{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Martin Luther King Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":28.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9556401,"projectId":9647324,"letterContent":"The students were full of smiles when they saw the pillow and beanbag chairs in the reading corner. \r\nA unit about fables was just completed. The students loved curling up with a version of Cinderella or Little Red Riding Hood in their new, cozy corner. I could hear them sharing parts of a story or reading to themselves. It was a delight to see their enthusiasm.\r\nEach day there is an opportunity to practice their independent reading skills at the reading center. They take pride in their skills and in the space that you helped create.","fullyFundedDate":1758029082332,"projectUrl":"project/curl-up-and-read/9647324/","projectTitle":"Curl Up and Read","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Myers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9556401"},{"teacherId":9762830,"projectId":9496636,"letterContent":"Your donations for the Teachers Pay Teacher's gift card has afforded me purchasing options that meet my students' learning needs and interests. One example of a purchase is a digital program that I can tailor to create escape \"rooms\" for students to engage in learning in a fun and engaging way. They are so motivated to do the academic work and solve the clues and race to escape! The program allows me to create lessons for all academic subjects. Another purchase is the student lottery digital board. I used this in a variety of ways to support learning and engagement, but also to support the learning community. Students get to add their initials to the board each time they learn a skill or support a peer in their learning. They add their initials and then I pick numbers to get a prize. The students love this opportunity and have increased participation. \r\nThese are just a few purchases and all of them will be used for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1758305649572,"projectUrl":"project/give-the-gift-of-engaging-lessons/9496636/","projectTitle":"Give the Gift of Engaging Lessons","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sebens","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9762830"},{"teacherId":4867018,"projectId":9651044,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the new wobbly chairs. Now we have have groups of 4-5 students they can each have a wobbly chair to use every time. This helps my students focus while still getting to move a little on their seats. They loved the new chairs.\r\n\r\nThey also love the new pencil sharpener that lets them be able to sharpen their thicker pencils quickly. This sharpener allows my students to use any size pencil and now they have an easy way to sharpen them instead of with a small hand sharpener.\r\n\r\nLastly, thank you for the prek-k and k-1 reading and math file folders. This will make life so much easier. Instead of having to hand make new ones for skills my students are learning they are already made. These will also last longer. Also the students love the new activities and how colorful the file folders are.","fullyFundedDate":1760776576766,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-and-independent-activit/9651044/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating and Independent Activities","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Stiverson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4867018_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507755164193","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-stiverson"},{"teacherId":9837755,"projectId":9317825,"letterContent":"The light covers have provided a huge calming impact to our classroom. They help students focus and reduce hyper activities/anxiety behaviors. Plus, they look nice!\r\n\r\nThis is aligned with the research that shows that fluorescent lights can cause anxious behaviors, and headaches, and both students and teachers. So, I feel that I have benefited from them as well. Our classroom environment has been greatly impacted in a positive way.\r\n\r\nThese light covers will have a lasting impact for years and years to come. Thank you so much for your donation. It is very much appreciated!","fullyFundedDate":1746480711579,"projectUrl":"project/calm-lighting-covers/9317825/","projectTitle":"Calm Lighting Covers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Willetts","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9837755"},{"teacherId":9564077,"projectId":9219198,"letterContent":"We are so incredibly thankful for your support of our theater programs! For many of our students, these are the affordable performances to attend as well as being instrumental to the success of the show. Each day that a class has earned their points for the day, we have voted on which package to do an \"unboxing\" of at the end of our class time. Even the younger students who are not as involved in the backstage and stage prep for the production find their curiosity piqued.\r\n I am most grateful for the access to materials that would not normally be affordable in our yearly budget. I apply for grants and scholarships so that our students are able to create costumes that are usable for multiple shows and years. Being able to repurpose materials is also important to me, and watching how the students create unusual ways to upcycle is delightful.\r\n We truly appreciate all of your support and giving to magnify what we are able to do on stage with young actors...especially in hopes that they will continue to support, engage in, and be consumers of fine arts for the rest of their lives. Thank you and Namasté...","fullyFundedDate":1747752955265,"projectUrl":"project/creating-the-solar-system-on-our-school/9219198/","projectTitle":"Creating the Solar System on Our School Stage!","teacherDisplayName":"Mx. Sherrie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9564077_orig.jpg?crop=730,730,x0,y59&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717659960710","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/myhandsdo"},{"teacherId":9762830,"projectId":9140446,"letterContent":"I am truly grateful for the storage tools provided in the classroom. These tools helped create a more organized and welcoming learning environment, where materials are easy to find and clutter is minimized. Theses designated items are not only supporting me in managing the classroom more efficiently, but has also encouraged the children to take responsibility for keeping their space tidy and orderly.\r\n\r\nFor the children, accessible and well-labeled storage builds independence and fosters decision-making skills. They have easily located and returned items on their own with a feel a sense of ownership and confidence in their environment. \r\n \r\nIt has created a more, well-organized classroom and I see an increase in better focus, fewer distractions, and more time spent on meaningful learning activities. These tools play an essential role in supporting both academic and social-emotional development.","fullyFundedDate":1745954313442,"projectUrl":"project/building-brighter-minds-help-us-organiz/9140446/","projectTitle":"Building Brighter Minds: Help Us Organize Our LEGO Learning Space!