Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School in Brooklyn, New York on DonorsChoose

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Here's how they are enhancing the learning process:\r\nBlocking Distractions: Our classrooms are busy places with different activities happening simultaneously—small group discussions, independent work, and teacher instruction. The noise-canceling feature of the headphones creates a private, focused environment. Students who are easily distracted can now tune out the surrounding noise and dedicate their full attention to the task at hand, whether it's reading a digital textbook or solving a complex problem.\r\nDifferentiating Instruction: We use the headphones to deliver instruction at each student's pace. For instance, students can listen to **pre-recorded lessons** or educational videos at a volume and speed that suits their needs. Students who need to re-listen to a concept can do so instantly, while students who are ready to move ahead can access advanced materials without disrupting others.\r\nEnhancing Technology-Based Practice: When using educational software for subjects like math drills or foreign language practice, the headphones allow students to hear audio prompts clearly and accurately, improving their pronunciation practice and comprehension of instructions.\r\nFocused Choice: They love being able to \"turn off the noise\" of a busy classroom when they need to concentrate. It gives them control over their immediate learning environment.\r\nClarity: For many, particularly those with auditory processing challenges, the clear, direct audio is thrilling. They are no longer straining to hear a distant speaker or struggling to distinguish speech from background noise. This simple clarity has lowered stress and boosted confidence when completing audio-based assignments.\r\nchnology, and how so?\r\n\r\nWe have seen remarkable changes in several groups of students:\r\nStudents with Attention Challenges: One student, who previously struggled to complete independent work without constant redirection, now immediately puts on his headphones for \"focus time.\" The headphones serve as a strong cue that it is time to concentrate, and his time-on-task and assignment completion rates have dramatically improved.\r\nEnglish Language Learners (ELL): Several of our students who are learning English have embraced the headphones. They can utilize language apps that speak words slowly and repeat phrases many times. This personalized, non-judgmental audio feedback is crucial for building fluency and confidence faster than traditional methods alone.\r\nThe \"Quiet Worker\" We have a student who is naturally very quiet and easily overwhelmed by a loud environment. The ability to minimize external noise has allowed her to fully engage with digital activities. She has gone from being hesitant to participate in computer-based assessments to confidently working on complex coding tutorials with her headphones on.\r\n\r\nThank you again for equipping our students with the tools they need to succeed in a modern, focused, and personalized learning environment. 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About this school

Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School is an urban public school in Brooklyn, New York that is part of New York State Department Education. It serves 309 students in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 8.8:1. Its teachers have had 10 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 6 - 8

309 Students

35 Teachers

500 19th St

Brooklyn, NY 11215 View local requests

http://www.bugsbrooklyn.org

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mr. Colon

Ms. Jen

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Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School Demographics

26%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

35%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.