{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Wilson Wims Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":27.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":10230942,"letterContent":"I'm so excited to build activities around the picture books for this year's Black-Eyed Susan picture book nominees! One of the books, Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer, is perfect to challenge students to build structures that grow from both the top down and the bottom up to meet in the middle without collapsing.\r\n\r\nOne of the nonfictions books, Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault by Megan Clendenan, is perfect for having students plant their own seeds and watch a beansprout, carrot, or flower grow throughout the year.\r\n\r\nSomething new I'd like to try this year for chapter books and pictures book nominees is to give students a passport and stamp it every time they finish. Then in the spring, they can bring me their passport to cast their official vote for their favorite book.","fullyFundedDate":1788995038088,"projectUrl":"project/black-eyed-susan-books-2026-2027/10230942/","projectTitle":"Black-Eyed Susan Books 2026- 2027","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"},{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":10265603,"letterContent":"Our students had a fun time opening the boxes as they arrived to discover the new books. They were specifically excited by the covers of \"The Girl in the Walls\", \"Fooled\", \"Good different\" and \"Very Bad at Math\". Students typically pick up a book on their own because they judge the cover so the fact they were already interested is great. I always encourage students to read the inside cover or the summary on the back and flip through a few pages before making their ultimate decision.\r\n\r\nWhat really stood out to me was the conversations I was able to have with classes based on the special needs of book characters and hearing so many students either interested to learn more or relating personally. One of our students has scoliosis and is very open about how it effects her life. When she found out that the main character in \"Where Only Storms Grow: A Novel About the Dust Bowl\" has scoliosis, she was ecstatic. I was really happy with her reaction so I let her take it home before we'd covered it or processed it!\r\nThank you for fulfilling this project which led to a lot of amazing reactions and emotions.","fullyFundedDate":1778293926307,"projectUrl":"project/book-characters-with-diverse-abilities/10265603/","projectTitle":"Book Characters with Diverse Abilities","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"},{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":10149889,"letterContent":"Teaching compassion in the library bridges the gap between literacy skills and social-emotional learning (SEL), turning a standard story time into a meaningful life lesson. Filo's Butterflies creates a discussion about how the character feels when they have to do something they have never done before, in this case perform a dance at a wedding. Our students head into the school year with a lot of unknowns; what is their teacher like, will they make friends in their class, will they have people to play with at recess? Our students also get the chance to participate in a variety show where they are in front of many people in our school. They are very familiar with butterflies and can show empathy towards Filo.\r\n\r\nIn addition to building compassion for the characters, the books in this project give us a chance to talk about showing compassion to the book itself. Talking about book care on its own is not compelling to many students, but teaching that treating books with compassion also shows compassion to the next student to borrow it.","fullyFundedDate":1778280122830,"projectUrl":"project/cultivating-compassion-through-books/10149889/","projectTitle":"Cultivating Compassion Through Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"},{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":10160555,"letterContent":"On behalf of our students and staff, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude for your\r\nrecent donation of nonfiction picture books to our library. Nonfiction for elementary students is a unique and vital tool. Unlike the dry textbooks of the past, these books use narrative storytelling and vibrant \"visual scaffolding\" to make complex ideas—from the mechanics of a honeybee hive to the vastness of the solar system—deeply relatable and exciting. \r\n\r\nWe're able to take topics students are learning in class, like the solar system, and give them either an extension so they can learn more or scaffolding so they have a text at their reading level which may be lower than their grade level which allows them to understand the concepts better.\r\n\r\nErno Rubik and His Magic Cube was the first book to go. Students have been waiting since last year for a book about the Rubik cube. Students even brought in their own cube to show their interest!","fullyFundedDate":1773868141873,"projectUrl":"project/hooking-nonfiction-readers/10160555/","projectTitle":"Hooking Nonfiction Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"},{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":10130859,"letterContent":"On behalf of our community, thank you so much for your generous contributions during Arab American Heritage Month. Your gifts do more than just fill our shelves; they open windows into vibrant cultures, histories, and perspectives that enrich us all. The books teach readers to distinguish between different nationalities, religions, and traditions within the Arab world, fostering a more sophisticated understanding of global diversity. By seeing familiar narrative structures applied to Arab American protagonists, readers learn that universal themes—like coming of age, courage, and family—transcend cultural boundaries.","fullyFundedDate":1773837654882,"projectUrl":"project/books-to-celebrate-arab-american-heritag/10130859/","projectTitle":"Books to Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"},{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":10087478,"letterContent":"we believe that some of the most important lessons in life don't happen at a desk—they happen on the field, the court, and the track. Thanks to your generous support, our library now hosts a vibrant collection of sports-themed literature that uses the power of athletics to teach essential life skills.\r\n\r\nThese new texts are doing much more than telling stories of touchdowns and home runs. They are providing our students with a playbook for character development. By engaging with these stories, our students are exploring:\r\n\r\n- Resilience and \"The Bounce Back\": Learning through the eyes of athletes how to handle a loss or a mistake with grace and the determination to try again.\r\n\r\n- The Anatomy of Teamwork: Understanding that individual success is secondary to the collective goal, and learning how to support a \"teammate\" who is struggling.\r\n\r\n- Self-Discipline and Focus: Discovering the link between practice, preparation, and performance—lessons that translate directly from the gymnasium to the classroom.