{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"King Kaumuali'i Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":47.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7794933,"projectId":9035099,"letterContent":"We are incredibly grateful for your generous donation to our Second Grade Treasure Cart! Because of you, our students will be able to celebrate their hard work, positive choices, and academic growth in a fun and meaningful way. The treasure cart motivates our second graders to keep trying their best and take pride in their accomplishments. Your kindness brings excitement, encouragement, and big smiles to our classroom each week. Thank you for supporting our students and believing in their success. Your generosity truly makes a difference in our second graders' lives!","fullyFundedDate":1739368028837,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-treasure-cart-of-creativity/9035099/","projectTitle":"Building a Treasure Cart of Creativity!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Taboniar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7794933"},{"teacherId":7794933,"projectId":9711348,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to our studentsʻ treasure cart! Your generosity helps create exciting incentives that motivate and encourage positive behavior, hard work, and kindness in our classroom. The treasure cart brings so much joy and gives students something special to work toward each week.\r\n Because of you, we can celebrate their effort and growth in a fun and meaningful way. We are so grateful for your kindness and support!\r\nThank you for believing in our students and helping us build a positive classroom community!","fullyFundedDate":1757890670356,"projectUrl":"project/treasure-tranquility-rewards-safe-s/9711348/","projectTitle":"Treasure & Tranquility: Rewards & Safe Space for Student Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Taboniar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7794933"},{"teacherId":7794933,"projectId":9714652,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for adding to our reading nook! The students love cozying up in our Kimochi corner as they snuggle with our Kimochi characters and a great book. \r\nThey love reading in their nook! Because of your generosity, my students now have a cozy, welcoming space where they can fall in love with books. A comfortable reading area helped my students build confidence, improve fluency, and develop a lifelong love of reading. Your support is more than just pillows, shelves, and books - it is creating a safe place where their imagination can grow. Thank you for helping our readers shine!","fullyFundedDate":1757904968023,"projectUrl":"project/reading-nook/9714652/","projectTitle":"Reading Nook","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Taboniar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7794933"},{"teacherId":8369303,"projectId":9782664,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations towards purchasing prizes for our school's gotcha center. The gotcha center helps to celebrate students who are meeting behavioral expectations at our school. The students earn \"gotcha tickets\" for good behavior and every quarter they have the opportunity to redeem their tickets for prizes in our gotcha school store. This is something that the students look forward to every quarter and get so excited about. We appreciate all of the donations and the students were very excited to see some new prizes out on display","fullyFundedDate":1759608101128,"projectUrl":"project/fun-and-motivating-school-store-experien/9782664/","projectTitle":"Fun and Motivating School Store Experience","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Samiano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8369303"},{"teacherId":1883062,"projectId":9811506,"letterContent":"This course marked a watershed moment in my professional growth. It strengthened my understanding of mathematics, transformed my instructional approach, and holds the potential to positively impact generations of students. Three years ago, I accepted a position as an RTI teacher working with struggling learners across grades K–5. At that time, I was directed to focus almost exclusively on the memorization of math facts. \r\nWhile I believed this approach neglected the development of conceptual understanding, I lacked the research-based knowledge to effectively challenge long-standing instructional practices within the school. Since then, I have actively sought opportunities to expand my understanding of best practices in teaching foundational math concepts. This course has been a significant step toward achieving that goal.\r\n\r\nBiggest Learning Takeaways\r\n Beginning the course with precise definitions was both powerful and illuminating. Prior to listening to Christina Tondevold's podcast, I was unfamiliar with key concepts such as cardinality and conservation of number. I mistakenly assumed that cardinality and the ability to count were synonymous and failed to recognize the distinction between rote counting and rational counting. As a result, I had equated a child's ability to recite numbers with a well-developed number sense. This course helped me recognize the false equivalence I had drawn.