{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":22.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9818426,"projectId":10072289,"letterContent":"Students used their Microbit devices to design robotic claws.\r\nMy robotics class did an amazing job representing MLK Middle School at Demo Day, an annual showcase by our partner Project Invent. To prepare for this big event, my class spent the entire semester building robotic-assisted inventions designed to improve our community, working hand-in-hand with our classroom partners at UCSF. The big event took place at Cloudflare in downtown San Francisco, where our students pitched their projects directly to a panel of expert judges. \r\n\r\nYour materials built an award-winning showcase.","fullyFundedDate":1770166301816,"projectUrl":"project/project-invent/10072289/","projectTitle":"Project Invent","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ward","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9818426_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1779330203166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9818426"},{"teacherId":9818426,"projectId":10041645,"letterContent":"Our students have been using the new micro:bit V2 chips to explore coding, engineering, and problem-solving through hands-on projects that connect directly to real-world design. One of the most exciting classroom moments was when students successfully programmed and assembled their own wearable micro:bit watches. They learned how to code timers, display messages, and customize functions while also thinking creatively about how technology can be both useful and personal.\r\nAnother major project involved building robotic arms powered by the micro:bits. Students worked collaboratively to design, test, and improve their creations using motors and programmed controls. It was incredible to watch students troubleshoot problems together, revise their code, and celebrate when their robotic arms finally moved the way they intended.\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, the classroom immediately filled with excitement and curiosity. Many students had never worked with programmable hardware before, and they were eager to start experimenting right away. Students who are sometimes hesitant in traditional academic settings became leaders during the building and coding process, showing confidence, creativity, and persistence.","fullyFundedDate":1769107318553,"projectUrl":"project/microbit-watches/10041645/","projectTitle":"Microbit Watches","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ward","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9818426_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1779330203166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9818426"},{"teacherId":5669515,"projectId":10139296,"letterContent":"I'm convinced that every teacher is secretly a hoarder. We just need to have STUFF around. Hopefully it's organized stuff, but we feel most comfortable when surrounded by things. If I risk being suffocated by a collapsing pile of lined paper then so be it. At least I won't run out! Dead highlighters can stop an activity in its tracks and there can never be enough Dry Erase markers in a school. At this point I think some kids are just eating the lids with how they disappear. Thank you for letting me stock up!","fullyFundedDate":1776439041146,"projectUrl":"project/assorted-stuff/10139296/","projectTitle":"Assorted Stuff","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ulrich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5669515_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696837778836","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ulrich-n-friends"},{"teacherId":5669515,"projectId":10139295,"letterContent":"Organizational skills and retaining information are usually some of the weak points for middle schoolers, and they tend to need some help practicing. Being responsible for their own things and having complete control over having or losing their work in a supported setting is a hand-holding way of trying to build up their autonomy and ability to be self-sufficient. Having no one else to blame when they don't have their vocabulary or worksheets creates a new sense of accountability that many of my students don't have. They need their pencil and they need their folder - it's up to them to keep up with it.","fullyFundedDate":1776115284890,"projectUrl":"project/folder-box/10139295/","projectTitle":"Folder Box","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ulrich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5669515_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696837778836","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ulrich-n-friends"},{"teacherId":5669515,"projectId":10114340,"letterContent":"The trellis was a ready for a vine to make an entryway, the planter box is ready to pump out strawberries, and the tomato bags are ready for their tomatoes! We are mapping out which bed gets which seeds and what we want to plant now vs at the start of next year and I couldn't be more excited! Thank you so much for this - I know our garden has been a long project but at this point we are a couple months of watering and weeding away from the start of harvests and that will be such a fun way to start the year! So long as I can out smart the pigeons...","fullyFundedDate":1776439041588,"projectUrl":"project/garden-n-grow/10114340/","projectTitle":"Garden 'n Grow","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ulrich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5669515_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696837778836","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ulrich-n-friends"},{"teacherId":5669515,"projectId":10114347,"letterContent":"During independent work time, students often enjoy sitting on the rug by the windows. Having actual bean bags instead of just cushions only sweetens the deal! I've only had the set up a few days and already had a student who benefits from a quieter setting ask and use the chair and lap desk. Given that the chair covers are both removable and MACHINE WASHABLE also means they have a longer life expectancy until they have to be thrown away as 'beyond saving' levels of gross. Personally, any kind of seating that goes either on the floor or to kids SHOULD be machine washable by default.","fullyFundedDate":1776439041760,"projectUrl":"project/bean-there/10114347/","projectTitle":"Bean There","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ulrich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5669515_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696837778836","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ulrich-n-friends"},{"teacherId":5669515,"projectId":10114346,"letterContent":"The literacy crisis in America isn't going to fix itself. It was caused by negligence and can only be rectified by hard work. Increased use of and reliance on technology has weakened reading and comprehension abilities and paper and pencil are the tools to strengthen them. \r\n\r\nSome of my students did not know what a dictionary was. One asked me if one of the books on the shelf was a dictionary when taking a second to read the spines would have told her it was a thesaurus, and the dictionaries were five inches over and bright red instead of yellow. \r\n\r\nWe've got some work to do!","fullyFundedDate":1773263228393,"projectUrl":"project/oh-word/10114346/","projectTitle":"Oh Word?","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ulrich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5669515_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696837778836","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ulrich-n-friends"},{"teacherId":5669515,"projectId":9973294,"letterContent":"My