{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Richardson Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":50.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10644515,"projectId":10576369,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our \"From Play-Doh to Pencils\" project and helping provide my kindergarten students with materials that make learning to write more comfortable, creative, and exciting. Your generosity has given my students hands-on tools that strengthen the foundational skills they need to become confident writers. In kindergarten, writing is about so much more than simply putting a pencil to paper. Before students can write letters, words, and sentences successfully, they need to develop hand strength, coordination, pencil control, confidence, and a willingness to keep trying. Because of your support, I am able to give my students many different ways to build those skills every day.\r\n\r\nThe floor cushions have helped create comfortable and inviting spaces for learning. My students can use them during small-group instruction, literacy centers, independent practice, and other classroom activities. Having a flexible place to sit makes our classroom feel welcoming and gives students another option for staying comfortable and focused while they learn. For young children who spend much of their day moving, exploring, and learning through hands-on experiences, having these flexible seating choices makes a meaningful difference.\r\n\r\nThe reusable LCD writing tablets have also been an exciting addition to our classroom. My students can practice writing their names, forming letters, drawing shapes, writing words, and beginning to create simple sentences. One of the things I love most about the tablets is that students can practice over and over without being afraid to make a mistake. With the push of a button, they can erase their work and try again. That simple feature has helped make writing practice feel less intimidating and much more fun.\r\n\r\nThe Play-Doh, air-dry clay, and putty have allowed us to strengthen the small muscles students need for successful writing while they think they are simply playing and creating. Rolling, squeezing, pinching, flattening, and shaping these materials all help develop finger strength and hand control. These activities are especially important for young learners because stronger hands make it easier to grip a pencil, form letters correctly, use scissors, and complete many of the everyday tasks students encounter in kindergarten.\r\n\r\nThe watercolor sets have given students another creative way to build hand-eye coordination and controlled movements. Painting encourages them to slow down, control the brush, pay attention to where they are placing marks, and express themselves creatively. The alphabet center materials, pointers, handwriting paper, markers, and stickers have added even more opportunities to practice early literacy and writing skills in ways that feel fresh and engaging.\r\n\r\nThese materials have also changed what I am able to accomplish as a teacher. Instead of asking students to practice important skills in only one way, I can provide multiple learning experiences based on what each child needs. One student may benefit from forming letters with Play-Doh, while another may gain confidence practicing on an LCD tablet. Another student may need extra handwriting practice, while someone else may learn best by tracing, pointing, painting, or building letters. Having these resources gives me more flexibility to meet students where they are and help them experience success.\r\n\r\nI have especially enjoyed watching my students become more willing to take risks in their writing. Kindergarten students can sometimes become discouraged when a letter does not look exactly right or when writing feels difficult. These materials help remind them that learning takes practice and that mistakes are part of the process. When students are able to erase, reshape, rebuild, or try again, they begin to understand that they do not have to get everything perfect the first time.\r\n\r\nThat growing confidence is one of the greatest gifts this project has provided. My students are developing stronger hands and better letter formation, but they are also becoming more independent and more willing to try. They are proud when they write their names, form a difficult letter correctly, or create something that they could not do before. Those small successes build the foundation for much bigger accomplishments later.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my kindergarten students and for helping me create learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate, engaging, and meaningful. Your support has given my students tools that allow them to build, paint, trace, shape, draw, and write their way toward becoming successful young learners.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for your kindness and generosity. Thank you for helping turn Play-Doh, pencils, paint, clay, and writing tablets into opportunities for confidence, creativity, growth, and learning.","fullyFundedDate":1788754039757,"projectUrl":"project/from-play-doh-to-pencils/10576369/","projectTitle":"From Play-Doh to Pencils","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Julie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10644515_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1788990604277","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10644515"},{"teacherId":10644515,"projectId":10607409,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and helping make our \"Leaders, Readers & Reward Rockstars!\" project a reality. Your generosity has brought so much excitement, motivation, and joy to my students, and I am truly grateful for the difference you have made. As a kindergarten teacher, I get to see firsthand how powerful encouragement can be for young learners. At this age, even a small reward can feel like a huge accomplishment, and your support has given me meaningful ways to recognize the hard work my students put in every single day.\r\n\r\nMy students are energetic, curious, and eager to learn. They are working hard to become stronger readers, better writers, responsible leaders, kind classmates, and confident learners. Throughout the year, we focus not only on academics, but also on attendance, effort, perseverance, positive behavior, and making good choices. The materials provided through this project have helped me celebrate all of those areas in a way that feels special and exciting to my students.