{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Red Clay Early Years Program","outOfStateSupporters":29.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10310435,"projectId":10196112,"letterContent":"Our students were so excited when they saw the new hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, balls, ball toss toys, and ring toss game arrive in our classroom! Many of our preschoolers immediately wanted to explore the materials and were eager to participate in outdoor play activities.\r\n\r\nWe have been using these resources during gross motor play, movement breaks, and small-group activities to build important skills such as coordination, balance, turn-taking, following directions, and social interaction. One favorite activity has been creating obstacle courses with the hula hoops and using the ring toss game to practice waiting for a turn and encouraging friends. The sidewalk chalk has also provided opportunities for students to practice pre-writing skills, draw shapes, letters, and engage in creative outdoor learning.\r\n\r\nThese materials have increased student engagement and motivation while supporting the developmental needs of learners with diverse abilities. It has been wonderful to see students working together, cheering for one another, and building confidence as they learn through play.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue incorporating these materials into structured motor activities and outdoor learning experiences. We will be using the chalk for literacy and math games, creating cooperative team challenges with the balls and hula hoops, and providing additional opportunities for students to strengthen communication, social-emotional, and gross motor skills. Thank you for helping create engaging, active, and meaningful learning experiences for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1778185643832,"projectUrl":"project/ms-meghan-outdoor-exploration/10196112/","projectTitle":"Ms Meghan outdoor exploration!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meghan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10310435_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767829556535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10310435"},{"teacherId":10310435,"projectId":9927938,"letterContent":"Our students were beyond excited when the new materials arrived! The baby dolls immediately became a favorite part of our classroom. During Baby Doll Circle Time, students practiced caring routines like feeding, rocking, covering the dolls with blankets, and putting them to sleep. These moments created so many opportunities for language development, turn-taking, social-emotional learning, and cooperative play. One special moment was watching students independently comfort their dolls and use kind words they have been hearing during classroom discussions about feelings and caring for others.\r\n\r\nThe first reactions were priceless. Students gasped when they saw the dolls and rushed over asking to hold them. Many of our students immediately began talking to the dolls, pretending to be parents, and inviting friends to join their play. The busy book has also become a highly motivating hands-on center activity. Students love exploring the interactive pieces while strengthening fine motor, matching, and early problem-solving skills. The ocean touch-and-explore book quickly became a favorite during literacy time because students were eager to touch the textures and discuss ocean animals together.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our current lessons, we are using these materials to expand social interaction, self-regulation, and communication skills throughout the school day. We are pairing the book I Have Ants in My Pants with classroom lessons about personal space, calming strategies, and learning-ready behaviors. Students are practicing these skills during play routines, whole group activities, and peer interactions. Next, we will continue building pretend play themes with the baby dolls while encouraging students to use more language with peers, solve small social problems, and participate in cooperative classroom activities.","fullyFundedDate":1773582375717,"projectUrl":"project/ms-meghans-baby-circle-time/9927938/","projectTitle":"Ms. Meghan’s Baby Circle Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meghan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10310435_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767829556535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10310435"},{"teacherId":10310435,"projectId":9964490,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our baby doll circle time has become one of the most meaningful and engaging parts of our day.\r\n\r\nWhen my students were first introduced to the baby dolls and materials, their faces lit up with excitement. Many immediately began holding, rocking, and caring for the dolls—naturally stepping into nurturing roles. What was especially powerful was seeing students who typically struggle with communication begin to use gestures, words, or AAC to interact with their \"babies\" and peers.\r\n\r\nDuring circle time, we now use the dolls alongside our felt story sets like Brown Bear, Brown Bear and The Very Hungry Caterpillar to bring stories to life. Students actively participate by matching visuals, anticipating repeated phrases, and engaging in shared storytelling. This has increased attention, language use, and overall participation during group instruction.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments has been watching students practice real-life social-emotional skills through play. Using the bottles, blankets, and accessories, students take turns feeding, comforting, and helping their baby dolls. We've been able to model and practice skills like gentle hands, turn-taking, and identifying feelings—both their own and others'. Books like The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! and The Kids' Book of Diversity have helped us connect these play experiences to conversations about emotions, empathy, and kindness.\r\n\r\nThese materials have truly supported my students in understanding what it means to care for others while also learning to regulate their own emotions. Baby doll circle time has become a safe space where students can explore feelings, practice communication, and build relationships.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we will continue to build on these experiences by expanding our dramatic play scenarios, encouraging more peer interaction, and deepening our focus on emotional vocabulary and self-regulation strategies.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, my students are not only learning—they are developing empathy, connection, and confidence in a way that is meaningful and lasting. Thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1770392877373,"projectUrl":"project/baby-doll-play-for-toddlers-with-special/9964490/","projectTitle":"Baby Doll Play for Toddlers With Special Needs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meghan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10310435_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767829556535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10310435"},{"teacherId":10310435,"projectId":9925643,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our classroom has been filled with excitement, curiosity, and so many meaningful learning moments!