{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Frances Willard Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":18.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3729674,"projectId":10393245,"letterContent":"I was so excited to receive the materials from our \"They Like to Move It, Move It!\" project! My kindergarten students are doing a wonderful job building their stamina for active listening, but young children need regular opportunities to move their bodies in order to be ready to learn. These new mini cones, rhythm sticks, beanbags, wooden spoons & eggs, and fluff balls have made our movement breaks more engaging and purposeful.\r\n\r\nWe have been balancing, practicing mini relays, working on motor skills, and even incorporating our new materials into math lessons. Recently, we learned position words such as in front of, next to, above, and below. Instead of keeping those concepts on the pages of a math book, we used our counting bears and beanbags to demonstrate them! The students loved hiding their bears under the beanbags, and there were plenty of giggles while learning.\r\n\r\nI am also looking forward to using these materials for more indoor P.E. activities, giving students opportunities to practice balance, coordination, motor skills, cooperation, and even the important social skills of winning and losing gracefully. Thank you for helping us bring more movement, fun, and active learning into our kindergarten classroom. We appreciate your generosity and can't wait to keep moving!","fullyFundedDate":1785988323515,"projectUrl":"project/they-want-to-move-it-move-it/10393245/","projectTitle":"They Want to Move It, Move It!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rosales","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3729674_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1788835694910","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3729674"},{"teacherId":3729674,"projectId":10310538,"letterContent":"I was so happy to receive these math manipulatives at the beginning of the school year! My kindergarten students first had the opportunity to explore the bear counters, linking cubes, and Geo Foam Shapes before using them in our math lessons, and they got really creative with their uses. \r\n Math can sometimes feel abstract, but having tangible objects to count, add, sort, and build helps students make meaningful connections. I've also been thrilled to hear students using academic vocabulary as they play and learn. One group recently built \"castles\" for their bears while correctly naming the different geometric shapes they used. Math is already feeling a lot like play—and I am all for fun-filled math lessons! Thank you for investing in our young mathematicians!","fullyFundedDate":1784298659909,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-solid-math-foundation-one-cu/10310538/","projectTitle":"Building a Solid Math Foundation, One Cube at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rosales","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3729674_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1788835694910","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3729674"},{"teacherId":3729674,"projectId":10377015,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for investing in our kindergarten classroom and in our youngest readers! Your generous support provided us with a Big Book Center, and I want to share just how meaningful this addition has already been to our classroom. We have been using our Big Book Center almost every day during our reading lessons, and it has quickly become one of the most exciting and engaging places in our classroom.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite ways to use the Big Book Center is during our shared reading time. Before we begin reading, I invite my students to participate in a picture walk. We look carefully at the illustrations, talk about what we notice, and make predictions about what we think might happen in the story. Because the books are oversized and displayed at the perfect height, every child can clearly see the illustrations and participate in the conversation.\r\n\r\nAs we begin reading, I invite students to come up to the Big Book Center and help me read. We practice some of the most important early reading skills in a very natural and meaningful way. I point to the illustrations and words as we talk about the story, and students practice taking turns following the text from left to right. We also practice moving from the end of one line of text to the beginning of the next line. These may seem like simple skills to an adult reader, but for a kindergarten child, they are important steps toward becoming an independent reader.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting experiences so far has been reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? After practicing with the book together, I noticed a wonderful change in my students. Their confidence grew, and they began to realize that they could actually \"read\" the book themselves. They learned how to turn the pages the way we had practiced, follow the words across the page, and use the illustrations to support their reading.\r\n\r\nI was surprised by how many students began asking for a turn at the Big Book Center during free-choice time. I have watched children wait patiently in line because they are eager for an opportunity to \"read\" one of the big books. The Big Book Center has become a magnet for students who are excited about books and eager to practice their emerging reading skills. Seeing kindergarten students choose to spend their free time reading is incredibly rewarding!\r\n\r\nPerhaps the greatest benefit of all is that the Big Book Center makes our reading lessons accessible to everyone. Before having the center, it could be difficult for every child to see the illustrations or clearly observe what I was doing with the book. Now, everyone has a front-row seat. No one is complaining that the pictures are too small or that they cannot see the words. Every student can watch as I model reading behaviors, follow along with the text, and participate in the lesson.\r\n\r\nYour donation has done more than provide us with a place to display oversized books. It has created a space where children can see themselves as readers. It has encouraged participation, built confidence, strengthened early literacy skills, and made reading a shared experience for our entire classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in our youngest learners and helping us create a classroom where books are exciting, reading is fun, and every child has the opportunity to become a confident reader. We appreciate your generosity more than you know!","fullyFundedDate":1784298674296,"projectUrl":"project/giving-all-students-a-front-row-seat-to/10377015/","projectTitle":"Giving All Students a Front-Row Seat to Reading!