{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Belding Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":24.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9070835,"projectId":10208797,"letterContent":"Today was our first lab in science class and the students were SO excited to begin our experiments! \r\n\r\nWe've just started our study of plants and what they need to grow. Different groups of students were given different kinds of seeds The groups needed to design an experiment to see whether plants need sunshine and water and make hypotheses about which bags would grow. I can't wait to blow their minds when the wheatgrass seeds germinate in our dark classroom closet! \r\n\r\nI love teaching science because the students absolutely light up when we get to test things for ourselves in class. Thank you for helping me bring my students so much joy and learning through your donation! These materials will power our experiments all year long and for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1778596299657,"projectUrl":"project/curious-second-grade-scientists/10208797/","projectTitle":"Curious Second Grade Scientists","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kraft","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9070835_orig.jpg?crop=1109,1109,x0,y99&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690251039559","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/erinkraft"},{"teacherId":9070835,"projectId":10273013,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to our classroom! We use our headphones nearly everyday when students have time dedicated to working towards individualized goals on the computer. \r\n\r\nThese headphones are a huge difference-maker! They help my growing readers access texts, adaptive math and phonics practice, and programs supporting Multilingual Learners. They make our differentiated computer work more accessible for students and the classroom quieter so everyone can focus at different learning stations! \r\n\r\nStudents were so excited to have comfy, new headphones that work perfectly and help them learn!","fullyFundedDate":1779450065889,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-for-little-learners/10273013/","projectTitle":"Headphones for Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kraft","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9070835_orig.jpg?crop=1109,1109,x0,y99&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690251039559","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/erinkraft"},{"teacherId":9070835,"projectId":10251616,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping me grow my classroom library! As students and parents arrived for our back-to-school night in August, everyone was so excited to see all the new books I was able to display because of your generosity. I was able to add space for MANY more chapter books this year, and I'm so glad, because I have a class of absolutely voracious readers! \r\n\r\nThe drawers you funded are also helping students find the supports they need to help them learn. Whether it's a 100s Chart to help in math or a list of high frequency words that help them check spelling in the books they are writing, students feel more confident and independent because they can easily access the resources they need to be successful! \r\n\r\nWe truly appreciate your generosity and my students will benefit from these resources for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1777936802010,"projectUrl":"project/a-growing-library-for-growing-readers/10251616/","projectTitle":"A Growing Library for Growing Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kraft","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9070835_orig.jpg?crop=1109,1109,x0,y99&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690251039559","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/erinkraft"},{"teacherId":9070835,"projectId":10219471,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project International Explorers! The materials you donated for our country study of Iceland helped our class learn so much about this fascinating country! Students loved reading Stranded, about the creation of the island of Surtsey, and talking about how Iceland and other volcanic islands form. We became really fascinated with the Mid-Atlantic rift and through our study students realized that our continents once fit together before being separated by tectonic plate movement. We investigated why Iceland is warmer than Greenland (ocean gyres) and learned about how geothermal energy powers the island. We saw that the dirt is even hot enough in some places to bake bread! Students were also interested to learn about how citizen protests made laws more fair for women and read about Iceland's election of the world's first female president. We enjoyed making maps, doing virtual tours, and coloring flags do carry in our International Fest Parade.\r\n\r\nThough we learned many interesting facts about this country in particular, I think the most exciting part was students realizing how many new and fascinating things they could learn about the world by asking questions and doing research. Several students brought in more Iceland research they learned at home, and many felt empowered to learn more about their own heritage.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting our classroom and bringing my students so much joy at the end of the year!","fullyFundedDate":1777914152348,"projectUrl":"project/international-explorers/10219471/","projectTitle":"International Explorers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kraft","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9070835_orig.jpg?crop=1109,1109,x0,y99&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690251039559","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/erinkraft"},{"teacherId":1592576,"projectId":10325194,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in funding our novel project! Because of your support, our ELA classes are now fully equipped with class sets of novels that my students will use and cherish throughout the entire school year.