{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"H.W. Longfellow Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":25.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10237989,"projectId":9675202,"letterContent":"When my students first walked into the classroom after the new furniture and fairy lights were set up, their excitement was contagious. Their faces lit up as they saw how different and inviting the space had become. As a Behavior Technician working with special education students, my goal has always been to create a classroom that feels safe, comfortable, and supportive—a place where students can learn, regulate, and grow. Before this project, our room was filled with old folding butterfly chairs that were difficult for students to sit in for long periods and not designed for safety or comfort. Many of my students have sensory and behavioral needs that make a calm, structured environment essential. The new sturdy chairs have completely changed the atmosphere of our classroom. Students can now sit comfortably and participate without constant distractions or discomfort, which has significantly improved focus and engagement during lessons and group activities.\r\n\r\nThe bean bag chairs have also become one of the most valued areas in our room. This space gives students a safe and positive option for self-regulation—a place to take a short break, calm down, and refocus before returning to class activities. With the additional filling, the bean bags now provide better support and comfort, making them perfect for relaxation or quiet reflection. I have seen incredible changes in how students manage frustration and emotions since introducing this calming space. They are learning to identify when they need a break and are returning to work with greater confidence and self-control. The addition of fairy lights has also made a powerful impact. The soft, warm lighting has replaced the harsh fluorescent lights that once made the room feel cold and overstimulating. Now, the lighting creates a soothing atmosphere that promotes concentration and calmness during our social-emotional lessons and behavior check-ins. The entire environment feels more peaceful, helping students transition more smoothly throughout the day and stay more engaged in their learning.\r\n\r\nEvery day, I see how these changes have transformed my students' experience at school. They take pride in their classroom, treat the new furniture with care, and genuinely enjoy spending time in the space. The environment now reflects their value and the importance of their growth—not just academically, but socially and emotionally. Because of your generosity, my students have gained more than just furniture; they've gained a space that supports their focus, confidence, and overall well-being. The difference in their behavior, participation, and attitude toward learning has been remarkable. Your support has created a classroom where students can refocus, feel safe, and truly thrive. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in my students and for helping me create an environment that empowers them every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1760902274602,"projectUrl":"project/refocus-and-thrive-room-revamp/9675202/","projectTitle":"Refocus and Thrive Room Revamp","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Foote","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10237989_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756910571404","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10237989"},{"teacherId":10103772,"projectId":9580817,"letterContent":"Walking into our classroom now feels like stepping into a warm, welcoming learning lounge—and it's all thanks to you. \r\n\r\nThe sectional sofa and decorative pillows have transformed our space from a traditional classroom into a cozy, student-centered environment where comfort meets productivity. \r\n\r\nStudents have been using the seating area daily for everything from reading conferences to partner math work, reflection time, and calm-down breaks during moments of sensory overload or frustration. It has become the heart of our room.","fullyFundedDate":1757535539492,"projectUrl":"project/the-finishing-touch-for-our-cozy-classro/9580817/","projectTitle":"The Finishing Touch for Our Cozy Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Tate","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10103772_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754743879474","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-etate"},{"teacherId":9975750,"projectId":9207595,"letterContent":"The first time this year that we rolled out our new white boards was so exciting for students. It seems silly to some, but students writing on the new white boards made them feel like what they were doing was important. It must be if we were gifted these new awesome materials to use in our classroom.\r\n\r\nThese white boards are not just for regular old group work. We are truly building a thinking classroom. Some of the norms during this type of work are:\r\n*The person holding the marker can't write their own ideas, they can only write what other group members are sharing. If the \"writer\" wants to share they must hand the marker to a different group member.\r\n*All ideas are worth noting on our work space. If at some point the group realizes they no longer need that note they can erase it then.\r\n*Ideas, even ones you think won't work, are welcome. Sometimes trying different things and making mistakes helps us get to the \"correct\" answer.\r\n\r\nThe prompt for the work being done in our photo was, \"I have a four-minute egg timer and a seven-minute egg timer-the kind that you turn over and let the sand run through. Can I use these to cook a nine-minute egg? If so, how long will someone have to wait for their egg?