{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Mary Lou Hartman Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":35.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10358427,"projectId":9911803,"letterContent":"You helped make my students excited for Science. They were so excited to read the magazines and learn more about STEM. They learned about missing birds around the world and how they were found. It even had exactly what we've been studying, the solar system and the moon exploration! Each student built a solar system model and this tied into it perfectly. Everyone enjoyed reading how someone becomes a NASA astronaut and was able to read about what's the job like.\r\n\r\nThe STEM items you helped provide allow my students to explore, experiment, and think like real scientists and engineers. They are developing critical skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and curiosity as they design, test, and learn through active discovery. Many of my students had never used these types of materials before, and their excitement and confidence have grown tremendously.\r\n\r\nYour donation also impacted my students with their math facts. Being able to use their math fact cards during groups made them feel more confident in learning their math facts. I truly believe it helped them with their tests this year and made them enjoy learning.","fullyFundedDate":1769178073444,"projectUrl":"project/superpower-stem/9911803/","projectTitle":"Superpower STEM","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pena","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10358427_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770146540343","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10358427"},{"teacherId":10425480,"projectId":10075345,"letterContent":"My students come to school each day full of curiosity, creativity, and a genuine desire to learn. They thrive in an environment where they feel supported, encouraged, and celebrated for their efforts. When students believe in themselves and feel recognized for their growth, they are more willing to take academic risks, stay engaged, and push themselves to achieve their goals. Creating that kind of positive and motivating classroom environment is at the heart of my teaching.\r\nThis project, Mission: Motivation with Incentives, is designed to strengthen both academic engagement and student confidence. The resources I use in my classroom are intentionally chosen to make learning feel manageable, interactive, and meaningful. By breaking learning into attainable steps and celebrating progress along the way, students can experience success more frequently, which helps build their confidence and reinforces a growth mindset.\r\nA key part of this project is our weekly treasure box incentive system. These small, tangible rewards serve as powerful motivators for students, encouraging them to stay focused, complete their work, and demonstrate positive behavior throughout the week. While the rewards themselves are simple, their impact is significant. They provide students with something to work toward and help them connect their effort with positive outcomes.\r\nBeyond just motivation, these incentives help foster important life skills. Students learn responsibility, self-control, and perseverance as they work toward earning their reward. They begin to understand that their choices matter and that consistent effort leads to success. For many of my students, this system also boosts their self-esteem, as they feel proud of their accomplishments and recognized for their hard work.\r\nIn addition, this project helps create a classroom culture where effort is celebrated as much as achievement. Every student, regardless of their starting point, has the opportunity to succeed and be recognized. This inclusive approach ensures that all learners feel valued and motivated to participate fully in their education.\r\nUltimately, the impact of this project extends far beyond small rewards. It helps shape a positive learning environment where students feel excited to come to school, confident in their abilities, and motivated to keep growing. By making learning both fun and meaningful, this project will encourage students to develop a lifelong love of learning while building the skills and mindset they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1770994143591,"projectUrl":"project/mission-motivation-with-incentives/10075345/","projectTitle":"Mission: Motivation with Incentives","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rojas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10425480_orig.jpg?crop=1976,1976,x0,y92&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770353661747","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10425480"},{"teacherId":9974647,"projectId":10136245,"letterContent":"Your support has helped transform reading into something my students genuinely look forward to each day. The high-interest books in our classroom, like Eerie Elementary, The Last Kids on Earth, and Whatever After, are building essential literacy skills while keeping students fully engaged. As they read, they practice comprehension strategies such as making predictions, identifying character traits, understanding plot structure, and making connections to their own lives. These stories also strengthen vocabulary and encourage thoughtful discussions.\r\nReading in our classroom is active, joyful, and student-centered. Students eagerly choose books that interest them and dive into independent reading with excitement. You can see them laughing at funny moments, reacting to plot twists, and even going back to reread favorite parts. Through partner reading and group conversations, students share ideas, recommend books, and grow more confident in expressing their thinking.