{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Melva Davis Academy of Excellence","outOfStateSupporters":46.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7093111,"projectId":9247491,"letterContent":"One of the most exciting parts of teaching Jason Reynolds' Ghost has been introducing students to the reading skills and life lessons embedded in the story. The novel opens the door to important conversations about perseverance, choices, friendship, and finding positive outlets for frustration. Academically, students practice citing textual evidence, analyzing character development, and identifying themes, while also learning about figurative language, author's craft, and dialogue. Emotionally, they explore resilience and self-control through Ghost's struggles, connecting literature to their own experiences. The book is both a literacy tool and a mirror for students to see themselves in a character who makes mistakes but also grows.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading is an active, engaging process. Students don't just listen to me read—they each have their own copy, which means they can follow along, annotate, and pause to ask questions. We mix whole-class read-alouds with small-group literature circles and independent reading time, allowing students to talk about the story from different perspectives. We stop often to highlight key lines, discuss choices Ghost makes, and practice supporting our ideas with quotes from the text. Students write reflections, respond through quick-writes, and even role-play scenes to better understand character motivations. Reading looks like a community effort in my room, with every student included in the conversation.\r\n\r\nWhat makes me most grateful is seeing particular students come alive with this book. My reluctant readers—especially boys who often say they \"don't like reading\"—have connected to Ghost's voice, humor, and struggles. One student who rarely participated began raising his hand to read aloud, saying, \"He talks like me.\" Others have said that they see themselves in Ghost's challenges, whether it's dealing with family struggles or wanting to prove themselves in sports. The excitement is contagious; students are recommending the book to each other, talking about it at recess, and asking to read ahead. Watching them not only engage with a novel but also enjoy it reminds me how powerful access to the right books can be.","fullyFundedDate":1752372560733,"projectUrl":"project/running-toward-reading-class-set-of-gho/9247491/","projectTitle":"Running Toward Reading: Class Set of Ghost by Jason Reynolds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Toney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7093111_orig.png?crop=288,288,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744142378324","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7093111"},{"teacherId":7093111,"projectId":9259394,"letterContent":"When my students received their own copies of House Arrest by K.A. Holt, the experience of literature in my classroom transformed. A class set provided equal access, which meant that every student could read, annotate, and revisit passages independently without relying on shared or partial resources. This created a sense of ownership and equity, eliminating the frustration of students falling behind because they lacked a text in hand. Even reluctant readers who typically disengaged became more invested, flipping pages with pride and pointing to lines that stood out to them. The verse novel format made the reading process accessible and less intimidating, as the short but powerful entries gave students a sense of accomplishment while still carrying deep emotional weight. The rhythm of the text encouraged persistence, and I noticed that students who normally resisted reading were suddenly eager to keep going.\r\n\r\nHaving a class set also raised the quality of comprehension and critical thinking in my classroom. Because every student had a copy, our discussions became richer and more text-based. Students were able to locate specific pages quickly, cite evidence directly, and support their reasoning with confidence. English Learners and Historically underserved students especially benefited from the chance to engage visually and verbally with the text, underlining words, rereading for clarity, and sharing their ideas in pairs or groups before contributing to the whole class. This access leveled the playing field and gave quieter students the tools they needed to participate fully. Over time, my students built stronger habits of referencing the text, asking deeper questions about character motivations, and making thoughtful inferences. House Arrest became not just a book we read but a shared anchor for building academic skills like citing evidence, analyzing themes, and connecting literature across disciplines.\r\n\r\nThe greatest impact, however, came in the social-emotional growth the book inspired. Timothy's struggles with responsibility, forgiveness, and family hardship resonated with many students who saw reflections of their own experiences in his story. The book created safe entry points for conversations about challenges my students face in their own lives, from caring for siblings to financial strain to feelings of being misunderstood. Many responded with journal entries, poetry, or artwork inspired by the text, showing their empathy and creativity. Having their own copies allowed them to carry these themes beyond our class discussions, strengthening their personal connection to the story. Most importantly, the shared experience of reading the same novel built community in our classroom. Whole-class read-alouds, literature circles, and small group debates flourished because everyone could contribute meaningfully, and the book became part of our classroom culture. Even months later, students still referenced Timothy when reflecting on character choices or perseverance. Having a class set of House Arrest turned literature into a collective journey, one that not only improved reading skills but also deepened students' sense of belonging and connection with one another.","fullyFundedDate":1750256563018,"projectUrl":"project/reading-for-resilience/9259394/","projectTitle":"Reading for Resilience","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Toney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7093111_orig.png?crop=288,288,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744142378324","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7093111"},{"teacherId":5022948,"projectId":9618122,"letterContent":"The seeds, watering cans and compost bucket have given new life to our classroom. Students are learning how to garden and compost. We have planted a few fall seeds and are already seeing growth. We are lucky enough to get left over food from the cafeteria for the compost bin that otherwise would be thrown away at the end of each day. My students love to turn the compost bin and are anxiously awaiting the day we can use the soil from decomposed material to create another garden bed.\r\n\r\nMy class literally jumped and down with shrieks of joy when they entered the class and saw the seeds and watering cans. Every student has helped put food scraps in the compost bin and spun it around. Students have a hands on activity now daily, and enjoy watching the growth of the plants. \r\n\r\nAt the start of the school year we only had empty plant beds. Now we are growing fruits and vegetables as well as using the compost bucket to create more soil. It makes me truly happy to see my students thrive and learning about agriculture.","fullyFundedDate":1756225472160,"projectUrl":"project/cultivating-our-future/9618122/","projectTitle":"Cultivating Our Future","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5022948_orig.jpg?crop=1139,1139,x504,y383&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701177789797","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5022948"},{"teacherId":5022948,"projectId":9618053,"letterContent":"The sewing machines and thread have given new life to our classroom. We now how enough materials to finish our class projects for the school year. Our current projects include making a heat pad and cozy cup koozies. Having sewing machines for students 2-1 is a huge benefit for my students. Students are also learning about safety and responsibility while using an iron and mat.