\r\n\r\n I also learned that fluency does not simply mean working quickly. Rather, as defined in this course, fluency encompasses accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility (Russell, 2000), not just speed. Similarly, rigor involves a balance of procedural fluency, conceptual understanding, and application (Achieve the Core, 2015). In reflecting upon these definitions, I realized that my goal wasn't just to get students to answer problems correctly, but to find answers strategically and in doing so, build fluency and accuracy. \r\n\r\n Through Christina's discussions of the Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) Model (Carpenter et al., 1999), I gained insight into how developing number sense fosters higher-order thinking through derived facts, rather than reliance on direct modeling or counting-on strategies.\r\n\r\n The framework organizing the eight components of number sense into numeracy skills and number relationships was particularly helpful. In addition, Graham Fletcher's Number Sense Trajectory Model provided a clear picture of the typical developmental progression of students' number sense, allowing me to better understand how learning builds over time.\r\n\r\nImpact on My Instructional Practices: Teaching Concepts Over Procedures\r\n Learning about the CGI Model further reinforced the importance of prioritizing conceptual understanding over rote memorization. I recognized that my instruction had often emphasized correct answers rather than students' reasoning processes. Instead of focusing primarily on completed worksheets, I now prioritize helping students to select effective strategies and to clearly articulate their thinking when solving problems.\r\n\r\n This course deepened my understanding of both the components of number sense and the developmental sequences through which students typically progress. As a result, I am now better able to identify where students fall along the learning continuum and plan instruction with greater intention.\r\n\r\n Using the eight components of number sense as a framework, I created a screening tool to pinpoint students' strengths and areas of need. The accompanying checklists provide clear indicators of progress and guide targeted intervention. Although the screener is still a work in progress, it has already become a valuable resource in my instructional planning and RTI decision-making.\r\n\r\nImpact on School-Level Policies and Practices\r\n The influence of this course has extended beyond my own classroom. I have used my enhanced understanding to support general education teachers in identifying instructional gaps and developing purposeful next steps for student learning. Teachers are frequently asked to identify students in need of additional support, yet the language used often lacks specificity. Descriptors such as \"struggles with base ten\" or \"has difficulty with addition and subtraction\" provide limited instructional guidance. Prior to my advocacy, number sense had never been identified as a core area of concern, despite its foundational role in mathematical development. Instead, challenges were often categorized solely as computational issues.\r\n\r\n I have worked to promote clearer learning targets that include number sense benchmarks, as well as a stronger system for progress monitoring in RTI math. Most importantly, school leadership has begun to recognize the need to address more than computation and fact memorization alone. Plans are now in place to provide additional professional development focused on building numeracy skills. Furthermore, new materials and training designed to promote hands-on learning and conceptual understanding are finally being implemented.\r\n\r\nCONCLUSION\r\n Overall, this course fundamentally reshaped both my understanding of mathematics instruction and my role as an instructional leader within my school. What began as a desire to move beyond rote memorization has evolved into a research-informed approach centered on developing students' number sense, reasoning, and conceptual understanding. The strategies, frameworks, and tools I gained have not only strengthened my own instructional practices but have also influenced broader school conversations around math intervention and curriculum priorities. Most importantly, this shift ensures that students are no longer simply learning to perform procedures, but are building the foundational understanding necessary for long-term mathematical success. The impact of this professional development will continue to guide my teaching, support my colleagues, and improve student outcomes for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1769177445575,"projectUrl":"project/building-number-sense/9811506/","projectTitle":"Building Number Sense","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shibuya","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1883062"},{"teacherId":4564733,"projectId":9772893,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom project. My students were so very excited to see the items that we received and were eager to try each of them out. The helped to put items together and tried them out immediately. Some students used the item to regulate themselves when the day gets too overwhelming. Others use it to get the sensory input they crave and need. We are so grateful that we have these things to help us. We truly appreciate your support of our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759453170865,"projectUrl":"project/sense-ational-toys/9772893/","projectTitle":"Sense-ational Toys","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mizutani","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4564733_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1638322417331","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-mizutani"},{"teacherId":8359413,"projectId":10025925,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students, I would like to sincerely thank you for your generous donation to support our students. Your kindness and willingness to give has made a meaningful difference in our Title 1 school community.