\r\n\r\n- Fair Play and Integrity: Navigating the ethics of sportsmanship and the importance of honesty, even when the score is close.","fullyFundedDate":1772893753542,"projectUrl":"project/books-about-life-skills-through-sports/10087478/","projectTitle":"Books About Life Skills Through Sports","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"},{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":9889824,"letterContent":"Your generosity has officially transformed our library from a quiet room of shelves into a bustling laboratory of innovation. Because of your contributions toward Duplo LEGO sets and STEM-focused literature, our students aren't just reading about the world—they are building it.\r\n\r\nThe integration of STEM books with hands-on Duplo materials has created a bridge between abstract concepts and real-world application. Through these new resources, our students are mastering critical life skills, including:\r\n\r\n- Structural Logic: Using Duplo bricks to recreate the architectural marvels they see in our new engineering books.\r\n\r\n- Iterative Thinking: Learning that \"failure\" is just a first draft. When a tower falls, they consult their texts, adjust their base, and try again.\r\n\r\n- Collaborative Problem-Solving: Working in \"design teams\" to solve challenges presented in storybooks, such as building a bridge to help a character cross a river.\r\n\r\n- Early Spatial Awareness: Developing the fine motor skills and geometric understanding necessary for advanced mathematics and science.","fullyFundedDate":1772215393612,"projectUrl":"project/duplo-lego-and-stem-library-books/9889824/","projectTitle":"Duplo LEGO and STEM Library Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"},{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":9842998,"letterContent":"Because of your support, our library shelves are no longer just rows of books—they are now a toolkit for kindness. On behalf of the students and staff, I want to share the incredible transformation your contributions have sparked within our school walls.\r\n\r\nThe new collection of bullying prevention texts has introduced our students to a vocabulary for empathy that they didn't have before. These aren't just stories; they are mirrors and windows. Through these books, our students are learning:\r\n\r\n- The Power of the \"Upstander\": Lessons on how to safely intervene when they see a peer being mistreated.\r\n\r\n- Emotional Literacy: Identifying the \"why\" behind their own feelings and recognizing the perspectives of others.\r\n\r\n- Conflict Resolution: Learning that a disagreement doesn't have to lead to a fallout, and how to use \"I feel\" statements to bridge gaps.\r\n\r\n- Celebrating Difference: Moving beyond tolerance toward a genuine appreciation of the diverse backgrounds that make our library community strong.","fullyFundedDate":1771810702732,"projectUrl":"project/books-about-bullying-prevention/9842998/","projectTitle":"Books About Bullying Prevention","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"},{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":9797041,"letterContent":"The books under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint are amazing and they line up so well with our curriculum, too! These books are culturally diverse and have so many types of mythologies from around the world: Hindu, Mayan, Aztec, Korean, Cuban, African-American & West African, Mexican, Mesopotamian, Korean, Hmong, Ghanaian, Chinese, Navajo, and Philippine. I introduced these books to students as soon as they all arrived and immediately I had students telling me where they were born or where their grandparents live. They were eager to read the mythologies that related to them.","fullyFundedDate":1762009316724,"projectUrl":"project/rick-riordan-presents-library-books/9797041/","projectTitle":"Rick Riordan Presents Library Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"},{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":9810423,"letterContent":"The Branches books have been the most popular books in the library since they arrived. I moved them to a special bookshelf so they weren't spread out based on the author's last name. This makes it easier for our students to find, especially the younger readers.\r\n\r\nThe most popular series has been Press Start. Students say they like it because it reminds them of the video games they play at home. Owl Diaries and Dragon Masters are the next most popular. Students love that they're reading a chapter book, but that the books are on the shorter side. Readers feel empowered that they can finish a whole book.","fullyFundedDate":1761953006275,"projectUrl":"project/scholastic-branches-library-books/9810423/","projectTitle":"Scholastic Branches Library Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"},{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":9766255,"letterContent":"The consumable materials you bought us are anything but basic! As I unveiled the box of goodies, students were talking about different crafts they could make. The marshmallows went from building towers, creating clouds in a landscape, to just plain wanting to eat them. The white paper plates sparked ideas like a dream catcher, paint palate, and noise maker. When students saw the gum drops and the toothpicks, everyone immediately thought of connecting the gumdrops using the toothpicks to make different shapes and structures.\r\n\r\nYesterday, I worked with a group of 10 students to build catapults thanks to the Capstone book, rubber bands, craft sticks, and spoon. Some students excelled with tying a rubber band (mainly the girls with long hair used to hair ties) while others struggled. It was amazing to watch how each student put in effort and never gave up. One student was even someone's personal cheerleader saying that it's okay to take it slow and giving multiple options for how to accomplish the task.","fullyFundedDate":1761148751637,"projectUrl":"project/stem-challenges-in-the-library/9766255/","projectTitle":"STEM Challenges in the Library","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"},{"teacherId":1545031,"projectId":9743138,"letterContent":"Thank you for giving our students Magna-Tiles to use in the library at their Makerspace station. Students told me they love Magna-Tiles because it gives students a chance to be creative and to construct. As an educator, I love Magna-Tiles because they are so versatile. Students can work on their own, with a buddy, or with a group. Students are using critical thinking skills and building collaboration skills, too.\r\n\r\nMy most recent group of students built a Christmas village with a road circling it. Students got paper and colored pencils and created street names and labeled buildings. It was amazing to see their creativity blossom!","fullyFundedDate":1758841396977,"projectUrl":"project/stem-magna-tiles-in-the-library/9743138/","projectTitle":"STEM Magna-Tiles in the Library","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1545031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785620054885","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hall226"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_107428","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":474,"numTeachers":63,"percentFrplEligible":19,"percentAsian":37,"percentBlack":22,"percentWhite":19,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":13,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":6,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"7.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":72.3,"schoolId":107428,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Wilson Wims Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Wilson Wims Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maryland/montgomery-county-public-schools/wilson-wims-elementary-school/107428"}