{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Cardenas Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":35.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5342404,"projectId":9962032,"letterContent":"We are so thrilled to have had our attendance incentives classroom project funded by you! When our items arrived my students were so excited I could already see how much their excitement would impact their motivation and desire to come to school ready to participate and learn. After many years as a teacher I have learned how something as small as bubbles, pop its, bouncy balls, and squishy toys can ignite a child's motivation and make an impact in a big way! From my own experience as a child, my teacher's fun ways of motivating me and growing my excitement and love for school made all the difference. \r\n\r\nAfter completing a full unboxing of the items with lots of 'ooo's and ahhh's', we added the prizes to our incentive bin and by the very next day it already made an immediate impact. In order to best manage our materials and drive student motivation I created a system where students are eligible to pick a prize weekly, typically each Friday, if they have had good attendance and participation in that given week. This is allowed me to evenly space out our incentives in a fair way that really motivates and rewards student for their efforts on a weekly basis. With your help I have more than enough incentives to take us through the rest of the school year and into to next one. Thank you for helping make my students experience a fun, exciting and motivating one and building these fond memories of school being a placed they wanted and loved to be that they will always remember!","fullyFundedDate":1770307859986,"projectUrl":"project/gonna-be-gonna-be-golden-to-earn-our-at/9962032/","projectTitle":"Gonna Be, Gonna Be Golden to Earn Our Attendance Incentives!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Calzada","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5342404_orig.png?crop=1042,1042,x0,y76&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1641497430709","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kinderkids102"},{"teacherId":5342404,"projectId":9760920,"letterContent":"I want to express my deep gratitude for your support with this project that has helped create a cozy classroom corner for all of us to enjoy. It may seem like a simple piece of furniture but for us it has become part of our environment, daily routine and a vital tool for our engagement and success. Since we received the futon, this section of our classroom has been transformed and has allowed the space to be much more versatile than it ever was before. \r\n\r\nWe have used this space to gather to read books together and independently, complete assignments, work with partners, take a breather, get some rest, and socialize with each other. It has really become a focal point in our space that my students are excited to have and do their best to care for and maintain. Their favorite way to describe it is that it is just so cozy and feels like home. \r\n\r\nYour support has done more than just provide furniture, it is a constant reminder to my students that their comfort and well-being matter. By investing in our classroom environment, you have directly contributed to a more inclusive, warm, and effective learning space that students will enjoy for years to come. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much!","fullyFundedDate":1769177174436,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-comfortable-cozy-classroom/9760920/","projectTitle":"Creating a Comfortable & Cozy Classroom Corner","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Calzada","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5342404_orig.png?crop=1042,1042,x0,y76&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1641497430709","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kinderkids102"},{"teacherId":5342404,"projectId":9961870,"letterContent":"Thank you again for your support for our classroom project that is helping fuel our minds! This is my first classroom project for snacks and I can't believe I haven't done one before. The food items we received have been are so needed and it is has been a game changer for me to have these snacks on hand for when my students really need them. I am always trying to think of all of the ways in which I can support my students and ensure they are as successful as they can be. This can be done in so many ways but it is absolutely critical that their basic needs are met in order for genuine and authentic learning to take place. Being able to offer them these snacks as they need them has allowed me to be responsive to their needs in a way I haven't been able to before. We offer free breakfast and lunch to all of our students since they qualify and in some cases these are the largest quantities and most nutritious foods they receive in their whole day. Now, with your help, I have been able to close the gaps and provide them with healthy food options whenever they need them whether that is an extra snack in the morning, something to power them through the afternoon, or a bit to take home to ensure they don't fall asleep hungry. The impact of your generosity is so far reaching and we couldn't be more grateful. Thank you for helping keep our bellies full so that our minds are ready to learn and we are set up for success!","fullyFundedDate":1766067664461,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-young-minds-snack-edition/9961870/","projectTitle":"Fueling Young Minds: Snack Edition","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Calzada","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5342404_orig.png?crop=1042,1042,x0,y76&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1641497430709","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kinderkids102"},{"teacherId":960294,"projectId":9853933,"letterContent":"Thank you for your incredible generosity! I wanted to share a quick update on the massive impact your support has had on our classroom. The simple joy of a \"reward\" has completely transformed our daily energy.\r\n\r\nThe Magic of \"Filling Buckets\"\r\nWe are using your donations to fuel our Positive Behavior Support system. The students each have a \"bucket,\" and every time they are \"caught\" being kind, working through a difficult math problem, or helping a peer, they earn a token to fill it.\r\n\r\nOnce that bucket is full, they get to choose a reward from the new supplies. It's a simple system, but the psychological shift has been profound.\r\n\r\nA Moment to Remember\r\nThe day the boxes arrived was like a second birthday for the whole class. When I opened the first container of fidgets, cars, and colorful bracelets, a literal cheer went up.\r\n\r\nOne student, who usually struggles to stay focused during independent reading, worked silently for 20 straight minutes. When he finished, he looked at me with the biggest smile and said, \"Did I earn a bucket-filler for my car today?\" Seeing that intrinsic motivation turn into a tangible sense of pride was priceless.