\r\n\r\nBecause of your donation, we are able to purchase snacks and rewards that help motivate students, encourage positive behavior, and support them throughout the school day. For many of our students, these small items mean so much more than just a treat—they provide encouragement, confidence, and a reminder that people truly care about their success.\r\n\r\nYour support helps us create a positive learning environment where students feel valued and inspired to do their best. We are truly grateful for your generosity and the impact you have made on our school.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your kindness and for investing in our students. Your donation is greatly appreciated, and we are honored to have your support.","fullyFundedDate":1768855881642,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-and-rewards-are-needed/10025925/","projectTitle":"Snacks and Rewards Are Needed!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Domingo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8359413_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1704743518301","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8359413"},{"teacherId":8824179,"projectId":9773854,"letterContent":"Thank you So much for contributing to our classroom:) Your donations are greatly appreciated! The students are enjoying creating crafts to sell in the business they created for Market Day! Students earned money, created a business plan, created their good and sold it in our grade level Market Day event.\r\nStudents were SO excited when I unboxed the materials you donated! They were talking about things they could create with the new supplies we were blessed with! For some students, some of the supplies were things they had never used before and were a new learning experience for them.\r\n\r\nMahalo from F101!","fullyFundedDate":1759353323309,"projectUrl":"project/art-supplies-for-market-day/9773854/","projectTitle":"Art Supplies for Market Day!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kubota","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8824179_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667266292390","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8824179"},{"teacherId":2962139,"projectId":8527333,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in providing supplies for our classroom. Your support has truly made a meaningful difference for our students, and we are incredibly grateful.\r\n\r\nThe pencil grips have been especially helpful for students who need additional support with fine motor skills. They promote proper finger placement, strengthen hand muscles, and improve control, which has already led to noticeable improvements in penmanship and writing confidence. The Feed the Dog game has also been a wonderful addition, making fine motor practice more engaging and fun while helping students strengthen their hands through play. We have also used the sequins in hands-on activities to further develop finger strength, coordination, and precision.\r\n\r\nThe pouches and bags have greatly improved our classroom organization. We use them to store blending boards, magnetic tiles, and headphones, as well as to help students organize and manage their personal supplies. The bags have proven to be much more durable and environmentally friendly than disposable ziplock bags, and they hold up well to daily use.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, our students have access to tools that support their development academically and physically while creating a more organized and effective learning environment. Thank you for investing in our classroom and helping us provide meaningful, hands-on learning experiences every day.","fullyFundedDate":1726517405314,"projectUrl":"project/new-year-new-stuff/8527333/","projectTitle":"New Year, New Stuff!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bennington","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2962139_orig.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1625108866859","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2962139"},{"teacherId":2962139,"projectId":8886626,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and support in helping us create a Calm Corner for our classroom. Your kindness has made a meaningful difference in the daily lives of our students, and we are incredibly grateful.\r\n\r\nSince introducing the Calm Corner, students have been using it regularly as a safe and supportive space to pause, breathe, and work through big emotions. Whether they are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, sad, or just need a moment to reset, the Calm Corner has given them tools to regulate their bodies and emotions in a healthy way. Instead of escalating or shutting down, students are learning that it's okay to take a break and care for themselves.\r\n\r\nOne of the students' favorite items is the breathing owl. They absolutely love following its slow, rhythmic breathing, and many will independently choose it when they notice their feelings getting big. It has become a powerful visual and tactile reminder to slow down, take deep breaths, and calm their nervous systems. It's been incredibly rewarding to watch students use these strategies on their own and then return to learning more focused and ready to engage.\r\n\r\nYour support has helped create an environment where students feel seen, supported, and empowered. The Calm Corner is now an essential part of our classroom culture, and its positive impact is felt every single day.