\"\r\n\r\nWith open-ended, thought provoking questions like these students feel free to try different ideas and methods for finding possible answers. It is this type of thinking that we need our students to learn how to do.","fullyFundedDate":1742972692923,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-thinking-math-classroom/9207595/","projectTitle":"Building a Thinking Math Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McCurdy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9975750"},{"teacherId":10103772,"projectId":9521180,"letterContent":"When my students first walked into our classroom after the new decorations and resources were set up, their jaws practically hit the floor. The soft rainbow colors, twinkling lights, and cheerful posters transformed our room into a welcoming, creative space where students feel safe and excited to learn. The \"We Can Do Hard Things\" neon sign instantly became a class mantra, and the cozy rug and storage baskets have given us a warm, organized corner for small-group learning.\r\n\r\nWe've already put the new supplies to work during our math lessons. For example, our \"Famous Mathematicians\" and \"Boho Rainbow Math\" posters have turned the walls into teaching tools—students point to them during problem-solving discussions, making connections between math and real-world stories. The pastel bulletin borders, hanging lanterns, and greenery have created a calm, focused atmosphere that helps my students, especially those who need extra support, feel comfortable participating.\r\n\r\nThe transformation has gone beyond appearances—it's boosted engagement, focus, and pride. Students now ask to come in early to work in our \"cozy corner,\" and even the most reluctant learners seem more willing to take risks in their work. Thanks to your generosity, our classroom isn't just a place to sit and do assignments—it's a space that inspires creativity, collaboration, and confidence every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1754765640909,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-bright-and-inspiring-6th-grad/9521180/","projectTitle":"Creating a Bright and Inspiring 6th Grade Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Tate","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10103772_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754743879474","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-etate"},{"teacherId":8310245,"projectId":9024499,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support! The 2D nets to build 3D shapes really helped my students understand geometry better because they could see and touch the shapes instead of just looking at pictures.\r\n\r\nThe mini basketballs made learning about probability super fun! We used them to practice making predictions and tracking outcomes while playing a little game. The students were laughing and learning at the same time. The pink erasers have also made a subtle but meaningful impact as it remind my students that making mistakes is okay and part of learning.\r\n\r\nThanks to you, my classroom is more hands-on, fun, and full of great learning moments. We're excited to keep exploring math in new ways!","fullyFundedDate":1735696524212,"projectUrl":"project/playful-learning-geometry-probability/9024499/","projectTitle":"Playful Learning: Geometry, Probability, and Growth Mindset in Action","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wong","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8310245_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1643944859628","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sweemeiwong"},{"teacherId":8310245,"projectId":8523367,"letterContent":"I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous contribution to our classroom project! The new resources, such as the reward system items, snacks, and fun classroom supplies, have had an incredible impact. For instance, the students were so excited when they first saw the variety of snacks and classroom goodies, and it sparked a sense of excitement and motivation. They immediately began using the ClassDojo rewards system to track their positive behavior, and you could see their engagement levels rise as they worked to earn rewards. Many students have shared that they love the snacks, and they wanted to accumulate more points to earn for squishy toys and pens.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our students will continue to build on these positive experiences. We're currently have very minimal behavior issues in our classroom, and we received a great feedback on student's behavior and work attitude from our substitute teachers. \r\n\r\nYour contribution has made a tangible difference, and we are truly grateful for your support. Thank you for helping us create a positive and enriching learning environment for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1730909277357,"projectUrl":"project/enhancing-behavior-and-emotions-in-our-6/8523367/","projectTitle":"Enhancing Behavior and Emotions in Our 6th-Grade Math Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wong","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8310245_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1643944859628","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sweemeiwong"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_86409","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":728,"numTeachers":45,"percentFrplEligible":61,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":6,"percentWhite":52,"percentIndigenous":4,"percentLatinx":17,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":74.4,"schoolId":86409,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about H.W. Longfellow Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"H.W. Longfellow Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/oklahoma/norman-independent-school-district-29/h-w-longfellow-middle-school/86409"}