{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Merrill Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":32.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":584367,"projectId":9203081,"letterContent":"We are so grateful for your donation of the grade-level IXL Math workbooks! These resources are already helping my students strengthen their skills in areas such as multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and problem solving. The workbooks break math concepts into clear, manageable lessons that allow students to build both fluency and confidence. With these structured practice opportunities, my students are able to review key skills, prepare for new ones, and see the progress they are making.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, math time is a combination of direct instruction, small group practice, and independent problem solving. The IXL workbooks fit perfectly into this routine by providing extra practice that students can complete at their own pace. They are able to check their answers, reflect on mistakes, and celebrate successes. This makes math less intimidating and helps students see it as a subject they can grow in with effort and persistence.\r\n\r\nSeveral students have already expressed how much they enjoy the new workbooks. One student who has struggled with multi-step word problems proudly announced that he was able to solve a whole page correctly without giving up. Another student, who is usually shy about math, now eagerly asks to use her workbook during morning work time because she loves the way the problems are organized and easy to follow. These moments show me just how valuable these resources are in fostering both skills and confidence.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the tools they need to succeed in math. Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in their learning journey, and we are truly grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1744033060907,"projectUrl":"project/ixl-classroom-resources/9203081/","projectTitle":"IXL Classroom Resources","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp584367_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478278603546","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/organizeourfuture"},{"teacherId":584367,"projectId":9184344,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of the Spectrum workbooks for math, science, reading, and writing! These resources have already begun making a difference in our classroom. Each subject area brings unique opportunities for students to grow—whether it's strengthening comprehension skills through nonfiction passages, practicing clear and organized writing, exploring scientific concepts through structured activities, or building problem-solving strategies in math. These workbooks allow students to practice foundational skills step by step, while also encouraging independence and confidence in their learning.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading looks like a blend of guided practice and joyful exploration. Students work in small groups to tackle new reading passages, highlighting main ideas, making inferences, and learning how to back up their answers with text evidence. They also enjoy partner work, where they take turns being the \"teacher\" by asking one another comprehension questions. The structure provided in the Spectrum reading and writing workbooks makes it easier for students to transfer these skills into their own writing, whether they are summarizing a passage or creating their own narratives.\r\n\r\nOne of my students, who usually struggles to stay engaged during independent practice, has found a new interest in the science workbook. The short, approachable passages paired with questions help him feel successful and give him the confidence to share his answers with the class. Another student, who is developing a love for writing, lights up when we use the writing workbook prompts—she often goes beyond the exercise to create a full page of writing. These moments remind us how powerful the right resources can be in sparking curiosity and building confidence.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students' learning journey. Your generosity has brought meaningful resources that are already creating a ripple effect of excitement and growth in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1752671547077,"projectUrl":"project/a-spectrum-of-skills/9184344/","projectTitle":"A Spectrum of Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp584367_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478278603546","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/organizeourfuture"},{"teacherId":584367,"projectId":8927257,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of take-and-build STEM kits for our classroom! My students and I are using these resources during our weekly STEM block, where we focus on creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. One recent project asked students to design and build bridges strong enough to hold a stack of books. It was incredible to watch their faces light up as they experimented, revised their designs, and proudly tested their creations. The kits provided the perfect hands-on tools to bring abstract engineering concepts to life.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the STEM kits, there was an immediate buzz of excitement in the room. They were eager to dig in, explore the pieces, and brainstorm what they might be able to create. Some students were drawn to building tall towers, while others wanted to design moving parts. It was clear that the kits sparked curiosity right from the start and gave students the freedom to think outside the box.\r\n\r\nThe next steps for my students include taking on more structured STEM challenges that connect to our science curriculum, such as designing simple machines, creating models of ecosystems, or building vehicles that can move. These projects will not only strengthen their understanding of scientific principles but also build teamwork and resilience as they learn to test ideas, fail forward, and try again. Your support has given my students opportunities to explore and innovate in ways that will stay with them for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1733250753935,"projectUrl":"project/take-and-build-kits/8927257/","projectTitle":"Take and Build Kits","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp584367_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478278603546","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/organizeourfuture"},{"teacherId":4406288,"projectId":9181420,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations to help me purchase these items for my classroom. These books will help me to work with my students on grit and perseverance.\r\nGrit and perseverance are two areas that my students struggle in. They always give up or quit halfway through a lesson or challenge. They claim that things are always hard for them and they just give up and get frustrated with learning. \r\nThe materials that you helped purchase are teaching books that have lessons, stories, and information I can use to help my students learn and practice skills related to grit and perseverance.\r\nThank you again for your donations to buy materials that I will use to help my students learn to tackle hard parts of life.","fullyFundedDate":1746699704983,"projectUrl":"project/help-me-understand-what-grit-and-perserv/9181420/","projectTitle":"HELP Me Understand what GRIT and PERSERVERANCE Is?","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Frederick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4406288"},{"teacherId":9843869,"projectId":9035313,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your generous donation of flexible seating options. Your thoughtfulness makes a world of difference in helping us create a productive and enriching learning environment.\r\n\r\nYour generous support has made a world of difference in our classroom. The students are more focused, comfortable, and excited to be a part of the learning process. Thank you for investing in their success and making our space more inclusive and inspiring!