Valley Middle School in Carlsbad, California on DonorsChoose

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Daily living skills enable students to perform fundamental tasks without constant assistance, which builds a critical foundation for adulthood.\r\n\r\nSelf-Care: Mastering basic tasks like dressing, grooming, personal hygiene (bathing, teeth brushing), and self-feeding directly reduces dependence on caregivers and family members.\r\n\r\n2. Boosting Self-Esteem and Confidence\r\nSuccess in mastering a new skill, no matter how small, provides a powerful sense of accomplishment.\r\n\r\nIncreased Self-Worth: Successfully managing personal care builds confidence and a belief in one's own capabilities (self-efficacy).\r\n\r\nMotivation: This confidence often translates into a willingness to attempt new challenges and engage more actively in their educational and social environments.\r\n\r\n3. Enhancing Social Integration and Community Participation\r\nProficiency in daily living skills improves a student's ability to navigate and participate in the world around them.\r\n\r\nSocial Skills: DLS often overlap with social skills (e.g., proper communication, appropriate public behavior), which are essential for building friendships and community ties.\r\n\r\nReduced Stigma: Being able to care for oneself and participate in daily life activities can help reduce the perceived differences and foster a sense of belonging.\r\n\r\n\r\nPost-Secondary Success: DLS training prepares individuals for the responsibilities of independent or supported living, vocational training, and further education.\r\n\r\nPositive Long-Term Outcomes: Studies show a positive correlation between strong daily living skills and better adult outcomes, including securing and maintaining employment and participating in post-secondary education.\r\n\r\nCommon Categories of Daily Living Skills\r\nDaily living skills are generally grouped into two main types:\r\n\r\nActivities of Daily Living (ADLs): Basic self-care tasks.\r\n\r\nBathing, dressing, toileting, self-feeding, transferring (moving from a bed to a chair).\r\nAgain, we appreciate your support!","fullyFundedDate":1756421213951,"projectUrl":"project/items-needed-for-fundamental-skills-stud/9297304/","projectTitle":"Items Needed for Fundamental Skills Students in Middle School","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Q","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8352289_orig.jpg?crop=1275,1275,x0,y212&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689087663140","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8352289"},{"teacherId":8352289,"projectId":8848728,"letterContent":"We can't tell you enough how much we appreciate your donation. The students in Valley Middle School's Fundamental Skills program in room 503 will put this item to good use.\r\nOur program focuses on independence the goal is to empower students in a way that is meaningful and promotes confidence. 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About this school

Valley Middle School is an urban public school in Carlsbad, California that is part of Carlsbad Unified School District. It serves 788 students in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 19.2:1. Its teachers have had 23 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Public School

Grades 6 - 8

788 Students

41 Teachers

1645 Magnolia Ave

Carlsbad, CA 92008 View local requests

http://www.carlsbadusd.k12.ca.us

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Valley Middle School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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Valley Middle School Demographics

24%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

33%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Valley Middle School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.