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rosales","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3729674_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1788835694910","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3729674"},{"teacherId":10248498,"projectId":9790017,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom. The books have been a wonderful addition to our kindergarten library and have helped foster a love of reading in my students. They enjoy exploring new stories, building vocabulary, strengthening comprehension skills, and developing early literacy skills through daily reading opportunities.\r\n\r\nThe bins have also made a tremendous difference in our classroom. They have helped us organize our books by level, making it easier for students to independently find, use, and return books. An organized library encourages responsibility and allows students to spend more time engaged in reading and learning.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has helped create a more inviting, organized, and literacy-rich learning environment for my students. Thank you for supporting their growth and love of learning.","fullyFundedDate":1762035270227,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-love-of-reading-in-kindergart/9790017/","projectTitle":"Building a Love of Reading in Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Virji","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10248498"},{"teacherId":10248498,"projectId":9698262,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom. The items you provided have greatly benefited my kindergarten students, especially in our calming corner. The calming corner has become a safe and supportive space where students can practice self-regulation, manage their emotions, and return to learning ready to succeed.\r\n\r\nThe supplies have also supported our writing development. Students have used the materials to strengthen their fine motor skills, build confidence in writing letters and words, and engage in meaningful writing activities throughout the year. Your generosity has made a positive impact on both their social-emotional growth and academic learning.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping create a positive learning environment for all.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your kindness and support!","fullyFundedDate":1757691139344,"projectUrl":"project/building-bright-futures-in-kindergarten/9698262/","projectTitle":"Building Bright Futures in Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Virji","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10248498"},{"teacherId":10248446,"projectId":10131574,"letterContent":"Thank you so very much for donating to our special education classes! Our students grades 1st through 5th grade use these EzyRollers everyday and enjoy wheeling around our playground area during their recess, lunch, or breaks. We deeply appreciate your generosity in helping us acquire additional sensory items to help our students enjoy their time at school. We hope you enjoy seeing the two photos I was able to capture during recess. Again, many thanks for your kindness and willingness to support me and my students.","fullyFundedDate":1773856087776,"projectUrl":"project/help-bring-joy-mobility-with-an-ezyrol/10131574/","projectTitle":"Help Bring Joy & Mobility With an EzyRoller","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Christina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10248446_orig.jpg?crop=422,422,x0,y138&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1772665183592","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10248446"},{"teacherId":2578639,"projectId":9709690,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our kindergarten classroom project! Your generosity makes a meaningful difference in the daily learning experiences of my students. \r\nIn kindergarten, learning happens best when children can touch, build, imagine, and collaborate. The kinetic sand helps strengthen the fine motor muscles students need for writing, cutting, and other important classroom tasks. It also provides a calming sensory experience that supports emotional regulation and helps students stay focused and engaged throughout the school day.\r\nBeyond the academic benefits, this project encourages creativity, teamwork, and communication. My students work together to build, share ideas, and solve problems as they create with the sand and tools. \r\nThank you for investing in our classroom and helping create memorable learning experiences for my kindergarteners.","fullyFundedDate":1757898114849,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-sand-play-for-curious-kindergart/9709690/","projectTitle":"Sensory Sand Play for Curious Kindergarteners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Covarrubias","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2578639_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1536273623769","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-covarrubias402"},{"teacherId":2578639,"projectId":9938561,"letterContent":"My Kindergarten students have truly loved our Math Workshop time! Each day, they were excited to explore counting tools, play math games with friends, and use hands-on activities that helped them make sense of numbers. It has been so special to watch their curiosity grow as they tried new strategies, talked about their thinking, and built confidence through play.\r\nAs the year went on, I saw so much growth in their ability to write numbers, show quantities, and even solve simple word problems. The Teachers Pay Teachers resources made learning fun and accessible, whether students were working independently, with a partner, or in small groups.\r\nThe laminator has made a huge difference in our classroom. Being able to reuse activities again and again kept our centers organized, engaging, and ready to go every day. My students loved using write-and-wipe materials, and I am so happy knowing these resources will last for years to come. Your support has truly made an impact on our classroom, and I am so grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1764863627165,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-count-reusable-centers-for/9938561/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Count! Reusable Centers for Daily Math Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Covarrubias","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2578639_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1536273623769","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-covarrubias402"},{"teacherId":3305190,"projectId":9759954,"letterContent":"Our students have been eagerly exploring the news hands-on resources in the classroom and the impact has been exciting to see. At this young age, building fine motor strength and coordination is such an important foundation for writing, drawing, and overall school readiness. Many of our students are still developing the small muscles in their hands, so opportunities to squeeze, roll, pinch, trace, stack, and build are so valuable. \r\nWhen the materials were first introduced, the reactions were full of curiosity and joy! Their little hands reached out to explore the new textures and tools, right away. Most students were excited and dove right in, proudly showing how they could roll the dough into \"snakes\" or carefully use the tweezers to squeeze and grab pom poms to form a counting collection. It's been wonderful to watch their independence grow as they realize \"I can do this!