{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Schiller Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":27.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1682269,"projectId":9811116,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my students now have access to books that truly reflect who they are and what they need—not just as readers, but as children growing up in a complex world. These new texts have already begun making a meaningful difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nWhile many of our donors love to read, teaching reading involves helping children build a wide range of skills step by step. With these new books, my students are learning how to recognize sight words, use phonics to decode unfamiliar words, and build fluency through repeated reading. Just as importantly, they are developing comprehension skills—retelling stories, making predictions, asking questions, and connecting what they read to their own lives. Many of these books also introduce rich vocabulary and provide visual support, which is especially helpful for my ESL students as they grow in both language and confidence.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is active, collaborative, and joyful. You might see students gathered in small groups, taking turns reading and supporting one another, or independently whisper-reading while tracking words with their fingers. We pause often to talk about what we notice, share connections, and celebrate progress. There is a lot of excitement—especially when a student realizes, \"I can read this!\"\r\n\r\nSeveral students have especially connected with these new books. My multilingual learners are drawn to stories that reflect their cultures and languages—they light up when they recognize familiar foods, traditions, or names. One student proudly shared about her family after reading Fridays Are for Churros, while another was excited to see chopsticks in Tricky Chopsticks because it reminded him of home. I also have students who gravitate toward the social-emotional books like That Always Happens Sometimes and Gray, using them to talk about their feelings in ways they haven't before. Even some of my most reluctant readers are eager to pick up the high-interest, humorous books and are building stamina without even realizing it.\r\n\r\nThese books are doing more than teaching reading—they are helping my students feel seen, valued, and capable. They are building confidence, empathy, and a true love for learning. Thank you for making this possible for my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1764714408467,"projectUrl":"project/give-us-books-that-represent-us-and-help/9811116/","projectTitle":"Give Us Books That Represent Us and Help With Emotions!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tate","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1682269_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504199898174","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-tate"},{"teacherId":1682269,"projectId":9955234,"letterContent":"Because of your support, my students now have access to personalized, hands-on reading materials that truly meet them where they are. While many donors use technology at home, in our classroom these tools allow me to create targeted literacy resources that support foundational reading skills. With high-quality printed materials, I can design guided reading books that focus on phonics, sight words, vocabulary, and fluency—giving students repeated, meaningful practice. The ability to print in color is especially powerful, as it helps students connect images to text, strengthens comprehension, and keeps them engaged in ways black-and-white materials simply cannot.\r\nWhat excites students most about these new materials is that the books feel like they are made just for them—because they are. The colorful pages, clear visuals, and leveled text make reading feel approachable and fun instead of overwhelming. Students are eager to use the books during centers and small group time, and they take pride in being able to read texts that match their ability level. The durability from laminating means these resources can be used again and again, allowing students to revisit skills and build confidence over time.\r\nSome of the most meaningful impact has been seen in students who previously struggled or felt hesitant about reading. A few of my emerging readers, including English language learners, have especially benefited from the visual supports and repetition. They are beginning to recognize patterns, take risks, and read aloud with more confidence. Other students who once avoided reading activities are now choosing these books independently and celebrating their progress—whether it's recognizing a sight word or finishing a book on their own.\r\nYour generosity has helped create a classroom environment where all students—no matter their starting point—can experience success. These materials are more than just supplies; they are tools that build confidence, independence, and a genuine love of reading. Thank you for helping my students grow into proud, capable readers.","fullyFundedDate":1771007313695,"projectUrl":"project/we-need-materials-to-create-color-guided/9955234/","projectTitle":"We Need Materials to Create Color Guided Reading Books.","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tate","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1682269_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504199898174","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-tate"},{"teacherId":1643857,"projectId":9802280,"letterContent":"We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation of STEM supplies to our first grade classroom. Your thoughtful gifts—Legos, magnets, squishy toys, manipulatives, and recess toys—have brought so much excitement and joy to our students. Each item has already made a meaningful impact, sparking curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning opportunities that are so important at this age.\r\n\r\nOur students absolutely love exploring with these materials. They eagerly build, experiment, and collaborate with one another, developing problem-solving skills and confidence along the way. Whether they are designing structures with Legos, discovering how magnets work, or using manipulatives to better understand math concepts, your donations are helping turn everyday lessons into engaging, memorable experiences.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, our classroom has become an even more vibrant and inspiring place to learn. We are truly grateful for your support and for investing in our students' growth and happiness. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our first graders!","fullyFundedDate":1766867820411,"projectUrl":"project/stem-our-way-into-learning/9802280/","projectTitle":"STEM Our Way Into Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Briscoe","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1643857_orig.jpg?crop=426,426,x106,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744057695792","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1643857"},{"teacherId":1682269,"projectId":9811118,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our reading instruction has truly come alive in the classroom. We are using the stuffed animals every day as \"reading strategy helpers,\" with each animal representing an important comprehension skill such as making predictions, asking questions, or retelling key details. During guided reading and whole-group lessons, students hold or point to the animal that matches the strategy they are using, turning abstract skills into something they can see, touch, and remember. One of my favorite moments was hearing a student say, \"I'm using the questioning animal!