\r\n\r\nFrom the very first day we introduced the materials, my students were amazed. Their eyes lit up when they saw the dot markers and immediately began creating colorful designs, proudly sharing their work with peers. During our science exploration time, students were especially drawn to the magnifiers and magnetic tools—carefully examining objects, experimenting with what sticks, and asking questions like, \"Why does this work?\" and \"What else can we try?\"\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments was watching a small group of students use the Squigz and building blocks together. They worked side by side, communicating, taking turns, and problem-solving as they built their creations. For some of my students, this kind of cooperative play and communication is a huge step forward, and it was incredible to see it happen so naturally through play.\r\n\r\nThe eyedroppers quickly became a class favorite during sensory and fine motor activities. Students practiced squeezing and controlling the droppers while exploring water and color mixing—building both hand strength and focus in a fun, engaging way.\r\n\r\nThese materials have become a part of our daily routine. We are using them during center time, small group instruction, and even as part of our social-emotional learning. Students are not only exploring STEM concepts, but also practicing patience, turn-taking, communication, and self-regulation.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we are excited to continue building on these experiences. Students will use these tools to engage in more structured science investigations, collaborative building challenges, and hands-on projects that encourage questioning, predicting, and problem-solving. We will also continue to embed social-emotional skills—helping students learn how to work together, manage frustration, and celebrate their successes.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, my students are not just learning—they are exploring, creating, and growing every single day. Thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1770393730543,"projectUrl":"project/ms-meghans-stem-exploration/9925643/","projectTitle":"Ms. Meghan’s Stem Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meghan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10310435_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767829556535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10310435"},{"teacherId":5696199,"projectId":9928503,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our DonorsChoose project! Because of your donation, our classroom is now equipped with storage bins, hanging bags, and zipper bags to keep our art supplies organized and accessible for little hands. Our students are especially excited to use the sticker paper to create engaging art projects.\r\nWe are also thrilled to have new paint brushes, including adapted brushes, and paint rollers that allow all learners to participate in art in ways that meet their individual needs. We even used the paint rollers along with stencils to create a fun xylophone art project, connecting art and music in a hands-on, creative way! In addition, the portable speaker and sand block instrument have brought music to life in our classroom, helping students explore rhythm, movement, and sound.\r\nYour support helps us create an inclusive, engaging environment where every child can express themselves through art and music. We are so grateful for your kindness and investment in our preschoolers.","fullyFundedDate":1764210351033,"projectUrl":"project/preschool-art-and-music/9928503/","projectTitle":"Preschool Art and Music","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dunbar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5696199_orig.jpg?crop=2018,2018,x301,y224&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1615604423331","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5696199"},{"teacherId":10310435,"projectId":10036953,"letterContent":"We are thrilled to share how our students are exploring and learning with the new resources! One of our favorite classroom moments happened during a sensory and STEM exploration activity. Students used the Flower Garden Building Toys to stack and arrange flowers, experimenting with patterns and colors. They immediately became engaged, collaborating to see how tall they could build their garden towers, showing early problem-solving and fine motor skills.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the mini animal figurines, their faces lit up with excitement! They quickly started sorting animals into categories like ocean, farm, and zoo, sparking conversations about habitats, sizes, and animal sounds. The magnetic tiles with road expansion pieces became a hub of creativity—students designed their own cities and raced small cars along the paths, incorporating imaginative play with early STEM reasoning.\r\n\r\nOther materials, like the magnifying glasses, tweezers, and magnet kits, invited hands-on discovery. Students examined insects, explored magnetic pulls, and tested what objects would stick—these activities prompted curiosity-driven questions and lively discussions. Even our putty and fidget toys have been excellent for fine motor practice and calming transitions between activities.\r\n\r\nNext steps: We plan to integrate these resources into focused science and math mini-projects. For example, students will use the flower stacking toys to explore counting, patterns, and height comparisons, and the animal figurines will support sorting, classification, and storytelling exercises. Our goal is to continue encouraging curiosity, problem-solving, and hands-on learning, using these new tools to make concepts come alive for every student in the classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1768752700634,"projectUrl":"project/ms-meghans-stem-project/10036953/","projectTitle":"Ms. Meghan’s STEM project!