{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Taft Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":33.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1996092,"projectId":9500967,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in funding a complete class set of \"A Long Walk to Water\" for my fifth grade students. Your donation has given my class access to a powerful story that has truly transformed our learning experience. \r\n\r\nWatching my students connect with Salva's and Nya's journeys has been remarkable—they've been captivated by the courage and resilience shown in the face of unimaginable challenges. The book has sparked deep conversations about perseverance, empathy, and the importance of clean water access, issues many of them had never considered before. Students who sometimes struggled to stay engaged during reading time have been eagerly turning pages, asking thoughtful questions, and making meaningful connections between the story and their own lives.\r\n\r\nBeyond developing stronger reading skills, this book has opened my students' eyes to the world beyond our classroom walls. They've learned about South Sudan's history, researched the ongoing global water crisis, and have even started brainstorming ways they might help make a difference in their own community. Several students have told me this is the best book they've ever read, and I've seen a newfound appreciation for the power of education and opportunity that we sometimes take for granted. Your support has given my students more than just a book—you've given them a window into another person's experience and inspired them to become more compassionate global citizens. Thank you for investing in these young readers and for believing in the impact that one powerful story can make.","fullyFundedDate":1755801454255,"projectUrl":"project/building-bridges-through-books-a-long-w/9500967/","projectTitle":"Building Bridges Through Books: A Long Walk to Water","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lostaunau","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1996092_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1470870245131","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1996092"},{"teacherId":184609,"projectId":9158304,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my third graders and I have been able to dive into exciting \"STEAM\" activities that truly transformed our classroom! With the Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) gift cards, I was able to purchase engaging digital and printable resources that brought science, technology, engineering, art, and math to life. These materials have made lessons more interactive, relevant, and provided hands-on experiences that encouraged problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity.\r\n\r\nThe biggest impact has been how technology from TPT resources allows my students to learn in new ways. For example, interactive Google Slides activities and virtual field trips let them explore concepts beyond the classroom walls. Instead of just reading about topics, my students were able to manipulate, create, and investigate, making learning more meaningful. My students especially love the digital STEAM challenges where they get to \"engineer solutions\" and then share their creations with the class. It's amazing to watch their confidence grow as they present their ideas and work together to improve them.\r\n\r\nOne of my quieter students, who often hesitated to share during whole group lessons, completely lit up during a \"STEAM\" bridge-building challenge I purchased through TPT. Using the digital prompts and printable materials, she confidently explained her design to the class and proudly showed how it could hold weight. You did not just give us resources, you gave my students opportunities to feel inspired, capable, and excited about learning.","fullyFundedDate":1744032822957,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-steam-learning-with-tpt/9158304/","projectTitle":"Fueling \"STEAM\" Learning with TPT","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kensinger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597280455458","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kensinger"},{"teacherId":184609,"projectId":9233305,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students now have access to a wide variety of engaging, high-interest books that have transformed the atmosphere of our classroom. From the moment the books arrived, students eagerly browsed the shelves, picking up new titles and sharing recommendations with each other. \r\n\r\nReading has become not only a daily routine but also a joyful experience - something my students look forward to every day. My students are now more motivated than ever to read, and they are learning skills like sequencing, making connections, and identifying themes while enjoying stories they really love.\r\n\r\nOne of my reluctant readers, who previously struggled to stay engaged, proudly carried around his favorite Dog Man book. Another student often volunteers to read aloud from the Little SPOT series, sparking thoughtful class conversations about empathy and problem-solving. Watching my students fall in love with reading in their own unique ways has been the most rewarding part of this project. None of this would have been possible without your kindness and support. Thank you for helping us create a classroom where the love of reading truly flourishes.","fullyFundedDate":1744238934311,"projectUrl":"project/for-the-love-of-reading/9233305/","projectTitle":"For the Love of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kensinger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597280455458","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kensinger"},{"teacherId":1996092,"projectId":8965082,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support of our classroom project, \"Building Empathy Through Literature.\" Your donations made it possible for every student in my class to receive their own hardcover copy of \"Refugee\" by Alan Gratz, and the impact has been truly remarkable. The moment the books arrived, I witnessed something magical—you should have seen the excitement on my students' faces when they each received their very own copy! There's something truly special about a student holding their personal book that creates a connection that simply cannot be replicated when listening to a read-aloud, no matter how engaging. While I continue to read portions aloud to bring the story to life, having individual copies has transformed how my students engage with literature. The high-quality hardcover editions you helped provide are built to last for years to come, ensuring that future classes will benefit from your generosity.\r\n\r\nBeyond the joy of ownership, this project has achieved something even more profound. Through Alan Gratz's powerful storytelling, my students have gained invaluable insights into history and developed a deeper understanding of the refugee experience. They've walked in the shoes of Josef fleeing Nazi Germany, Isabel escaping Cuba, and Mahmoud leaving war-torn Syria. These stories have opened their hearts and minds to the courage, resilience, and sacrifices of immigrants throughout history. Your donation has accomplished far more than improving reading skills—you have helped shape empathetic young Americans who now better understand and value the experiences of those who have left everything behind in search of safety and opportunity.