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sebens","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9762830"},{"teacherId":9762830,"projectId":9087922,"letterContent":"The impact from your funding has reached several grade levels. from the school's youngest learners in guided instruction in learning how to follow instructions when putting together a model to older students working in teams to create larger scaled modeled kits. I overheard one of the older students tell the group, \"Teamwork makes the dream work!\" SO TRUE!\r\nThe students were unable to hold their excitement when they saw the products. They quickly started asking when they would be able to engage and if they could pick partners to work with. Several students put dibs in on the colossal sets. \r\nWith the materials, we continue to work on the items and add to a front display in our school everyone to view and parents and guests view our students' work and post that the items were possible from supports from Donors Choose. Over the summer, I will take apart and we will start again! We may even set up a Lego club for students to be in a safe space and with adults extending their school day with learning.","fullyFundedDate":1739369087502,"projectUrl":"project/lego-sets-stem-learning/9087922/","projectTitle":"LEGO Sets STEM Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sebens","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9762830"},{"teacherId":4867018,"projectId":9092529,"letterContent":"The squeeze machine is being used in our sensory room for those students who need that type of pressure. Anyone who has sensory needs is able to go and use it.\r\n\r\nThe students were so excited to see it in the sensory room and immediately wanted to try it. They were excited to learn how to use it.\r\n\r\nNext steps are to train paraprofessionals on how students should be using the squeeze machine and thinking about who benefits from using it.\r\n\r\nThank you again for all of your help and support for our school. This will help our students get the sensory input they have been looking for.","fullyFundedDate":1739369096675,"projectUrl":"project/deep-pressure-squeeze/9092529/","projectTitle":"Deep Pressure Squeeze","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Stiverson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4867018_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507755164193","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-stiverson"},{"teacherId":9837755,"projectId":8947522,"letterContent":"We use technology daily in our classroom for a variety of tasks. The students have a math and reading program that directly links to their assessments. This allows for individualized instruction that is in complete alignment with what the students know and what they are ready to learn. This instructional sweet spot is difficult to get to in whole group instruction. \r\n\r\nThe students also use technology to research topics that we are learning about. The headphones allow for all students to be working at the same time without noisy distractions from other students' computers. This enables students to focus and learn at their own level and pace. \r\n\r\nThank you SOOOOO much for your generous donation. The students and I are so very grateful!!","fullyFundedDate":1735236605273,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-for-1st-grade-at-king-school/8947522/","projectTitle":"Headphones for 1st Grade at King School","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Willetts","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9837755"},{"teacherId":9837755,"projectId":8944256,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations! The students absolutely LOVE the light covers. There were a bunch of OOOHHHHHs and AAAHHHHs when I turned them on for the first time. \r\n\r\nThe beanbag chairs and weighted stuffed animals have given students comfort in times of pain and sorrow. This comfort has helped them calm down and enabled them to return to learning faster than before. \r\n\r\nThe liquid tiles have also been a great addition to our classroom by helping students calm down and focus. Many adults in the school comment on how calm my class is and that is in part due to your help. THANK YOU!!!","fullyFundedDate":1733269987102,"projectUrl":"project/trauma-informed-tools-for-calm-classroom/8944256/","projectTitle":"Trauma Informed Tools for Calm Classroom Environment","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Willetts","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9837755"},{"teacherId":9556401,"projectId":8951996,"letterContent":"\"We have the best room, now.\"\r\n\"Wow!\"\r\n\"When I sit on our new carpet under the sky and cloud lights, I feel like I am outside. I really like it.\" \r\n\r\nThe students were excited by the new carpet. It, along with an overhaul of the bulletin boards, and some accessories, has created a calm, cohesive environment. The colors of nature and the leaf design all help foster a sense of focus and tranquility essential for learning.\r\n\r\nYou did that for us! \r\n\r\nThank you for your generous donations and for bringing a bit of joy into the classroom each day.","fullyFundedDate":1734042605863,"projectUrl":"project/magic-carpet-ride/8951996/","projectTitle":"Magic Carpet Ride","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Myers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9556401"},{"teacherId":9762830,"projectId":8964826,"letterContent":"We have so many learning opportunities for students to see themselves in the resources that were funded through the \"Windows and Mirrors - Finding Oneself Through Literature\" project. The skills introduced encapsulated not only academics, but heavily supported Social Emotional learning. \r\nReading is embedded in all our school day and crosses curriculum in all subjects. One of the uses of the book, Killer Underwear Invasion! How to Spot Fake News, Disinformation & Conspiracy Theories by Elise Gravel was to invite a guest reader that is an Informational Technology specialist from our school IT department to add to our learning of spotting fake news and disinformation by vetting the source(es). The students enjoyed learning how to follow and vet and many learned that what they thought was true, was in fact not.","fullyFundedDate":1733371794505,"projectUrl":"project/windows-and-mirrors-finding-oneself-th/8964826/","projectTitle":"Windows and Mirrors - Finding Oneself Through Literature","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sebens","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9762830"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_28221","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":303,"numTeachers":29,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":19,"percentBlack":55,"percentWhite":11,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":4,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"10.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":71.9,"schoolId":28221,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Martin Luther King Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Martin Luther King Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/urbana-school-district-116/martin-luther-king-elementary-school/28221"}