\r\n\r\nMy class literally jumped and down with shrieks of joy when they entered the class. Students were responsible for opening the boxes carefully and organizing the sewing machines and thread. \r\n\r\nSo far this school year with our limited supplies, each student has only been able to create one sewing project. Now we are able to finish our projects for the year, and students are helping me decide which projects should be on the list for next year. It makes me truly happy to bring joy into their lives with a life long skill.","fullyFundedDate":1756225472643,"projectUrl":"project/creative-stitch/9618053/","projectTitle":"Creative Stitch","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5022948_orig.jpg?crop=1139,1139,x504,y383&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701177789797","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5022948"},{"teacherId":184977,"projectId":8107393,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation. My students were excited to see the hummingbird kit when it arrived. There are enough to where students dont have to share kits an be able to create their own projects independently. \r\nThe first project we completed was an animated animal. They learned about sensors, led lights and servos. They have been working with microbit and coding as an introduction. Now they were able to add other mechanisms to create an feeding animal. It was challenging and fun. Because of this donation I will be able to do this activity year after year.","fullyFundedDate":1703185839336,"projectUrl":"project/animated-dragons/8107393/","projectTitle":"Animated Dragons","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184977_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699486032986","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/184977"},{"teacherId":184977,"projectId":8012411,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation. My students have been learning about circuits through snap circuit. They have also learned about coding by using microbits. These smart houses was another to show students how smart houses work on a smaller level. It was a challenge to put together but they were excited to see it all come together when it finally worked. \r\nWith these houses students were able to collaborate, problem solve and able to understand how electricity and circuits works in everyday life.","fullyFundedDate":1701182884848,"projectUrl":"project/building-smarter-houses/8012411/","projectTitle":"Building Smarter Houses","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184977_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699486032986","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/184977"},{"teacherId":184977,"projectId":9005811,"letterContent":"Thank you again for your generous donations. My students have gravitated and thrived to 3d printing. It started as a small club and as the word spread student are coming in.\r\nThey are creating and designing things they are passionate about. One student has a passion for planes and he has designed various types of planes. Other students have designed personal gift for their friends and loved one. Other just print for fun.\r\n\r\nMy surprise is that I'm getting a lot of girls in the club. Getting girls interested in stem is great!!\r\n\r\nThanks again. Your donation has made a huge difference.\"","fullyFundedDate":1738765766920,"projectUrl":"project/print-your-imagination/9005811/","projectTitle":"Print Your Imagination","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184977_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699486032986","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/184977"},{"teacherId":184977,"projectId":9005595,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation. These robots have been used as a supplement for the microbit unit. The students have been learning block coding. \r\nThese robots help block coding come to life. These students are excited to see these robots. They are using these robots during free exploration days and they are creating obstacles and challenges to solve. They are challenged, problem solving, and most importantly learning. We are so very thankful for you generous donation. We are fostering a love for stem and robotics","fullyFundedDate":1742502413837,"projectUrl":"project/robots-robots-robots/9005595/","projectTitle":"Robots, Robots, Robots","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184977_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699486032986","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/184977"},{"teacherId":184977,"projectId":8927394,"letterContent":"Thank you again for your generous donations. My students have gravitated and thrived to 3d printing. It started as a small club and as the word spread student are coming in.\r\nThey are creating and designing things they are passionate about. One student has a passion for planes and he has designed various types of planes. Other students have designed personal gift for their friends and loved one. Other just print for fun. \r\nMy surprise is that I'm getting a lot of girls in the club. Getting girls interested in stem is great!!\r\nThanks again. Your donation has made a huge difference.","fullyFundedDate":1733243391946,"projectUrl":"project/3d-printing-across-the-curriculum/8927394/","projectTitle":"3D Printing Across the Curriculum","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184977_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699486032986","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/184977"},{"teacherId":184977,"projectId":8015214,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for you generous donation. My students have explored with snap circuits both as classroom instruction and free exploration time. In the engineering classroom, I have used snap circuits as a introduction to electricity so that students can be come comfortable with building exploring. I do have some students test the boundaries with the power of using multiple boundaries. \r\nOutside of the classroom curriculum students have used them for free exploration. They love exploring with circuits. They begin with using the book to exploring different ways to build. Not they are exploring on their own. Thank you again for your donation, it means a lot to us.","fullyFundedDate":1700455575771,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-with-snap-circuits/8015214/","projectTitle":"Exploring With Snap Circuits","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp184977_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699486032986","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/184977"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_109679","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":798,"numTeachers":37,"percentFrplEligible":81,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":10,"percentWhite":5,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":75,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"21.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":53.6,"schoolId":109679,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Melva Davis Academy of Excellence on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Melva Davis Academy of Excellence","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/adelanto-elementary-school-district/melva-davis-academy-of-excellence/109679"}