\r\n\r\nHaving a dedicated copy of a book for every student transforms the way we learn. It allows us to dive deep into close reading, engage in meaningful group discussions, and explore rich literary themes together as a community of readers. For many of my students, holding a brand-new book of their own in class sparks a real excitement for reading that lasts far beyond a single lesson.\r\n\r\nYour investment in our classroom makes a direct, daily impact on my students' literacy, critical thinking, and love for literature. We are so grateful for your kindness and support of our learning journey.","fullyFundedDate":1781290876215,"projectUrl":"project/novel-ideas/10325194/","projectTitle":"Novel Ideas","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Payne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1592576_orig.jpg?crop=581,581,x149,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1619206612113","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kapayne"},{"teacherId":2710829,"projectId":10288072,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your amazing contributions to the Conscious Discipline Skills on a String Cards. They have supported the way that staff and students can regulate during tough times, and we are so much more prepared for those big feelings. Kiddos are learning how to self-regulate and get support from adults throughout our building; in classrooms, at recess, lunch, and beyond! Thanks again for your support and we look forward to regulating and calming down our brains and bodies when we need it to get into that executive state! Yay! Go Bulldogs. :)","fullyFundedDate":1779456297950,"projectUrl":"project/super-skills-on-a-string-for-stronger-st/10288072/","projectTitle":"Super Skills on a String for Stronger Staff","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Keen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2710829_orig.jpg?crop=172,172,x0,y28&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1778857608918","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msgundersen"},{"teacherId":10034691,"projectId":10475378,"letterContent":"When the package containing our six new wobbly flexible seating stools arrived, the our 5th grade students were so excited. The moment I got those flexible seats our kiddos were ready to take turns using them. It has also made a world of a difference for me being able to walk around the room. I am not longer bumping into furniture pieces due to the sleek design. For fifth graders, who are bound to have a lot of energy, receiving furniture designed specifically to accommodate their movement felt like a huge relief. \r\n\r\nSince introducing the stools to our classroom, they have become an important part of our daily routines, especially during independent working time and collaborative group work. There are a few students who normally struggles to sit still for long stretches and frequently gets distracted during group work, grabbed a wobbly stool and was able to work better with their group. These chairs are also helpful for me when I need to sit down next to a student and help them one-on-one with a problem they may have. Teammates are able to brainstormed and built together without a single distraction.\r\n\r\nHaving these flexible seating options available will be essential as students have a longer hour math block. The movement offered by the stools will help them with their concentration and give them the physical output they need to keep their minds engaged and creative.","fullyFundedDate":1787178749576,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-for-collaborative-minds/10475378/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating for Collaborative Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sanders","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10034691_orig.jpg?crop=1236,1236,x971,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1775233308879","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10034691"},{"teacherId":9070835,"projectId":10039614,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom project, A Book for Everyone! These resources have made such a difference in my ability to differentiate small group reading instruction based on student needs and interests.\r\n\r\nCharlotte's Web has completely captivated one of my novel study groups. Instead of saying good morning, they are all so proud to offer me \"salutations\" as they walk in each day. There is ongoing spirited debate over whether Templeton is loveably mischievous or gross and selfish. Students have learned so much amazing vocabulary, extended their comprehension skills to more complex texts, and most importantly fallen in love with this book. \r\n\r\nOne of my nonfiction groups is obsessed with comparing facts about the Amazon they are learning in different texts, enjoying the beautiful illustrations in one and using the index to find corresponding photographs and topics in the other you donated. Some of these students can be more reluctant text-analyzers, so it's been amazing to reach them with a high-interest, high-quality book that spurs their curiosity and willingness to dig deeper as readers. \r\n\r\nThese books and others have made such a big difference to both reading instruction and satisfaction in my classroom. Thank you again for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1768838186856,"projectUrl":"project/a-book-for-everyone/10039614/","projectTitle":"A Book for Everyone!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kraft","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9070835_orig.jpg?crop=1109,1109,x0,y99&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690251039559","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/erinkraft"},{"teacherId":10352869,"projectId":9900625,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our \"Boost Attendance, Boost Learning!\" project. Your contributions have allowed us to provide the meaningful incentives and resources necessary to encourage our students to show up and stay engaged every single day. By removing barriers to attendance and celebrating consistency, you have helped create a classroom environment where every student feels valued and motivated to learn.