{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Northridge Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":35.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4523068,"projectId":10253877,"letterContent":"What are some of the skills or lessons introduced by these new texts?\r\n\r\nThe new picture books are helping me teach a variety of important academic and social-emotional skills in a way that is engaging and accessible for my fourth-grade students. Although these books are picture books, they provide rich opportunities for students to practice reading comprehension skills such as identifying the main idea, finding key details, making inferences, determining the author's message, and using evidence from the text to support their thinking.\r\n\r\nThe books are also being used to introduce and reinforce social studies concepts. Stories can help students understand different perspectives, communities, cultures, historical events, and the experiences of others in a way that feels relatable and meaningful. Rather than simply learning a fact from a textbook, students can connect with a character or situation and then use that connection to have deeper conversations about the topic.\r\n\r\nI also use the books to support social-emotional learning. We talk about topics such as kindness, empathy, perseverance, friendship, problem-solving, handling emotions, and making positive choices. These stories give students a safe way to discuss situations they may encounter in their own lives and think about how they would respond.\r\n\r\nSome of the books also provide a fun way to introduce or reinforce math concepts. A story can give students a real-world context for thinking about numbers, patterns, problem-solving, or other mathematical ideas. Using literature alongside our academic lessons helps students see that learning does not always fit into one subject area.\r\n\r\nWhat does reading look like in your classroom?\r\n\r\nReading in my classroom is much more than students sitting quietly and reading a book. Sometimes I read aloud to the class while students listen and think about the story. Other times, we read together and stop to make predictions, ask questions, discuss vocabulary, or make connections. Students also have opportunities to talk with partners and share their thinking with the class.\r\n\r\nPicture books are especially valuable because the illustrations provide another layer of meaning. Students learn to look closely at both the words and the pictures and use evidence from each to understand the story. I want my students to see reading as something they actively participate in rather than something they simply complete.\r\n\r\nAre there particular students who are especially enjoying the new books, and how so?\r\n\r\nThe new books have been especially exciting for students who may not always see themselves as strong readers. Because picture books are engaging and less intimidating than longer texts, they provide an opportunity for every student to participate in meaningful reading discussions. Students who sometimes struggle with reading can still make predictions, share ideas, analyze illustrations, and demonstrate their understanding.\r\n\r\nI have also noticed that students enjoy having a story connected to what we are learning. They become curious about the topic and are eager to share their own experiences and ideas. These books are helping me create a classroom where reading is not just a subject—it is a way to explore new ideas, understand others, and make connections across our learning.","fullyFundedDate":1786039794271,"projectUrl":"project/the-power-of-pages-expanding-reading-re/10253877/","projectTitle":"The Power of Pages: Expanding Reading Resources for Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Paasi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4523068_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1499047470022","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-paasi"},{"teacherId":4523068,"projectId":10382206,"letterContent":"How are you and your students using the new resources? Share a specific classroom project or moment.\r\n\r\nMy students are using the new resources every day to help create an organized, welcoming, and productive classroom environment. The hanging file folders give each student a designated space to keep important papers, assignments, and materials. This has helped students learn how to organize their work and take responsibility for their belongings. The desk name plates have also been especially helpful as we begin the school year. They allow students to easily see their classmates' names as we are learning about one another and building our classroom community.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments has been watching students begin using the organizational materials independently. Instead of asking where something belongs, students can look at their folders, find their designated space, and take care of their materials on their own. These may seem like simple resources, but they are helping my students develop important skills such as organization, independence, responsibility, and taking pride in their classroom.\r\n\r\nHow did your students react when they first saw the materials?\r\n\r\nMy students were excited when they first saw the new materials! They were especially excited to see their names on their desks and to have a designated space that was specifically theirs. They immediately wanted to know what the different materials were for and how they would get to use them.\r\n\r\nI loved seeing how excited they were about something as simple as having their own organized space. It helped reinforce that our classroom is a community and that every student has an important place in it. The materials also helped make our classroom feel more personal and welcoming as we started the school year together.\r\n\r\nWhat are the next steps for your students on a current classroom lesson or project?\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue building strong classroom routines while we dive deeper into our fourth-grade curriculum. At the beginning of the school year, a major focus is teaching students how to be responsible, organized, and independent learners. We are practicing routines for managing materials, completing assignments, turning in work, and keeping track of important papers.\r\n\r\nAs we move further into the year, students will use these organizational resources to help manage their work during reading, writing, math, and other classroom projects. My goal is for students to gradually need less adult direction and become confident in managing their own materials and learning.\r\n\r\nI am very grateful to the donors who made these resources possible. The materials are helping me create a classroom where students can feel successful, organized, and ready to learn. Thank you for investing in my students and helping provide them with resources that will support them throughout the school year!","fullyFundedDate":1784429666450,"projectUrl":"project/organized-classroom-focused-minds-usbe/10382206/","projectTitle":"Organized Classroom = Focused Minds USBE AI for K–12 Education","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Paasi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4523068_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1499047470022","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-paasi"},{"teacherId":4523068,"projectId":9543593,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our \"Stocking Our Classroom\" grant. Your support has made a tremendous difference for both myself as a teacher and for every student who walks into our classroom. I am truly grateful for your belief in the power of education and your willingness to invest in the future of our children.\r\n\r\nWith your help, I was able to purchase a wide variety of classroom materials that have already made a positive impact on our daily learning. The new supplies include books, art materials, and organizational resources. \r\n\r\nThe books you helped provide have ignited a passion for reading. Students now have access to stories and informational texts at just the right level, allowing everyone to grow as readers. \r\n\r\nArt supplies have allowed my students to express themselves creatively and bring their learning to life. From colorful drawings to imaginative projects, art time has become a highlight of our week. These experiences build confidence, foster collaboration, and help students make meaningful connections to what they are learning.\r\n\r\nFinally, the organizational materials have helped create a classroom environment where every student knows where to find what they need. This has fostered independence and responsibility, helping students feel ownership of their learning space.\r\n\r\nThe impact of your generosity goes far beyond the materials themselves. You have given my students opportunities to explore, create, and collaborate. \r\n\r\nOn behalf of myself and my students, thank you again for supporting our classroom. Your kindness has made a lasting difference, and we are deeply grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1758054547671,"projectUrl":"project/stocking-our-classroom/9543593/","projectTitle":"Stocking Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Paasi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4523068_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1499047470022","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-paasi"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_42891","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":388,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":17,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":82,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":12,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":1,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":64.5,"schoolId":42891,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Northridge Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Northridge Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/utah/alpine-school-district/northridge-elementary-school/42891"}