students don't have the words to truly appreciate the benefit this project will bring them - that's why I got dictionaries in the first place! It was INSTANTLY apparent many of my kids had never used a dictionary in their lives (one didn't know what they were), and that they need the practice. Flexing their working vocabulary and reasoning skills is extremely important to develop the ability to solve multi-step problems. If the exact word you need isn't in the book, look for the base word and then ~~EXTRAPOLATE~~. Can't find 'radically'? Use 'radical' to figure it out!","fullyFundedDate":1773845722654,"projectUrl":"project/book-it/9973294/","projectTitle":"Book It","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ulrich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5669515_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696837778836","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ulrich-n-friends"},{"teacherId":5669515,"projectId":9758739,"letterContent":"Gloves allow messy (and mildly hazardous) activities to proceed without a hiccup. There are of course draw backs - for a few days after the are always a couple kids that just HAVE gloves for no reason. But, that is the cost of science!\r\n\r\nI do love that kids will periodically ask me to set the tables on fire again, and it makes a wonderful reward for good behavior! Just the other day I had an entire class finish and clean up with a few minutes to spare SPECIFICALLY because they wanted Fire Time! Gotta love those old chemistry tables!","fullyFundedDate":1766354015687,"projectUrl":"project/safety-first-then-fire/9758739/","projectTitle":"Safety First, Then Fire","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ulrich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5669515_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696837778836","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ulrich-n-friends"},{"teacherId":5669515,"projectId":9541546,"letterContent":"Making educational comic books, and dissections, and examining crystal structures in rock formations, and NOT loosing all of your homework are all what middle school is about. I genuinely don't know where all the colored pencils in a school go, but it has been a lesson-saver more than once to just HAVE a box of boxes of them laying around. Students who don't have colors at home can get a box to finish homework for other classes. I can have Color Boxes for each table and kids can color code notes and worksheets - which for some lower-level English Learners can be the difference between able to follow and completely lost.","fullyFundedDate":1764639690413,"projectUrl":"project/ooohs-and-aaahahas/9541546/","projectTitle":"Oooh's and Aaahaha's","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ulrich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5669515_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696837778836","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ulrich-n-friends"},{"teacherId":5669515,"projectId":9973292,"letterContent":"There may be a small gnome that lives in a middle school classroom, hiding in a drawer, that comes out at night to eat band-aids. That same gnome steals and rips up erasers after making swords out of paperclips. I think my gnome will be well-fed for a good long while now! I have a student who is EXTREMELY excited about the alcohol markers and our end-of-year art project. The paint shelf is fully stocked, the brushes and palettes are standing ready, and the laminator is waiting to preserve all the drawings and watercolors and charcoals and pastels and collages.","fullyFundedDate":1771364521572,"projectUrl":"project/random-restock/9973292/","projectTitle":"Random Restock","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ulrich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5669515_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696837778836","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ulrich-n-friends"},{"teacherId":8257606,"projectId":9840140,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our classroom feels more prepared, supported, and empowered every single day. The supplies you helped provide—pencils, colored pencils, cleaning supplies, first aid kits, an electric stapler, antiseptic wipes, and feminine products—are being used in meaningful and impactful ways.\r\n\r\nAcademically, the pencils and colored pencils have made an immediate difference. During a recent math project, students used colored pencils to color-code multi-step problem solving, breaking apart equations and highlighting key information. This visual strategy helped many students better organize their thinking and boosted their confidence when sharing their reasoning. Having enough pencils readily available also means no student has to sit out or feel unprepared—everyone can participate fully without interruption. Even something as simple as the electric stapler has streamlined our project assembly process, saving time and reducing frustration when students compile their work into organized packets.\r\n\r\nHealth and safety resources have also played a critical role. Cleaning supplies and antiseptic wipes are used daily to maintain a clean, welcoming space. Students have taken ownership of wiping down desks and shared materials, building responsibility and awareness of community care. The first aid kits have allowed us to quickly respond to small accidents without disrupting learning time. Most importantly, having feminine products readily available in the classroom has provided dignity and privacy for our female students. When students first realized these items were accessible without needing to ask the nurse, several quietly expressed relief and gratitude. It removed stress and allowed them to stay focused on learning instead of worrying about basic needs.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw all the materials stocked and organized, their reactions were genuine and heartfelt. Many commented on how \"prepared\" the classroom felt. Some even said it felt more like a safe space. That sense of stability matters deeply in our community.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we are continuing our current collaborative math unit, where students will create visual strategy guides using colored pencils and assemble their work into reference booklets. Because we now have the tools to stay organized and prepared, students are focusing more on deeper thinking and problem-solving rather than logistics. Your support has strengthened not just our resources, but our classroom culture. Thank you for helping create a space where students feel equipped, cared for, and ready to succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1770657456989,"projectUrl":"project/from-pencils-to-possibilities-classroom/9840140/","projectTitle":"From Pencils to Possibilities: Classroom Must-Haves","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jiang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jiangj"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_4471","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":371,"numTeachers":24,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":36,"percentBlack":13,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":41,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":1,"percentMultiracialImputed":5,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"15.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":77.1,"schoolId":4471,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/san-francisco-unified-school-district/dr-martin-l-king-academy/4471"}