\"\r\nWe've already noticed students strengthening their grasp, improve hand control and coordination, and more persistence in table tasks. They are beginning to hold writing tools with greater stability and eager to engage in more emergent writing activities. They have been eager to label pictures they draw in their first journals. \r\nThese hands-on exploration opportunities are purposeful learning moments that are helping students build the foundation for the next stage of their academic journey.","fullyFundedDate":1759162026701,"projectUrl":"project/building-little-hands-for-big-learning/9759954/","projectTitle":"Building Little Hands for Big Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wood","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3305190_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758841030237","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3305190"},{"teacherId":10250833,"projectId":9872723,"letterContent":"The magnetic Elkonin box paddle boards have become an essential part of our Heggerty phonics lessons. These tools help students connect the sounds they hear in words to the letters they write, strengthening their spelling and early reading skills. Students use circle magnets to segment sounds and slide their fingers along the arrow to blend them, making abstract phonics concepts concrete and engaging. The heart magnets have been especially helpful when practicing red words (sight words), giving students a clear and effective way to focus on words that don't follow typical phonics patterns.\r\n\r\nWhile we have not yet had the opportunity to fully use the new writing journals, students are already excited to store all their writing in one place. These journals will provide a consistent and organized space for students to develop their writing skills, track their growth, and take pride in their work. Having everything in one place will help students stay organized and build independence as writers.\r\n\r\nLastly, students were thrilled to receive the math fact flash cards as a Christmas gift. These flash cards will be especially helpful for practicing at home as we begin timed fact tests in the classroom. Having the opportunity to practice outside of school will build students' confidence, improve fluency, and better prepare them for success during math instruction. Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our students both in the classroom and at home. Your kindness continues to make a lasting impact on their learning.","fullyFundedDate":1763341831673,"projectUrl":"project/tools-to-help-our-readers-writers-and/9872723/","projectTitle":"Tools to Help Our Readers, Writers, and Mathematicians Shine!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kostanyan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10250833_orig.jpg?crop=912,912,x0,y15&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757888453036","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10250833"},{"teacherId":2578639,"projectId":9782305,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and helping us get phonics-based leveled readers to my students. Because of your generosity, my class now has engaging books that directly support how children learn to read.\r\nHaving multiple copies of each title has been especially impactful, as it allows me to work with students in small groups so every child can follow along with their own book, actively participate, and practice independently. \r\nMy students are excited to read together. They get to apply new phonics skills and gain confidence as they start to see themselves as successful readers. The joy on their faces when they recognize words and read them on their own is truly priceless.","fullyFundedDate":1759861722199,"projectUrl":"project/building-confident-readers-with-engaging/9782305/","projectTitle":"Building Confident Readers with Engaging Leveled Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Covarrubias","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2578639_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1536273623769","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-covarrubias402"},{"teacherId":2578639,"projectId":9576407,"letterContent":"My students have always loved looking for bugs and playing with sand and water during recess, but the new tubs, plastic insects, and exploration materials have transformed that interest into rich, inquiry-based learning. What once was simple free play is now an opportunity for hands-on investigation as children scoop, pour, build, and create with intention. These sensory experiences are strengthening their fine motor skills, creativity, and early problem-solving every single day.\r\nThe bug materials have opened up a new world of discovery for my young scientists. As they observe different critters, compare their features, and ask questions about how living things grow and survive, they are developing respect for nature and building the foundations of scientific thinking. Their excitement is contagious as students gather around to share their observations, make predictions, and celebrate each discovery.\r\nMost importantly, these resources have strengthened our sense of community. Children naturally collaborate as they explore, talk through ideas, and build together. Their language skills, cooperation, and confidence continue to grow with every shared moment of learning. Thank you for making this kind of joyful, hands-on exploration possible for my students. Your generosity truly helps them see themselves as curious thinkers and future scientist.","fullyFundedDate":1757555892899,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-nature-through-water-sand-an/9576407/","projectTitle":"Exploring Nature Through Water, Sand, and Critters","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Covarrubias","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2578639_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1536273623769","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-covarrubias402"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_26613","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":412,"numTeachers":26,"percentFrplEligible":77,"percentAsian":10,"percentBlack":7,"percentWhite":10,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":66,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":5,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"15.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":81.1,"schoolId":26613,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Frances Willard Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Frances Willard Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/pasadena-unified-school-district/frances-willard-elementary-school/26613"}