\r\n\r\nThe Impact on Our Classroom\r\nSince introducing these resources, we have seen a noticeable shift in our environment:\r\n\r\nIncreased Engagement: Students are more eager to participate in lessons, hoping to show off their hard work.\r\n\r\nKinder Connections: \"Caught being kind\" moments have doubled. Students are actively looking for ways to support one another.\r\n\r\nFocus & Regulation: The fidgets and pencil toppers aren't just toys; they are helping my tactile learners stay grounded and focused during long lessons.\r\n\r\nBehavioral Success: We've seen a significant decrease in minor behavioral disruptions because the students are so invested in reaching their next goal.\r\n\r\nWhat's Next?\r\nOur next big step is the \"Kindness Marathon.\" Now that the students are motivated by the rewards, we are transitioning into a project where they can \"pool\" their bucket-fillers to earn a reward for the entire class. This will teach them about teamwork and collective responsibility—showing them that while individual hard work is great, supporting the whole group is even better!\r\n\r\nThank you for being the \"bucket-fillers\" for our classroom. You've given these kids more than just bubbles and bracelets; you've given them a reason to strive for their best every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1765205125480,"projectUrl":"project/win-win-wonders/9853933/","projectTitle":"Win-Win Wonders","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cervantes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp960294_orig.jpg?crop=376,376,x260,y745&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746420759452","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/960294"},{"teacherId":9798106,"projectId":9907469,"letterContent":"The beanbag chairs have arrived and were an instant hit. Whether they are being used for a quick sensory break or as a special seat for hard workers, they provide the comfort and support my students need to feel successful. Your investment in our classroom shows my students that there are people out there rooting for them. \r\nI cannot thank you enough for providing these beanbag chairs for our sensory space. For many of my students, the classroom can sometimes feel overwhelming. These chairs provide a 'soft landing' where they can go to decompress, practice deep breathing, and regain their focus. Having a dedicated, comfortable spot to regulate their emotions has made our entire classroom more peaceful and productive. You have truly made a difference in their well-being.","fullyFundedDate":1769177191348,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-space-bring-cozy-beanbag-chairs/9907469/","projectTitle":"Sensory Space: Bring Cozy Beanbag Chairs to Our Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rachele","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9798106_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1735601395931","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9798106"},{"teacherId":115200,"projectId":9828521,"letterContent":"The challenge we face each year teaching 3rd grade is there is a wide range of proficiency levels. Some students are ready for advanced problem-solving, while others need foundational practice to grasp core concepts like multiplication and fractions. Traditional, whole-group instruction often leaves the high-achieving students unchallenged and the struggling students feeling rushed and left behind. This \"one-size-fits-all\" approach hinders true mastery and growth.\r\n\r\nYour generous donation helped solve this problem by directly funding the materials necessary to create small-group, differentiated math centers. The high-interest task cards and games focus on specific skills (e.g., telling time, counting money, multiplication facts) at varying complexity levels.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has not just provided materials; it has fundamentally changed the way math is taught and learned in our classroom. Students are no longer passively receiving instruction. They are actively engaging with tasks tailored to their precise learning level. Those needing remediation receive intensive, teacher-led support, while those ready for extension can tackle challenging application problems, leading to faster, more meaningful academic growth for all.\r\n\r\nMath centers turn learning into an interactive, collaborative experience. Students are excited to work with the hands-on materials and cooperative games. This increased engagement has reduced math anxiety, boosted self-confidence, and fostered a positive, growth-oriented mindset.\r\n\r\nThe center format allows me to work with a small group of 3-5 students each day. This small-group setting allows for immediate, personalized feedback and deep assessment, ensuring I can identify and address misconceptions before they become permanent learning gaps.\r\n\r\nThank you for your generous donation. Our students are not just learning math—they are doing math. They are collaborating, problem-solving, and truly understanding the 'why' behind the numbers. These materials will be a cornerstone of the way I teach math for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1763581625119,"projectUrl":"project/differentiated-math-centers-for-3rd-grad/9828521/","projectTitle":"Differentiated Math Centers for 3rd Grade Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Teisinger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/115200"},{"teacherId":5342404,"projectId":9576373,"letterContent":"We have had an amazing start to this school year and it is so hard to believe how quickly time has passed! This project has provided us with so many basic essentials we needed to get off to a strong start. We have been able to use the materials like command hooks, paper tray holders, and shelving to improve our efficiency with displaying, organizing, and storing materials. We have been using the different holiday themed window clings to brighten up our learning space to look fun, warm, and inviting. My students have been absolutely LOVING the prizes I have been able to add to our classroom treasure box. This has been a game changer when it comes to their motivation to complete their work, stay on track, follow directions and rules, and work together as a class to meet our goals. Thank you so much for all of your incredible help through this project and please know the impact it has made is immeasurable!","fullyFundedDate":1758832796968,"projectUrl":"project/new-school-year-loadingready-set-go/9576373/","projectTitle":"New School Year Loading...READY, Set, Go!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Calzada","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5342404_orig.png?crop=1042,1042,x0,y76&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1641497430709","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kinderkids102"},{"teacherId":9786039,"projectId":9428491,"letterContent":"My class and I would like to extend a big thank you for donating math manipulatives to our classroom. The moment my students saw their math shelf transformed with bright, colorful new materials, they were overjoyed. They were excited to see their math toolbox expand as we began learning new concepts together.