\r\nSome of the most meaningful growth has come from students who were once hesitant readers. These engaging and imaginative books have helped them build stamina and confidence. Students are asking to read more, rushing to continue a series, and proudly talking about characters they connect with. Books by authors like Kate DiCamillo are also helping students develop empathy as they relate to characters' emotions and experiences.\r\nYour generosity has created a classroom where reading feels exciting, meaningful, and accessible to every student. Thank you for helping my third graders grow as readers, thinkers, and storytellers.","fullyFundedDate":1773842043303,"projectUrl":"project/growing-lifelong-readers-one-book-at-a/10136245/","projectTitle":"Growing Lifelong Readers, One Book at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Romero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9974647_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744072321571","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mscmromero"},{"teacherId":9974647,"projectId":9974449,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my students now have access to books that truly excite them, and it has transformed the way they see reading. These new titles, like the Wings of Fire graphic novels and the Captain Underpants series, have helped introduce and strengthen important literacy skills in a way that feels fun and accessible. Students are practicing comprehension, making predictions, identifying story elements like character and plot, and building vocabulary, all while being fully engaged in stories they actually want to read.\r\nReading in our classroom has become something students look forward to each day. During independent reading time, you can see students spread out across the room, completely immersed in their books, laughing at funny moments, or eagerly turning pages to find out what happens next. We also incorporate partner reading and small group discussions, where students share their thinking, recommend books to one another, and build confidence as readers.\r\nSome of my students who were once hesitant or reluctant readers are now among the most excited. I have students who rush to grab the next book in a series, who ask if they can keep reading during free time, and who proudly talk about their favorite characters and moments. The graphic novel format, in particular, has been a powerful bridge for students who needed more visual support, helping them build stamina and confidence as readers.\r\nThese books have not only strengthened literacy skills but have also helped create a joyful, student-centered reading culture in our classroom. Thank you for helping my students discover a love of reading that will stay with them far beyond third grade.","fullyFundedDate":1771785423293,"projectUrl":"project/building-readers-one-laugh-at-a-time/9974449/","projectTitle":"Building Readers, One Laugh at a Time!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Romero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9974647_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744072321571","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mscmromero"},{"teacherId":9974647,"projectId":10058905,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our STEM Stories for All project has had an incredible impact on both our students and our community. Students helped distribute literacy books to members of our school and neighborhood, giving more children and families access to high-interest texts that explore science concepts such as animals, environments, and recycling.\r\nThese books have encouraged students to practice reading skills like comprehension, making connections, and explaining what they have learned. In our classroom, reading has become an interactive, collaborative experience. Students discuss ideas from the books, share new facts, and ask thoughtful questions about the world around them.\r\nSeveral of our students have been especially excited to share their favorite books with friends and neighbors, seeing how much joy and learning they can spread. Your support has not only strengthened our students' literacy and STEM knowledge but has also fostered a sense of pride and leadership as they make a difference in our community.","fullyFundedDate":1769787479550,"projectUrl":"project/stem-stories-for-all-building-literacy/10058905/","projectTitle":"STEM Stories for All: Building Literacy Across Our Community","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Romero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9974647_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744072321571","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mscmromero"},{"teacherId":9974647,"projectId":10001838,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredibly generous donation! Our classroom is overflowing with excitement as students dive into the books you helped provide. We now have the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, the Goosebumps series, and many beloved picture books that students are thrilled to explore during reading time.\r\nThese new books have made a huge impact on our classroom. Students are practicing comprehension skills, making predictions, asking questions about the text, and discussing their favorite parts with peers. Reading has become even more engaging as students have choices that match their interests and reading levels, helping them develop a love for reading for both learning and leisure.\r\nParticularly, many of our students who were previously hesitant readers are now eager to pick up a book on their own. They are laughing, imagining, and connecting with characters in ways that extend far beyond our classroom. This donation will impact their growth not only in 3rd grade but for years to come, helping to build strong, confident readers who see reading as both fun and meaningful.