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the power of literature to transform young hearts and minds. Your investment in these books is truly an investment in creating a more understanding and empathetic generation. The discussions we've had as a class have been rich and meaningful, with students sharing connections to their own family histories and expressing newfound appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy. You have helped plant seeds of compassion that will grow throughout their lives, and the impact of your generosity will ripple outward from my classroom into our community and beyond.","fullyFundedDate":1742333396909,"projectUrl":"project/building-empathy-through-literature/8965082/","projectTitle":"Building Empathy Through Literature","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lostaunau","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1996092_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1470870245131","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1996092"},{"teacherId":1996092,"projectId":8965172,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your incredible support of our classroom project, \"Help Make Math Magical with LCD Writing Tablets!\" Thanks to your generous funding, we were able to purchase a complete class set of LCD writing tablets, and I am thrilled to share how transformative this gift has been for my students.\r\n\r\nFrom the moment the tablets arrived, the impact was immediate and remarkable. Students who were once reluctant to write out mathematical solutions now eagerly grab their tablets to work through complex problems. The simple ability to erase their work with the click of a button has removed the fear of making mistakes that often held students back. Instead of worrying about messy erasers or starting over on new paper, they now feel free to experiment and explore different approaches without hesitation.\r\n\r\nThe tablets have become essential for our more challenging mathematical projects. Students love working through multi-step problems, sketching diagrams, and showing their reasoning before easily clearing their screens to try alternative solutions. This has encouraged a growth mindset where mistakes become learning opportunities rather than failures.\r\n\r\nThe merger of technology and mathematics these tablets provide feels as natural as paper and pencil while offering the flexibility that only technology can provide. Students who previously avoided writing out solutions now enthusiastically engage with mathematical problem-solving, and their confidence has grown tremendously.\r\nYour investment has done more than provide new tools – it has transformed the mathematical enthusiasm of my students. Please know that your generosity makes a difference every single day in our classroom. Each time a student eagerly tackles a challenging problem or confidently erases and restarts their approach, they are benefiting from your support.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in innovative educational tools and for investing in my students' mathematical futures. Your contribution has truly made math magical in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1733861811988,"projectUrl":"project/help-make-math-magical-with-lcd-writing/8965172/","projectTitle":"Help Make Math Magical with LCD Writing Tablets!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lostaunau","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1996092_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1470870245131","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1996092"},{"teacherId":1996092,"projectId":8704037,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous support of our \"Owl Pellets Bring Life Science to Life\" project. Your funding made it possible for my fifth-grade students to experience an extraordinary hands-on learning opportunity that brought science to life in ways I had never seen before.\r\n\r\nThanks to your contribution, we were able to purchase owl pellets and plastic forceps for each of my students. The pellets came with bone identification charts. The excitement in the classroom was palpable as the children carefully dissected the pellets, meticulously collected the tiny bones they discovered, and used bone identification charts to piece together the dietary habits of owls. What started as curiosity quickly transformed into genuine scientific inquiry as students made connections between predator and prey relationships in nature.\r\n\r\nThis hands-on approach to learning made abstract scientific concepts tangible and memorable for my students. They didn't just read about owl diets or ecosystem relationships—they discovered them firsthand. The critical thinking skills they developed while analyzing their findings, the collaborative discussions about their discoveries, and the pure joy of scientific exploration were invaluable learning experiences that traditional textbook lessons simply cannot provide.\r\n\r\nWithout your generous support, my students would not have had access to this transformative educational opportunity. Your investment in our classroom has given these young learners a chance to experience the wonder of scientific discovery and has potentially inspired future scientists, researchers, and critical thinkers.\r\nThank you for believing in the power of hands-on education and for making this incredible learning experience possible for my students. Your support has made a lasting difference in their educational journey.","fullyFundedDate":1731506292015,"projectUrl":"project/owl-pellets-bring-life-science-to-life/8704037/","projectTitle":"Owl Pellets Bring Life Science to Life","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lostaunau","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1996092_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1470870245131","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1996092"},{"teacherId":184609,"projectId":8933865,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donations. Your support is truly making a difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nAt our school, we focus on encouraging students to be respectful, responsible and safe. Your donations are a key part of fostering this environment. The incentives you've helped to provide motivate my students to work hard, stay focused, and demonstrate the behaviors we aim to cultivate. \r\n\r\nAs a teacher, it is my goal to inspire and support my students in both intrinsic and extrinsic ways, and your thoughtful donations are making this possible. Incentives like fidget toys, pencil toppers, scratch art pads, animal plushies, and bendable robots have encouraged my students to actively participate and put forth their best effort. Students especially love to earn tokens to try a hand at winning a prize from the \"Claw Machine Arcade Game\". When students feel motivated and appreciated, their enthusiasm for learning grows, creating a more productive and positive classroom atmosphere.