{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Martin Luther King Junior School","outOfStateSupporters":37.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9849567,"projectId":9605040,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generosity and belief in my students. Because of your support, my special education classroom has been transformed in meaningful and lasting ways. The visual aids, hands-on models, and sensory fidgets you helped provide are not simply materials; they are essential tools that support access, engagement, and independence for students with diverse learning needs.\r\n\r\nMy classroom serves students with a wide range of exceptionalities, including learning disabilities, attention difficulties, and sensory processing needs. For many of my students, traditional instruction alone is not sufficient. They benefit most when learning is concrete, structured, and multi-sensory. The resources you funded directly address those needs and have already made a noticeable impact on how students participate, regulate themselves, and demonstrate understanding.\r\n\r\nThe visual aids have been especially powerful. Clear visual schedules, charts, and instructional supports help students anticipate transitions, understand expectations, and reduce anxiety throughout the school day. Several of my students struggle with processing verbal directions, but when information is paired with visuals, they are far more successful. I have seen students independently reference charts during lessons, follow routines with greater confidence, and remain engaged for longer periods of time. These tools promote autonomy, which is a critical goal in special education.\r\n\r\nThe models you provided have also elevated instruction across subject areas. Abstract concepts in math, science, and language development can be challenging for my students, but hands-on models allow them to manipulate, explore, and truly grasp ideas that once felt inaccessible. For example, students who previously became frustrated during math instruction are now actively participating, using models to problem-solve and explain their thinking. This shift has led to increased confidence and a willingness to take academic risks, which is something we continuously strive to build.\r\n\r\nThe fidgets have made a significant difference in self-regulation and focus. Many of my students need sensory input in order to stay calm and attentive. Having appropriate, purposeful fidgets available has reduced off-task behavior and helped students channel their energy productively. Instead of struggling to sit still or becoming overwhelmed, students are now better able to remain present during instruction and small-group activities. This has created a calmer, more supportive learning environment for everyone.\r\n\r\nBeyond academic growth, these materials have positively affected students' emotional well-being. When students feel supported and successful, their confidence grows. I have seen students who once avoided participation now raise their hands, collaborate with peers, and take pride in their work. These moments matter. They reflect not just academic progress, but personal growth and resilience.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has also had a lasting impact on me as an educator. Having access to high-quality, purposeful materials allows me to plan instruction that is responsive to my students' needs and aligned with best practices in special education. It reaffirms that there are people beyond our classroom walls who care deeply about inclusive education and student success.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and believing in their potential. Your support has helped remove barriers, foster independence, and create a classroom environment where all learners can thrive. My students and I are incredibly grateful for your kindness and commitment to education. You have made a difference that will continue to be felt every day in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759244181123,"projectUrl":"project/visual-aids-and-sel-tools-for-special-ed/9605040/","projectTitle":"Visual Aids and SEL Tools for Special Education","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Cabrera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9849567_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758206253787","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9849567"},{"teacherId":9849567,"projectId":9223322,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom library has come to life! The new books have opened doors to rich conversations, critical thinking, and joyful exploration.\r\n\r\nOur students are developing a wide range of reading skills as they dive into these texts—everything from identifying literary elements like theme, character development, and point of view, to building stronger vocabulary and improving reading fluency. We've also been practicing making inferences, citing textual evidence, and connecting stories to our own lives and the world around us.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom has become an engaging, community-centered experience. Students choose books that speak to their interests, then share what they've read in small group discussions and class read-alouds. Our reading corner is now a lively space where students curl up with books, jot down questions in their journals, and eagerly trade recommendations with one another.\r\n\r\nYour support has truly transformed our reading culture. These books are not only helping our students become stronger readers—they're helping them see themselves as readers. Thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1746785311338,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-special-ed/9223322/","projectTitle":"Books For Special ED","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Cabrera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9849567_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758206253787","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9849567"},{"teacherId":4065291,"projectId":8709594,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your generosity in donating to my classroom. The materials you were able to help me provide my students have been such a help, and the excitement alone when I had them help me open the packages was wonderful! They all wanted a hand in it and wanted to help put everything away!\r\n\r\nA favorite in particular from this package were the math whiteboards. They have made such a difference in my lessons, small group work and for individual students who need a little extra support during their independent work. It was perfect timing for the units we are now covering too! I have many students now who seek out these materials on their own, asking if they can use them because they know they are such a help to them, plus they are fun for them to use!\r\n\r\nSo again, a heartfelt thank you for your thoughtfulness to my little 1st graders!","fullyFundedDate":1735243122946,"projectUrl":"project/math-supports-to-maximize-skills/8709594/","projectTitle":"Math Supports to Maximize Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Russak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4065291_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490713004797","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4065291"},{"teacherId":9849567,"projectId":9039013,"letterContent":"I hope this message finds you well. I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your generous support of our reading project. Your contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of our students, and I am excited to share the impact these new texts have had in our classroom.\r\n\r\nMany of our donors love to read books (we do, too!), but may not know as much about how to teach books effectively. The new texts we have introduced are not just stories; they are tools that help develop critical reading skills. For instance, they encourage students to make predictions, ask questions, and draw connections between the text and their own experiences. These skills are essential for fostering a love of reading and improving comprehension.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading is a vibrant and interactive experience. Students are often found engaged in group discussions, sharing their thoughts and insights about the books. We have created a reading corner filled with these new texts, where students can explore different genres at their own pace. This environment promotes a sense of community and encourages students to discover the joy of reading together.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your support. It not only enriches our classroom but also nurtures a generation of readers who will carry their love of books into the future. Together, we are making a difference in their educational journey.","fullyFundedDate":1741477355656,"projectUrl":"project/special-education-in-need-of-books/9039013/","projectTitle":"Special Education in Need of Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Cabrera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9849567_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758206253787","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9849567"},{"teacherId":101069,"projectId":8645405,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for making this project come to life. It took some time to get it off the ground, and I apologize for how long it took to show you the results. We actually just finished and will be displaying next week in the gallery area of our school. Because my students did not have an art teacher last year, I had a lot of pre teaching to accomplish prior to starting! We worked on color mixing, painting, patterns, and learning how to be inspired by a culture in our art making. The students loved working with the plaster craft! I borrowed extra mask molds from a colleague, which allowed all the students to start at the same time. We began by sketching four different ideas and then choosing one. This instilled the idea of planning. Then we applied the plaster craft, followed by sketching our ideas on the mask. Some students added details using model magic. Then the painting began!\r\nWe ended with doing what I call a DRA which stands for describe, analyze and reflect, where students write on an exit ticket their description of their work and how it matched the assignment followed by a reflection. This unit took two months to complete as we only have art twice a week for thirty minutes! With one small sink, I assigned 3 helpers each class to assist with clean up! That was a bonus as it added leadership and cooperation to the lesson. I am so thankful to have had the help to give my students this experience!","fullyFundedDate":1730385289266,"projectUrl":"project/mask-making-cultural-or-characters-a/8645405/","projectTitle":"Mask Making: Cultural or Characters? Art Choices Are the Best!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kroupa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp101069_orig.jpg?crop=1920,1920,x1735,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690749258611","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/101069"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_99103","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":505,"numTeachers":31,"percentFrplEligible":80,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":35,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":57,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":62.4,"schoolId":99103,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Martin Luther King Junior School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Martin Luther King Junior School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/yonkers-public-schools/martin-luther-king-junior-school/99103"}