\" while independently reading—a clear sign the strategy was sticking.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the stuffed animals, their excitement was immediate. Their eyes lit up, and they were eager to learn each animal's role. For many of my first graders, especially those who do not come from text-rich home environments, these visual and hands-on tools made reading feel less intimidating and much more inviting. The animals quickly became familiar learning partners, helping students feel confident and proud as they practiced new skills.\r\n\r\nNext, we will continue building on these strategies by applying them to more complex texts and small-group discussions. Students will use the animals as prompts to explain their thinking in writing, which is where the classroom printer and ink are essential. Being able to print reading passages, response sheets, and strategy organizers allows us to reinforce learning and track progress over time. Your support has given my students the tools they need to grow as readers, and it has made a meaningful difference in their confidence and success. Thank you for helping make this possible.","fullyFundedDate":1762267580773,"projectUrl":"project/we-need-our-reading-strategy-animals/9811118/","projectTitle":"We Need Our Reading Strategy Animals!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tate","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1682269_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504199898174","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-tate"},{"teacherId":1682269,"projectId":9221787,"letterContent":"Thanks to the incredible DonorsChoose community, our classroom has been filled with color, joy, and a renewed love for reading. The beautiful picture books we received have completely transformed our shared reading time. I'll never forget the first day we opened one of the new books—my students' eyes grew wide as they pointed out the bright, detailed pictures and excitedly shared what they thought might happen next. One student whispered, \"It feels like we're really inside the story!\" Moments like that remind me of how powerful your generosity truly is.\r\n\r\nThese books have done more than just brighten our shelves—they've opened doors to learning and imagination. Through shared reading, my students are strengthening their comprehension, expanding their vocabulary, and improving their fluency, all while meeting essential learning standards. But beyond academics, these books have brought laughter, conversation, and connection into our classroom. I see shy students gaining confidence as they volunteer to read aloud, and I see friendships form as students discuss their favorite characters and scenes.","fullyFundedDate":1752482496342,"projectUrl":"project/we-need-books-to-teach-our-readers/9221787/","projectTitle":"We Need Books to Teach Our Readers!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tate","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1682269_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504199898174","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-tate"},{"teacherId":1682269,"projectId":9231137,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our classroom has been filled with joy and color through the beautiful picture books you helped provide. During shared reading, I see my students' faces light up as they point to the pictures, make predictions, and excitedly share what they think will happen next. These books have helped them grow in so many ways—building their vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension—but most importantly, they've helped my students fall in love with reading. The stories spark their imaginations and open up wonderful discussions that connect to their own lives. Every day, I see how your kindness has made learning more meaningful and memorable for them. Thank you for making such a special difference in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1744210909748,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-get-books-to-help-us-become-read/9231137/","projectTitle":"Help Us Get Books to Help Us Become Readers!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tate","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1682269_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504199898174","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-tate"},{"teacherId":1682269,"projectId":9066113,"letterContent":"The donation of color ink has truly brightened our classroom in every way. Because of your generosity, we're able to print colorful leveled readers and engaging vocabulary displays that capture our students' attention and spark their excitement for learning. The bright visuals help them stay focused and make it easier for them to remember what they've learned. Seeing their faces light up when they read or point out new words in color is a wonderful reminder of how much your support matters. You've helped make learning more joyful and meaningful for our students—thank you for making such a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1742929796805,"projectUrl":"project/we-need-to-add-color-to-our-learning/9066113/","projectTitle":"We Need to Add Color to Our Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tate","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1682269_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504199898174","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-tate"},{"teacherId":1643857,"projectId":9241929,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in helping us purchase new books for our first-grade classroom! Your kindness has made a wonderful difference for my students. The excitement on their faces when they open a new book and explore its pages is priceless.\r\n\r\nBecause of your donation, our classroom library is now filled with stories that spark imagination, build confidence, and foster a lifelong love of reading. These books have already become a favorite part of our day — during reading time, students are eager to dive in, share stories with friends, and discover new worlds together.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has truly inspired both me and my students. Thank you for investing in their learning and helping create joyful reading experiences that will last a lifetime.","fullyFundedDate":1752483829677,"projectUrl":"project/books-take-us-places/9241929/","projectTitle":"Books Take Us Places!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Briscoe","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1643857_orig.jpg?crop=426,426,x106,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744057695792","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1643857"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_29605","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":260,"numTeachers":16,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":24,"percentWhite":56,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":4,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 3","studentTeacherRatio":"16.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":72.7,"schoolId":29605,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Schiller Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Schiller Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/centralia-city-school-district-135/schiller-elementary-school/29605"}