\r\n\r\nOnce again, thank you for your kindness and generosity. You are helping to shape the future of these students, and for that, we are incredibly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1738779844831,"projectUrl":"project/promoting-pawsitive-behavior/8933865/","projectTitle":"Promoting “PAWS”itive Behavior","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kensinger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597280455458","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kensinger"},{"teacherId":184609,"projectId":9007450,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support of this project for my wonderful scholars! These books have been thoroughly enjoyed by all since they arrived at my school. The variety of titles and genres has motivated my students to read, read, read!\r\n\r\nMy historical fiction fans were especially excited to get their hands on the \"I Survived Graphic Novels. My adventure readers have been devouring the Dog Man – Supa Collection books. The Pizza and Taco comics were definitely among the class favorite books. \r\n\r\nYour generosity in funding this project has helped to build excitement about reading. It makes a difference and is greatly appreciated.","fullyFundedDate":1736352746186,"projectUrl":"project/brrring-on-the-books-for-winter-rea/9007450/","projectTitle":"\"Brrr\"...ing on the Books for Winter Reading Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kensinger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597280455458","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kensinger"},{"teacherId":184609,"projectId":8891089,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for giving my students and my classroom \"a little bit of this and that\" to brighten our space and our learning! My students love the new lighting (lamp)...it definitely \"lights the way\" for reading and reflection. They are also enjoying reading with the help of the little stuffed \"reading buddies\" – cute and fun! We also appreciate the polka dot bulletin board borders that frame our amazing class projects and really showcase my scholars' work. \r\n\r\nYour donation and support really mean a lot! You are leaving your own legacy in the eyes of my grateful students. You are generous and kind to the core. The world needs more people like you. We appreciate YOU!","fullyFundedDate":1734099453684,"projectUrl":"project/a-little-bit-of-this-that/8891089/","projectTitle":"A Little Bit of This & That","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kensinger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597280455458","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kensinger"},{"teacherId":184609,"projectId":8928910,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping my students enjoy fun and engaging winter activities infused with literature based \"STEAM\". The wonderful books and project materials were very much appreciated and really helped support hands-on learning in my classroom.\r\n\r\nUsing the books as a jumping-off point for a science investigation or hands-on activity is a way to inspire natural curiosity and make meaningful connections. My students especially enjoyed reading the books, \"Snowzilla\" and \"Snowflake Science\". The students worked in pairs and used magnetic building tiles to create original ice structures and snowflakes. They also got to enjoy playing with snow inside the classroom with the Insta-Snow Powder - the smiles and sheer excitement were priceless!!!\r\n\r\nAfter reading \"So Much Snow\", my students created their very own mini snow person (eyes, hats, scarves, noses, buttons, arms and all) using the DIY build a snowman kits. They loved decorating and putting all the pieces together to make their one of a kind snow character creations.\r\n\r\nWe can't thank you enough for your amazing support and generous contributions. My students and I truly appreciate you for everything!","fullyFundedDate":1733227362249,"projectUrl":"project/winter-steam-exploration-engagement/8928910/","projectTitle":"Winter \"STEAM\" Exploration & Engagement","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kensinger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597280455458","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kensinger"},{"teacherId":2694621,"projectId":8823565,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our love of reading with your generous donation!\r\nYour thoughtful contribution is truly appreciated and has made a significant difference\r\nin the lives of our students.\r\nThe books you donated were selected by our students and have enriched our library collection. They were most recently used during our \"Starry Night\" Literacy Night when the students were invited to read in a tent by flashlight.\r\nWith your support, we will continue to read and become life-long readers!","fullyFundedDate":1735250722636,"projectUrl":"project/for-the-love-of-reading/8823565/","projectTitle":"For the Love of Reading!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. V.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2694621_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1533341734847","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2694621"},{"teacherId":184609,"projectId":8660758,"letterContent":"I am writing to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous support of our project, \"Let's Communicate – Portable Translators for Inclusive Communication\". Your contributions have made a significant impact on the lives of my students.\r\n\r\nWith the instant translator devices you helped fund, my Newcomers and EL scholars were able to navigate the classroom more effectively. These devices have enhanced their learning experience and have empowered them to more effectively communicate with their peers and me, thus fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment. Additionally, these wonderful devices have made connecting with students much easier and have allowed my scholars to feel more comfortable in our classroom because they can understand just like everyone else.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has helped to create an environment where every student, regardless of their native language, feels supported and can thrive academically and socially. \r\nThank you for bridging the communication gap for my Newcomers/EL scholars and for playing such a important part of this transformative journey!","fullyFundedDate":1730905893796,"projectUrl":"project/lets-communicate-portable-translators/8660758/","projectTitle":"Let's Communicate! Portable Translators for Inclusive Communication","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kensinger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597280455458","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kensinger"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_93139","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":400,"numTeachers":28,"percentFrplEligible":88,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":89,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"14.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.0,"schoolId":93139,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Taft Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Taft Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/santa-ana-unified-school-district/taft-elementary-school/93139"}