{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Robert J McGarvey Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":6.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":314919,"projectId":10156301,"letterContent":"As I prepare to transition from teaching upper elementary grades to Transitional Kindergarten for the first time in my career, I am incredibly grateful for the support that made this classroom library possible. Although I have not yet begun teaching my TK students, I already know how impactful these books will be in helping create a strong foundation for early literacy and learning. High-quality picture books play an essential role in early childhood education because they introduce young children to language, storytelling, and the joy of reading in ways that are engaging and developmentally appropriate. These new texts will help my future students build vocabulary, strengthen listening comprehension, recognize letters and sounds, and begin understanding how stories work. Many of the books also focus on important social-emotional skills such as kindness, friendship, empathy, perseverance, and managing feelings, which are all critical lessons for young learners entering school for the first time. Other books introduce science, nature, families, emotions, and everyday experiences that help children better understand both themselves and the world around them. As someone who has spent years helping older students become stronger readers, I am excited for the opportunity to support children at the very beginning of that journey, when curiosity and excitement about books can make a lifelong difference.\r\n\r\nReading in my future TK classroom will be interactive, joyful, and filled with opportunities for exploration and conversation. Rather than simply listening quietly, students will actively participate in stories by making predictions, noticing details in illustrations, repeating phrases, acting out parts of stories, and connecting books to their own experiences. The classroom library created through this project will give students daily access to books that are colorful, engaging, and inviting, helping them develop positive feelings about reading from the very start of school. During read-alouds, students will practice important comprehension skills such as asking questions, retelling events, identifying characters and emotions, and discussing what they notice in the story. Even students who are not yet reading conventionally will begin developing early literacy habits by holding books correctly, turning pages, studying pictures for meaning, and pretending to read using familiar language patterns. I also plan to use many of these books to connect reading with hands-on learning opportunities throughout the day. For example, a book about insects may lead into a science activity, while a story about emotions may spark classroom discussions or role-playing activities. The goal is for students to see books not only as tools for learning, but also as sources of comfort, imagination, creativity, and discovery. Creating a classroom environment where children are excited to explore books independently will help foster confidence and curiosity during such an important stage of development.\r\n\r\nI know these books will especially benefit students who may be entering school with limited exposure to books and literacy experiences at home. Transitional Kindergarten is often a child's first experience in a structured classroom setting, and books can provide both comfort and connection during that transition. I anticipate that some students will quickly gravitate toward stories about friendship, emotions, animals, or family life because those topics help children relate reading to their own experiences. Other students who may feel shy or uncertain at first will likely find confidence through familiar stories, repeated readings, and opportunities to participate during read-alouds. The classroom library will also allow students with different interests, backgrounds, and learning styles to find books that spark their curiosity and imagination. One of my greatest hopes is that these books will help students begin to see themselves as readers from the very beginning of their educational journey. Your generosity is not simply providing books for a classroom shelf; it is helping create an environment where young children will feel welcomed, inspired, and excited to learn. Because of your support, my future TK students will have opportunities to develop foundational literacy skills while also building creativity, confidence, communication, and a genuine love of reading that can stay with them for years to come.\r\n\r\nWhile I wait for this journey to begin, I have begun testing them out in my daughter's current TK class. They are loving all of them. It makes me that much more excited for next year!","fullyFundedDate":1778543080323,"projectUrl":"project/teaching-tk-the-love-of-books/10156301/","projectTitle":"Teaching TK the Love of Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shepard","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp314919_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1773676150439","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/fidgetproductivelywithhighselfesteem"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_121066","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":848,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":23,"percentAsian":25,"percentBlack":7,"percentWhite":31,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":18,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":1,"percentMultiracialImputed":15,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":93.1,"schoolId":121066,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Robert J McGarvey Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Robert J McGarvey Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/elk-grove-unified-school-district/robert-j-mcgarvey-elementary-school/121066"}
Join the 159 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Robert J McGarvey Elementary School is
an urban public school
in Rancho Cordova, California that is part of Elk Grove Unified School District.
It serves 848 students
in grades Pre-K - 6.
Its teachers have had 32 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Public School
Grades Pre-K - 6
848 Students
# of teachers unavailable
4350 Sophistry DrContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
Share and help support Robert J McGarvey Elementary School
Boost support for this school! Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and fellow supporters. Every connection helps teachers get the supplies they need and shows how much your community cares about its students.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for public school teachers.
Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
50%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Robert J McGarvey Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated May 21, 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.
Robert J McGarvey Elementary School
$25,132
raised using DonorsChoose
32
projects
funded
15
teachers
funded
159
donors
3
projects for
technology
3
projects for
books
2
projects
for
art supplies
Robert J McGarvey Elementary School has received support from
148 individuals from California and
11 individuals out-of-state.