\r\nThank you for supporting our students and helping us create a classroom where every child can laugh, dream, and learn through books!","fullyFundedDate":1768260495137,"projectUrl":"project/books-that-make-us-laugh-dream-and-lea/10001838/","projectTitle":"Books That Make Us Laugh, Dream, and Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Romero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9974647_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744072321571","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mscmromero"},{"teacherId":9974647,"projectId":10122753,"letterContent":"Our Ready, Set, Write! project has brought so much excitement and motivation into our classroom! The new pens, pencils, and success stickers have become powerful tools to encourage students to take pride in their writing and academic progress.\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, my students were absolutely thrilled. Something as simple as choosing a colorful pen or earning a sticker for completing their work made them feel proud and eager to get started. Many students immediately asked if they could use their new supplies during our writing block, and it sparked a new level of enthusiasm for journaling and responding to reading.\r\nWe've been using the pens and pencils during our daily writing time, reading responses, and goal-setting activities. Students love earning stickers as they meet their weekly goals like completing Zearn lessons, answering Progress Learning questions, and reading each day. One special moment was seeing students carefully writing their responses with their new pens and then celebrating their hard work by placing a success sticker in their journals. It created such a positive and motivating classroom environment.\r\nThese resources are helping build confidence and ownership in their learning. As we continue our lessons, students will use these materials to practice writing responses, reflect on their learning, and track their academic goals as we prepare for upcoming assessments.\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping make writing and learning something they truly look forward to each day!","fullyFundedDate":1772379265744,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-write/10122753/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Write","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Romero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9974647_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744072321571","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mscmromero"},{"teacherId":9974647,"projectId":10075248,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students now have the supplies they need to feel prepared and excited to learn each day. The fun pens, pencils, and erasers have become a special part of our classroom routines. Students love choosing their tools before we begin writing, solving problems, or working through our daily lessons. Something as simple as a colorful pencil or a fun eraser has truly motivated them to put forth their best effort.\r\nWhen the materials arrived, the excitement in the room was immediate. My students were thrilled to see supplies just for them, and many shared how special it made them feel to know people they've never met care about their learning. It was a wonderful reminder to them that they have a community cheering them on.\r\nWe are currently working on strengthening our reading and math skills as we prepare for important end-of-year learning goals. These supplies help students stay organized, focused, and confident as they practice writing responses, solving problems, and setting academic goals. Your kindness is helping create a positive learning environment where students feel prepared, motivated, and ready to succeed. Thank you for making a difference in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1770001900752,"projectUrl":"project/prepared-to-learn-ready-to-succeed/10075248/","projectTitle":"Prepared to Learn, Ready to Succeed","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Romero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9974647_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744072321571","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mscmromero"},{"teacherId":9974647,"projectId":9820850,"letterContent":"Because of you, \"STEM for Success: From Ant Farms to Math Mastery!\" has brought hands on learning to life in our classroom.\r\nWhen the ant farms arrived, my students were amazed. There were so many questions, predictions, and excited observations. We are using them to study habitats, life cycles, and data collection. Students are keeping science journals, sketching tunnels, measuring changes, and graphing their observations, which has strengthened both their science and math skills.\r\nOne student said, \"I feel like a real scientist,\" and that says it all.\r\nNext, students will design their own model habitats using what they have learned and present their thinking to the class.\r\nThank you for making this meaningful, engaging learning possible.","fullyFundedDate":1769178077647,"projectUrl":"project/stem-for-success-from-ant-farms-to-math/9820850/","projectTitle":"STEM for Success: From Ant Farms to Math Mastery!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Romero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9974647_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744072321571","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mscmromero"},{"teacherId":9974647,"projectId":9885018,"letterContent":"Because of you, our classroom has truly been erupting with knowledge. We are using the new volcano and STEM resources during our nonfiction literacy block to dive deep into how volcanoes form, why they erupt, and how they change the Earth's surface. One special moment that stood out was when students worked in teams to build model volcanoes and then wrote detailed explanatory paragraphs using text evidence from our nonfiction books. They were using vocabulary like magma, eruption, crater, and lava flow with such confidence. It was powerful to see them connect hands on learning with their reading and writing skills.