\r\nThe impact of your kindness is already evident in our data. Since implementing these resources, school attendance has increased by 10% compared to December 2024 and January 2025, and student lateness has decreased by 3%. Furthermore, since our return from winter break, most of our classrooms have successfully maintained an average attendance rate of 95% or higher. These numbers represent more than just statistics; they represent more hours of instruction, stronger social connections, and a brighter academic future for our students. Thank you for making this progress possible!","fullyFundedDate":1764712212804,"projectUrl":"project/boost-attendance-boost-learning/9900625/","projectTitle":"Boost Attendance, Boost Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10352869"},{"teacherId":9070835,"projectId":9210166,"letterContent":"Thank you again for your generosity in donating to our classroom project, Building a Strong Foundation in Math. These new materials have totally revitalized our math centers. I've never had a class so passionate about math games station before. The variety of supplies you've provide have transformed this vital fact practice into one of students' favorite parts of the day!\r\n\r\nFor example, one of my students gets a scheduled break during the day. Normally, a student in this position chooses to take a sensory break with play dough, color, or take a walk. Instead, this student chooses to play a math game more than half of the time. These truly are some of the favorite items in my class.\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting my second graders as they build their fact fluency and conceptual understanding of math concepts!","fullyFundedDate":1754707707539,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-strong-foundation-in-math/9210166/","projectTitle":"Building a Strong Foundation in Math","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kraft","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9070835_orig.jpg?crop=1109,1109,x0,y99&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690251039559","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/erinkraft"},{"teacherId":9070835,"projectId":9345428,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for contributing to my project, Books to Save Our Plant. These books have been invaluable resources as the class has begun writing our first informational book about how plants adapt to survive challenges in our environment, such as forest fires, drought, or storms. Students have really enjoyed the greater variety of texts and have learned so much through their research.\r\n\r\nThese books will even more crucial for our unit on Climate Change at the end of the year. Students will read these books and use them to create a persuasive speech about how people can make a positive impact on the environment. We'll also create posters we present to the kindergartners, to help them learn about issues such as deforestation, pollution, and global warming. \r\n\r\nThese books are helping to teach my students how to research, how to use evidence to support their ideas, and raise awareness of the climate crisis for younger students. Thank you for giving my students the tools they need to become more informed researchers, writers, and advocates for our planet!","fullyFundedDate":1748885351269,"projectUrl":"project/books-to-save-our-planet/9345428/","projectTitle":"Books to Save Our Planet","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kraft","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9070835_orig.jpg?crop=1109,1109,x0,y99&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690251039559","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/erinkraft"},{"teacherId":10034691,"projectId":9352538,"letterContent":"I hope this update finds you well. I'm writing to express our deepest gratitude from myself, our 6th grade students and our little itty bitty Prek-2nd graders. You've done more than just purchase materials; you've helped us create memorable moments with our students to help them be creative.\r\n\r\nThe impact of the new colored pencils, markers, crayons, rulers, scissors and more has been immediate. We're no longer limited to just reading about concepts—we are actively engaging with materials provided to us by donors like you. For example, we recently kicked off our unit on Surface Area. Before your donation, this would have been a unit relying heavily on textbook diagrams. Now, thanks to the all of the resources provided, we were able to create 3D physical models of tents and color coordinate their nets. This kind of hands-on experience has moved the lesson from a passive reading assignment to a true exploration.\r\n\r\nThe day the materials arrived was a highlight of the school year! When the students first saw the poster paper set up with the information that they have been doing for the year their reaction was incredibly joyful. \r\n\r\nYour initial peek into our classroom has set the stage for even deeper learning. Our current project, The Fermi Problem, will now be taken to the next level using the new materials. Your support has not only enriched this specific lesson but has elevated the quality of our learning for years to come. Thank you again for being a champion for our students and for believing in the power of quality resources.","fullyFundedDate":1752846632769,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-for-success-fueling-a-first-ye/9352538/","projectTitle":"Supplies for Success: Fueling a First-Year Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sanders","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10034691_orig.jpg?crop=1236,1236,x971,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1775233308879","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10034691"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5367","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":601,"numTeachers":28,"percentFrplEligible":48,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":48,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":37,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":3,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"21.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":76.0,"schoolId":5367,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Belding Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Belding Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/belding-elementary-school/5367"}