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meghan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10310435_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767829556535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10310435"},{"teacherId":9027707,"projectId":9926128,"letterContent":"These baby dolls have been perfect for teaching my kids about empathy, care taking, emotions, and so much more! We do a weekly activity called Baby Doll Circle Time, from conscious discipline. Now, each of my students are able to have a baby doll and can pick a baby doll that looks like them! My students are building secure attachments, developing their emotional regulation skills, working on language and communication, and building their social skills through these activities. These skills are some of the most important ones for a safe and happy life! Thank you so much for supporting us and our learning!","fullyFundedDate":1764123284672,"projectUrl":"project/baby-doll-play-for-toddlers-with-special/9926128/","projectTitle":"Baby Doll Play for Toddlers with Special Needs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jenna","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9027707_orig.jpg?crop=810,810,x0,y70&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758467774157","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9027707"},{"teacherId":9027707,"projectId":9822879,"letterContent":"These new resources have been so helpful in my students' learning journey at school! Having materials that are safe for them to interact with to build their early literacy skills through play has made learning so fun. One of the best ways my students learn is through playing in sensory bins, so I can mine out weekly. When they see a new sensory bin and we begin to work on language, letter identification, and more- it is such a beautiful sight to see so much learning happening! You are helping to support our future generation and their learning- I couldn't be more grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1760394103809,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-strong-early-literacy-foundat/9822879/","projectTitle":"Building a Strong Early Literacy Foundation","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jenna","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9027707_orig.jpg?crop=810,810,x0,y70&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758467774157","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9027707"},{"teacherId":8985871,"projectId":9825648,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your recent donation to my toddler autism support classroom. The students were so excited to use the new materials. The class favorite right now is the sensory boat and many students choose to read their stories in the boat. We have also found a new love for the light table in the classroom because of the new materials - and we have been able to incorporate environmental print and letters into the sensory materials!\r\n\r\nThe students have also responded to the weighted materials, including the animals and the lap pad book. The book is a fun, interactive literacy experience for the students to do alongside an adult!\r\n\r\nWe are so appreciative of all of the literacy materials and are really enjoying the enriching opportunities and new found interest in literacy that have been a direct result of those materials and the students' exposure to them!\r\n\r\nThank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1760450974607,"projectUrl":"project/early-literacy/9825648/","projectTitle":"Early Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Leigh Anne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8985871"},{"teacherId":9404141,"projectId":9829477,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my students. My students were so excited to have new materials such as books, hands on centers, and learning cards to help them succeed. \r\nI was able to use the social emotional task cards with my middle schoolers to have them practice working on solving social problems and understanding other's points of view. They really enjoyed that I was able to switch up the materials make it more interesting for them. My elementary students enjoyed completing the math centers during lunch bunches. They were helping them learn, but in a fun way that didn't put pressure on them. In addition, I was also able to use the behavior centers with some students to help them work on expected vs. unexpected in a more engaging way.\r\n\r\nThank you again for seeing the need in my students with autism and providing materials that will really make a difference in their learning both academically and social emotionally!!","fullyFundedDate":1760754825776,"projectUrl":"project/neurodiverse-learners/9829477/","projectTitle":"Neurodiverse Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Delaney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9404141"},{"teacherId":7735412,"projectId":9816813,"letterContent":"I want to take the time to personally thank you for the resources for my classroom. Your commitment to education is why I continue to teach and make sure my students learn and strive to achieve their educational goals. \r\nWith our donated materials we have continued to work on our letter recognition, and sounds. We have enjoyed stories and expressing our emotions with our new \"Feeling Spots\", and books. This is critical for my students who sometimes have big emotions, and are unable to verbally express how they feel. We use our spots to show us how they feel and this gives our staff the tools they need help and walk students through those big emotions. \r\nOur class is truly grateful for this opportunity to create meaningful learning experiences for our students. Your efforts and kindness does not go unnoticed and we are excited to continue our educational goals and thrive to make learning fun and engaging for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1760311019575,"projectUrl":"project/literacy-matters/9816813/","projectTitle":"Literacy Matters","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Perkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7735412_orig.jpg?crop=240,240,x0,y73&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760147487492","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7735412"},{"teacherId":10310636,"projectId":9823982,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my scholars. The new materials have already increased out literacy development in such a short period of time. My students are interested in looking at the letters and manipulating them in different ways. \r\n\r\nMy students especially enjoy the finger puppets for read alouds. As a result of receiving these materials, my students are now engaged with my story times and wanting to participate with the puppets. \r\n\r\nOur letter identification skills have improved and the students are motivated to try the new activities.","fullyFundedDate":1760433618845,"projectUrl":"project/panda-phonics-palace/9823982/","projectTitle":"Panda Phonics Palace","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Becca","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10310636_orig.jpg?crop=477,477,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760383770989","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10310636"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_53152","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":76,"numTeachers":18,"percentFrplEligible":36,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":26,"percentWhite":36,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":32,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - Pre-K","studentTeacherRatio":"4.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":70.6,"schoolId":53152,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Red Clay Early Years Program on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Red Clay Early Years Program","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/delaware/red-clay-consolidated-school-district/richardson-park-learning-ctr/53152"}