\r\n\r\nBefore we even officially introduced the manipulatives into our math lessons, students eagerly explored them during free play. They naturally began sorting and classifying—grouping yellow vehicles and separating big bears from small bears. Their imaginations also came to life as the fruit manipulatives made their way into our dramatic play kitchen, allowing students to connect math learning with real-world experiences.\r\n\r\nOne of the biggest impacts these tools have had in our classroom became especially clear during our addition and subtraction units. As we introduced one-to-one counting, students were able to physically hold and move objects, helping them visually see what counting truly means. This hands-on practice strengthened their understanding and confidence, which then carried over into addition and subtraction. Using ten frames with the manipulatives allowed students to clearly see how numbers are combined and taken apart, deepening their conceptual understanding.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we will continue to incorporate these manipulatives into our daily math lessons as we explore more complex concepts and strengthen foundational skills. Your generosity has provided meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities that will benefit my current and future students.","fullyFundedDate":1758814447808,"projectUrl":"project/tiny-tools-for-big-thinkers/9428491/","projectTitle":"Tiny Tools for Big Thinkers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ramirez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9786039_orig.jpg?crop=1054,1054,x0,y165&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750905894806","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9786039"},{"teacherId":26745,"projectId":9238067,"letterContent":"The students loved planting the seeds. Each student helped to fill the pots with soil and planted a few seeds, sadly the seeds did not grow. We read books about planting, and learned it was probably too cold for them to sprout by the air conditioning unit. In the spring they will plant again and place the pots in a different area to sprout. \r\n\r\nThe books, pots, soil and seeds are perfect for the class. The students loved learning about plant parts and growing the plants. They were sad that they did not grow, but excited to try again later in the year. Thank you so much for your generous donation.","fullyFundedDate":1746575673556,"projectUrl":"project/planting-seeds/9238067/","projectTitle":"Planting Seeds!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Steele","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp26745_orig.png?crop=271,271,x51,y21&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1714505437961","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/26745"},{"teacherId":9281283,"projectId":9750604,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support, our classroom has become an interactive place for my beginning readers. These new magnetic letter tiles have given them an exciting, hands-on way to explore letters, sounds, and words.\r\n The first time my students saw the tiles, their faces lit up. Students love using the letter tiles to practice their sight words and spelling words. I have been using the tiles during small group reading instruction to deepen students understandings of letter sounds. In small groups, students will build and manipulate words on their whiteboards, practice spelling patterns, and practice changing beginning, middle, and ending sounds. The tiles keep them engaged, confident, and eager to participate. \r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students tools that make learning active, meaningful, and fun. Your support is helping them grow into confident, capable readers and they feel proud every time they build a new word .","fullyFundedDate":1758824674307,"projectUrl":"project/magnetic-minds-building-reading-skills/9750604/","projectTitle":"Magnetic Minds: Building Reading Skills with Letter Tiles","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sierra","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9281283_orig.jpg?crop=450,450,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1695943120447","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9281283"},{"teacherId":26745,"projectId":9237824,"letterContent":"The students loved glow day! They were so excited for the games and activities. Bowling was the class favorite. Counting and tallying how many pins they knocked over was great counting practice. They counted how many parts they used in their Marble run creations, and solved the problem when the marble did not go where they wanted it to go. Drawing was also popular with the highlighters. They were putting beginning sounds to their illustrations. Many times I heard, \" This is the best day ever,\" or, \"School is fun!\" Thank you for your generous donation.","fullyFundedDate":1747528229137,"projectUrl":"project/we-will-glow-up-to-first-grade/9237824/","projectTitle":"We Will Glow Up to First Grade!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Steele","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp26745_orig.png?crop=271,271,x51,y21&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1714505437961","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/26745"},{"teacherId":3875083,"projectId":9558545,"letterContent":"Thank you enormously for your generous donation. As a first-grade teacher, having a print-rich environment is incredibility important. Being able to have a printer in the classroom; especially one that prints in color makes a huge difference. It helps create a more inviting, vivid space for students and enhances their learning experience. Most importantly, it allows me to provide classwork in color so students can learn the best of their ability. \r\n\r\nColorful materials also help students better understand and retain information. When charts, vocabulary cards and reading passages are printed in color, students are more engaged and can more easily notice important details. Overall, your donation directly supports stronger comprehension, deeper focus, and more joyful learning experiences for every student in my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1755744773498,"projectUrl":"project/printing-our-path-to-success-in-1st-grad/9558545/","projectTitle":"Printing Our Path to Success in 1st Grade!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lopez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3875083_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y60&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1552970100049","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3875083"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5844","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":763,"numTeachers":29,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":95,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"26.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":64.8,"schoolId":5844,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Cardenas Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Cardenas Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/cardenas-school/5844"}