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and for helping us create a space where they can grow emotionally, socially, and academically. We truly could not have done this without you.","fullyFundedDate":1729402117082,"projectUrl":"project/the-write-stuff/8886626/","projectTitle":"The Write Stuff","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bennington","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2962139_orig.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1625108866859","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2962139"},{"teacherId":2962139,"projectId":9774913,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredibly generous donations. Your thoughtfulness has had an immediate and meaningful impact on our classroom, and I cannot express how grateful we are for your support. Because of you, our students are learning, playing, and growing in ways that feel joyful, engaging, and truly special.\r\n\r\nWe have already used the majority of the Expo pens, as they have become a staple in our daily instruction. The students use them during letter formation practice, phonics work, and dictation sentences, and they are always excited when it is time to grab a pen and get to work. Using dry-erase pens makes learning feel more interactive and fun, and it gives students the freedom to try, erase, and try again, building both confidence and persistence. These small tools have made a big difference in helping students feel comfortable taking risks in their learning.\r\n\r\nThe play kitchen has been an absolute favorite in our classroom. The students love preparing meals for one another, assigning roles, and creating imaginative stories around their play. Through this pretend play, they are practicing important social skills such as sharing, taking turns, communicating their ideas, and problem-solving together. I often hear conversations like, \"I made this for you,\" or \"Let's cook together\" which beautifully reflects their growing sense of community and empathy. The play kitchen has truly sparked their creativity and provided a space where learning and social-emotional development naturally come together.\r\n\r\nOur classroom book bags have also been a huge hit. The students take great pride in using them to carry books from our classroom library, and it has encouraged a sense of responsibility and independence. They love choosing books, placing them carefully in their bags, and sharing what they are reading with friends. This simple addition has helped foster a love of reading and has made book exploration feel even more exciting and meaningful.\r\n\r\nOne of the most popular additions has been the squishes in our treasure chest. They are a huge hit with the students and are often eagerly anticipated as a reward. Beyond being fun, the squishes provide comfort and sensory support for students who may need a calming moment. We see students squeeze them during quiet times or proudly show them to friends, and they have quickly become cherished items in our classroom.\r\n\r\nEvery donation you provided has helped create a warm, engaging, and supportive learning environment for our students. Your generosity has not only supplied materials, but it has also brought joy, creativity, and connection into our classroom each day. Thank you for helping make our classroom a place where students feel excited to learn and valued as individuals. We are so grateful for you and your support.","fullyFundedDate":1759454584582,"projectUrl":"project/a-dash-of-play-a-pinch-of-essentials/9774913/","projectTitle":"A Dash of Play, A Pinch of Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bennington","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2962139_orig.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1625108866859","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2962139"},{"teacherId":8356875,"projectId":9773526,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Your thoughtfulness and generosity go above and beyond!\r\n\r\nBuilding relationships with my students and their families is so important to everyone's success. An interactive craft activity for parent and child encouraged communication and engagement. The parents enjoyed the craft activity (something to do other than house work). \r\n Also, working with my students after school in a more relaxed, small-group setting is ideal. They build self-confidence and feel proud of themselves for producing something of their creativity. \r\nThey appreciated the pretzel snacks after a long day in school. \r\n\r\nWith your donation, our Family Nights and after-school tutoring sessions are a lot more engaging and a lot more fun! Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1759444442828,"projectUrl":"project/building-relationships-and-family-engage/9773526/","projectTitle":"Building Relationships and Family Engagement","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Matsunaga","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8356875_orig.jpg?crop=541,541,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1678227855609","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8356875"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_55077","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":524,"numTeachers":41,"percentFrplEligible":53,"percentAsian":24,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":5,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":17,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":52.9,"schoolId":55077,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about King Kaumuali'i Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"King Kaumuali'i Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/kapaa-kauai-waimea-school-district/king-kaumualii-elementary-school/55077"}