DiGiorgio Elementary School in Arvin, California on DonorsChoose

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When we introduce phonics skills using boards and letter tiles, everything changes. Students who once hesitated to even attempt reading are now physically building words, sliding sounds together, and proudly rereading what they created. They are not just memorizing. They are constructing understanding with their hands. The tactile experience helps strengthen their memory and confidence at the same time.\r\n\r\nThe same has been true in math. Fraction bars have made what used to feel confusing suddenly make sense. Instead of trying to picture one half or three fourths in their minds, students can line up the pieces, compare sizes, and see equivalencies right in front of them. I have watched students who previously shut down during math light up when they realize they can physically prove their thinking. That moment when they say, I get it now, is everything. It builds trust in themselves and in the learning process.\r\n\r\nThe learning games you provided have also had a huge impact. Games lower anxiety and invite participation. My students are practicing skills without even realizing how much work they are doing. They are collaborating, taking turns, explaining their reasoning, and celebrating each other's progress. Social skills and academic skills are growing side by side. In a special education classroom, that balance is incredibly important. Engagement leads to practice, and practice leads to growth.\r\n\r\nBeyond the academic progress, I have seen a shift in classroom culture. Students feel empowered because they have tools that support how they learn best. They are more willing to try, more willing to make mistakes, and more willing to keep going. Hands on materials give them access points into learning that feel safe and achievable. That sense of success carries into other parts of their day.\r\n\r\nYour support is not just about supplies sitting on a shelf. It is about confidence, independence, and joy. It is about students who once doubted themselves now raising their hands. It is about learners who need things broken down and built up in a different way finally feeling seen and supported. You have helped create a space where learning is active, inclusive, and hopeful.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and in the power of hands on learning. Your generosity has made a lasting difference, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to grow because of you.","fullyFundedDate":1763474749916,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-learning-for-bright-minds-in-ms/9483757/","projectTitle":"Hands On Learning for Bright Minds in Ms. Green's Room","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Green","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9581576_orig.jpg?crop=864,864,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1719890783449","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9581576"},{"teacherId":10000253,"projectId":9584610,"letterContent":"I would like to thank you again for your generosity. You are so much appreciated by my students and me. The books and games you have given us help us in many ways.\r\n\r\nThe first way the games are helping in my class is to get the students to come together in order to get closer to one another. We are at a small school, and sometimes my students don't get along. They get tired of being together, but when it is game time, they forget about the negative feelings and focus on the fun games they are playing with each other. They are cohesive and it is fun!\r\n\r\nAs far as the books, I have separated them into categories, so we can do a unit of study with each category. One category is on slavery. Another is sports. And another is based on Who is this person. I want to get them reading more non-fiction books, and because of you, they can.\r\n\r\nMy students come in to eat breakfast in my classroom. Every morning I say, \"You are either eating or reading. When they complete work, I ask them to get out a book while they are waiting for the others to finish. And sometimes I just have them read. I put up a poster with the percentage of their reading goal that is met, that I set for them at the beginning of the trimester. I send home weekly pictures to their parents to let them know how their student is doing. I give awards for achieving their goals and put a goal higher for them to encourage more reading. I believe reading is so important! 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About this school

DiGiorgio Elementary School is a rural public school in Arvin, California that is part of Digiorgio Elem School District. It serves 223 students in grades Pre-K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 24.8:1. Its teachers have had 6 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 8

223 Students

9 Teachers

19405 Buena Vista Blvd

Arvin, CA 93203 View local requests

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

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at DiGiorgio Elementary School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

DiGiorgio Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Ms. Green

Ms. Kenefsky

Ms. Tinsley

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DiGiorgio Elementary School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

95%

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.

DiGiorgio Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Feb 20, 2026

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.