\r\n\r\nThe mini magnetic drawing boards have quickly become one of the most exciting incentives in our classroom. My students love earning them, and they are proud to show their classmates when they reach a goal. The fidgets, sensory items, colorful pens, and other small prizes have also given students a variety of rewards to work toward. Having different options is especially helpful because every child is motivated by something different. Some students love drawing and creating, while others are excited by sensory items, fun writing tools, or small toys. Being able to offer choices helps every student feel included and celebrated.\r\n\r\nThese materials have also had a positive impact on my teaching. Because I now have engaging incentives available, I am able to reinforce positive behaviors right when they happen. I can recognize a student for trying a difficult reading task, showing leadership, completing work carefully, making a kind choice, improving attendance, or simply not giving up. Those moments matter. When students see their effort being noticed, they are more likely to keep trying and to believe that they are capable of reaching their goals.\r\n\r\nOne of the most rewarding parts of this project has been seeing students begin to take more ownership of their learning. They are excited to set goals, work toward them, and celebrate their progress. I hear students encouraging each other, reminding classmates about expectations, and asking what they can do to earn a reward. That motivation has helped create a more positive classroom environment where students understand that hard work, kindness, effort, and responsibility are all worth celebrating.\r\n\r\nFor young children, confidence is such an important part of learning. A student who believes they can succeed is much more willing to attempt a difficult task, practice a new skill, or try again after making a mistake. Your support has helped me build that confidence in my students. The rewards are fun, but the greatest impact is the feeling of pride students experience when they know they earned something through their own effort and growth.\r\n\r\nI am especially thankful that this project has allowed me to celebrate success in many different forms. Not every student reaches the same goal at the same time, and that is okay. Some students may be working toward recognizing letters and sounds, while others are building reading fluency. Some may be working on completing assignments independently, while others are focusing on making positive choices or coming to school consistently. These materials allow me to recognize each child's individual progress and help them understand that growth matters.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and investing in their success. Your generosity has provided much more than classroom rewards. You have helped create moments of excitement, confidence, pride, and encouragement that my students will remember. You have helped me build a classroom where students are motivated to learn, encouraged to lead, and proud of the progress they make.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your kindness and support. Thank you for helping my little learners become Leaders, Readers, and Reward Rockstars!","fullyFundedDate":1790078856035,"projectUrl":"project/leaders-readers-reward-rockstars/10607409/","projectTitle":"Leaders, Readers & Reward Rockstars!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Julie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10644515_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1788990604277","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10644515"},{"teacherId":10626366,"projectId":10536211,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting my DonorsChoose project! Seeing my project fully funded was a wonderful moment, and I am incredibly grateful to each of you who helped make it possible.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has already made such a wonderful difference in my kindergarten classroom. The materials you provided have given my students more opportunities to learn, create, practice important skills, and stay engaged throughout the school day. Having these resources available has also helped me create a classroom that is more organized, welcoming, and prepared to meet the different needs of my Kinders.","fullyFundedDate":1788267480594,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-learning-for-little-learners/10536211/","projectTitle":"Hands on Learning for Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Flores","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10626366"},{"teacherId":8261207,"projectId":7075635,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping our students with this project. Our students enjoy using our flexible seating in classrooms and even using them for drum fit when we cannot go outside. These have been so amazing to have for our facility! Your generosity hasn't gone unnoticed. We appreciate your help in making this a great opportunity for our students to have. Now, indoor recess has been fun and outgoing for our students. We are able to share our flexible seating with our Special Education department for therapy help with our students! Thank you, thank you, thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1680527553696,"projectUrl":"project/may-the-glute-force-be-with-us/7075635/","projectTitle":"May the Glute Force Be With Us","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Puente","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8261207_orig.jpg?crop=432,432,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1789412810080","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8261207"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_16341","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":501,"numTeachers":35,"percentFrplEligible":92,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":9,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":89,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":50.0,"schoolId":16341,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Richardson Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Richardson Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/dimmitt-independent-school-district/richardson-elementary-school/16341"}