpg?crop=366,366,x184,y60&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736724551372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8897179"},{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":6545664,"letterContent":"It has been wonderful to see the impact of your generous donations in our classroom. The supplies you provided have made a big difference, and we continue to use them on a daily basis. The students have been particularly thrilled with the oil pastels, using them to create a variety of beautiful and vibrant pieces of artwork. \r\n\r\nThe students were absolutely delighted when the donated supplies arrived! Watching their faces light up as we unpacked the boxes was a wonderful experience. Your contribution of basic, yet essential, supplies has been instrumental in ensuring every student has the tools they need to engage fully in their learning. Thank you for helping provide a foundation that allows all of our students to succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1666797794281,"projectUrl":"project/lets-start-with-the-basics/6545664/","projectTitle":"Let's Start with the Basics!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"},{"teacherId":669074,"projectId":9318082,"letterContent":"The books purchased through your generosity have inspired students to read, read, read! Students did a lot of research in looking for titles that interest them. And now they are putting in the work, reading and enjoying the words on the page.\r\n\r\nIt's a powerful thing to be able to pick up a book that interests you and finish it from beginning to end. Students are now more actively engaged in their books and I have seen a vast improvement in their reading skills.\r\n\r\n My students and I send a big THANKS to the Donors Choose Community!","fullyFundedDate":1746614222045,"projectUrl":"project/re-energizing-our-reading-time/9318082/","projectTitle":"Re-Energizing Our Reading Time!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gonzalez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp669074_orig.png?crop=802,802,x179,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694879847747","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/team-gonzalez"},{"teacherId":669074,"projectId":8791532,"letterContent":"The books purchased through your generosity have inspired students to read, read, read! Students did a lot of research in looking for titles that interest them. And now they are putting in the work, reading and enjoying the words on the page.\r\n\r\nIt's a powerful thing to be able to pick up a book that interests you and finish it from beginning to end. Students are now more actively engaged in their books and I have seen a vast improvement in their reading skills.\r\n\r\nAlso, students have been reading books that are part of a series. When this happens, it ensures that students are hooked on the series and are eager to continue reading to see what happens next. My students and I send a big THANKS to the Donors Choose Community!","fullyFundedDate":1727989807936,"projectUrl":"project/adding-more-books-to-our-library/8791532/","projectTitle":"Adding More Books To Our Library!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gonzalez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp669074_orig.png?crop=802,802,x179,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694879847747","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/team-gonzalez"},{"teacherId":669074,"projectId":8784093,"letterContent":"The books purchased through your generosity have inspired students to read, read, read! Students did a lot of research in looking for titles that interest them. And now they are putting in the work, reading and enjoying the words on the page.\r\n\r\nIt's a powerful thing to be able to pick up a book that interests you and finish it from beginning to end. Students are now more actively engaged in their books and I have seen a vast improvement in their reading skills.\r\n\r\n My students and I send a big THANKS to the Donors Choose Community!","fullyFundedDate":1726670356370,"projectUrl":"project/manga-in-the-classroom/8784093/","projectTitle":"Manga in the Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gonzalez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp669074_orig.png?crop=802,802,x179,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694879847747","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/team-gonzalez"},{"teacherId":9566971,"projectId":9248363,"letterContent":"Thanks to the books donated to my students, we can learn and review vocabulary, dialogues, grammar, spelling, elements of history, and characteristics of comics.\r\nReading in my classroom at the beginning of the school year was difficult for some of my students because they didn't like texts without pictures or with too much text. It seemed they didn't like reading.As soon as my students in grades 1, 2, and 3 saw the books, they were thrilled and all wanted to read them. To this day, they are the groups that enjoy these types of books the most.","fullyFundedDate":1744243832799,"projectUrl":"project/read-a-great-power/9248363/","projectTitle":"Read A Great Power","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Camargo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9566971"},{"teacherId":9614723,"projectId":8749876,"letterContent":"My Pre-K students loved receiving kites to explore wind, movement, and outdoor play while developing their gross motor skills. They have been using the kites while running outside & enjoying windy days. My students have observed the kite lift, and have collaborated with peers to help get it in the air. When my PreK students first received the kites, their faces light up with excitement and curiosity. Many eagerly asked questions, laughed, and experimented joyfully with how to make the kite fly. Thank you donors for your contribution in making \"The Power of Wind Through a Kite Sensory Experience\" a successful experience for my PreK classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1735689948890,"projectUrl":"project/the-power-of-wind-through-a-kite-sensory/8749876/","projectTitle":"The Power of Wind Through a Kite Sensory Experience: PreK","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Guzman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9614723"},{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":8654648,"letterContent":"The donated color printer has proven to be an invaluable asset to my students, enhancing the quality and accessibility of classroom resources. With the ability to produce vibrant, high-quality prints, I have been able to create engaging visual aids, charts, and instructional materials that cater to diverse learning styles. Students have especially benefited from the ability to print out colorful project materials, presentations, and creative assignments, which not only supports academic success but also encourages creativity and pride in their work.\r\n\r\nEven a year after the initial donation, the printer continues to play a vital role in supporting classroom needs. It has remained a reliable tool for producing essential handouts, posters, and learning packets across various subjects. The ongoing impact of this donation is evident in how smoothly it integrates into daily school operations, saving time and resources while enriching the overall learning environment. Its continued use highlights just how meaningful such contribution has been in fostering long-term educational success. From the bottom of my heart my students and I are grateful for your kind donation to our dual language classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1733280708261,"projectUrl":"project/little-learners-love-color/8654648/","projectTitle":"Little Learners Love Color!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5764","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":746,"numTeachers":52,"percentFrplEligible":92,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":96,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":55.7,"schoolId":5764,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Rachel Carson Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Rachel Carson Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/rachel-carson-elementary-school/5764"}