\r\nThank you again for your kindness and support.","fullyFundedDate":1746649467965,"projectUrl":"project/choosing-a-comfy-seat-to-stay-engaged/9035313/","projectTitle":"Choosing a Comfy Seat to Stay Engaged","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anne Carney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9843869"},{"teacherId":7902328,"projectId":8834186,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your generous donation to fund Science Comics for our 5th-grade classroom. Your support has brought a new level of excitement and engagement to our science lessons, and the students absolutely love these visually engaging and informative books.\r\n\r\nThe comics have made complex scientific concepts come to life in such a fun and accessible way. It's incredible to see the students dive into learning, sparked by the colorful illustrations and captivating stories. Your contribution is fostering a love for science that will last long beyond this school year.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your kindness and for making such a positive impact on our students' education!","fullyFundedDate":1728014347982,"projectUrl":"project/science-comics/8834186/","projectTitle":"Science Comics","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tupper","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7902328"},{"teacherId":7902328,"projectId":8333001,"letterContent":"Thank you for your incredibly generous donation to fund math games for our 5th-grade classroom. Your support has provided a fun and engaging way for our students to practice and strengthen their math skills, and it's already making a positive impact in our learning environment.\r\n\r\nThe students are excited to participate in the games, and I've noticed how much more engaged they are in their math lessons. These games not only make learning more enjoyable but also help reinforce important concepts in a hands-on way. It's been amazing to watch the students grow in their confidence and enthusiasm for math!\r\n\r\nYour kindness and support mean the world to us. Thank you for making a difference in our classroom and for helping to inspire a love of learning in our students.","fullyFundedDate":1715390288582,"projectUrl":"project/making-math-fun/8333001/","projectTitle":"Making Math Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tupper","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7902328"},{"teacherId":7902328,"projectId":8867916,"letterContent":"I am beyond grateful for your kind and thoughtful donation to support the students in my 5th-grade classroom. Your contribution to providing snacks for our class has made a world of difference, and I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generous donation, our classroom has been able to offer healthy snacks to our students during the school day. For many of them, this snack break is not only an opportunity to refuel but also a time for connection. The simple act of sharing snacks provides an important social opportunity for students to build relationships and enjoy their time together. It is truly heartwarming to see the smiles on their faces as they gather around for a quick snack, and I've witnessed firsthand how these moments of sharing help strengthen their sense of community.","fullyFundedDate":1734110113683,"projectUrl":"project/healthy-snacks-for-students/8867916/","projectTitle":"Healthy Snacks for Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tupper","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7902328"},{"teacherId":4406288,"projectId":9029475,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations. My students were very happy to be able to have a snack everyday for about a month and a half. The snacks that you donated put a smile on all of my students faces. They loved each and every one of the snack items.\r\nI asked my students what they would say to each of you if they had a chance to say thank you in person. Most of the students said\" thank you for your generosity. We were able to eat some yummy snacks all because of your help. Our favorite snack were the cookies! Thank you kind people for helping us get some snacks\". \r\nMy students said this with big smiles on their faces. So from me and my students. We once again want to thank you for your kindness!","fullyFundedDate":1736983691225,"projectUrl":"project/winter-snack-attack-for-5th-grade/9029475/","projectTitle":"Winter Snack Attack for 5th Grade!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Frederick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4406288"},{"teacherId":584367,"projectId":8629884,"letterContent":"My student were blown away by the amount of healthy, delicious snacks that were delivered to our classroom! We had so many amazon boxes delivered and it was like Christmas morning for them opening the boxes of delicious treats. \r\nTeaching in a low income district can be so hard and heartbreaking at times. These resources have helped me to provide students with a simple snack. Now, they are able to focus on their work and not their hungry tummies! It is amazing that something as simple as 5 round crackers can help a student focus and complete their efficiently.","fullyFundedDate":1733410719895,"projectUrl":"project/filling-tummy-tanks/8629884/","projectTitle":"Filling Tummy Tanks","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp584367_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478278603546","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/organizeourfuture"},{"teacherId":584367,"projectId":8533160,"letterContent":"These materials are by far some of our favorite additions to our classroom! The wobbly seats are highly sought after and the kids LOVE them! I thoroughly enjoy the pencil dispenser. It may seem like a small addition but it has such a large storage capacity that we rarely run out of sharpened pencils! \r\nThe Bumble Bee Happy Mail letters make it quick and easy to send home a positive note to parents, which we all love! Finally, the healthy snacks are definitely something that the students look forward to throughout the day and have significantly helped them to focus their attention!","fullyFundedDate":1733266289395,"projectUrl":"project/inspirational-additions/8533160/","projectTitle":"Inspirational Additions","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp584367_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478278603546","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/organizeourfuture"},{"teacherId":584367,"projectId":7998334,"letterContent":"Your generous donations of classroom STEM bins and materials have been implemented in our classroom and they have been a huge hit! When ever students are given independent work time, they work hard to finish their assignment in a timely manner so they are able to use the early finisher STEM bins. I love that they are compact and secure so that students can quickly and easily grab a bin and take them to their seats. Not only are they easy to use and engaging, but they are educational for students! Thank you again for helping make this classroom engaging!","fullyFundedDate":1701214875722,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-problem-solving-through-play/7998334/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Problem Solving Through Play!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp584367_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478278603546","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/organizeourfuture"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_28348","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":233,"numTeachers":20,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":65,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":29,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"3 - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":67.4,"schoolId":28348,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Merrill Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Merrill Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/rock-falls-elementary-school-district-13/merrill-elementary-school/28348"}