\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, the excitement was immediate. Students were wide eyed, asking if we were really going to \"make volcanoes explode.\" They could not wait to explore the books and materials. For many of my urban city students, volcanoes are something they have only seen in pictures, so being able to interact with models and high interest nonfiction texts made the learning feel real and meaningful.\r\nNext, students will be applying their learning by researching different types of volcanoes and creating an informational presentation that combines science concepts with strong literacy skills. They will practice identifying main idea, using text features, and citing evidence to explain their thinking. Your generosity is not just supporting one lesson. It is building background knowledge, strengthening comprehension, and inspiring curiosity that will continue throughout the year.\r\nThank you for giving my students the opportunity to explore, question, and grow. We are so grateful for your support and for believing in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1764374963977,"projectUrl":"project/erupting-with-knowledge-volcanoes-stem/9885018/","projectTitle":"Erupting with Knowledge: Volcanoes, STEM, and Literacy in 3rd Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Romero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9974647_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744072321571","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mscmromero"},{"teacherId":10073552,"projectId":9831595,"letterContent":"On behalf of our entire 5th-grade class, I would like to express our\r\ndeepest gratitude for your incredibly generous donation of new science laboratory equipment.Your contribution is more than just a gift of tools; it is an investment in the curiosity and potential of our students. Fifth grade is a pivotal year in a child's education. It is the moment when abstract concepts begin to take concrete form. Before your donation, many of our lessons were limited to textbooks and videos. Now, our classroom has been transformed into a living laboratory where \"what if\" becomes \"let's find out.\"\r\nThe Impact of Your Support:\r\nHands-On Literacy: Students are developing critical thinking skills by physically\r\nmanipulating variables and observing real-time results.\r\nInclusion & Engagement: This equipment allows us to reach tactile and visual\r\nlearners who may have previously struggled with traditional lecture-style teaching.\r\nCareer Inspiration: By using researching for our science fair students are able to see real-world applications and envision themselves as biologists, chemists and engineers. \r\nYour kindness has provided these children with the resources they need to explore the world around them with precision and wonder. You have given them the permission to dream big and the tools to back those dreams up with evidence and exploration.\r\n\r\n\r\nThank you for being a champion for education and for believing in the brilliance of our 5th\r\ngraders.","fullyFundedDate":1761424124339,"projectUrl":"project/igniting-inquiry-better-equipment-and-e/9831595/","projectTitle":"Igniting Inquiry: Better Equipment and Enrichment for Our Science Lab","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Browning","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10073552_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752012437875","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-browning1"},{"teacherId":9974647,"projectId":9884932,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my students were supported during a very difficult time when SNAP benefits were temporarily suspended. Thanks to this project, students had consistent access to food and snacks throughout the school day, and no child had to leave school wondering where their next meal would come from.\r\nHaving food available made an immediate and meaningful difference in our classroom. Students were able to stay focused, engaged, and ready to learn without the distraction of hunger. Instead of worrying about being hungry, they could concentrate on reading, writing, problem-solving, and participating fully in lessons.\r\nBeyond academics, this project provided comfort and security. Students knew they were cared for and that their basic needs mattered. That sense of stability helped create a positive learning environment where students felt safe, supported, and valued.\r\nThank you for helping ensure that my students had full bellies and focused minds. Your kindness removed a major barrier to learning and allowed my students to show their best selves every day. Your support truly made a lasting impact on their success and well-being.","fullyFundedDate":1763490195930,"projectUrl":"project/full-bellies-focused-minds-fighting-hu/9884932/","projectTitle":"Full Bellies, Focused Minds: Fighting Hunger, Building Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Romero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9974647_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744072321571","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mscmromero"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_8319","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":656,"numTeachers":51,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":14,"percentWhite":5,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":76,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":65.0,"schoolId":8319,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Mary Lou Hartman Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Mary Lou Hartman Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/judson-independent-school-district/mary-hartman-elementary/8319"}