Back-to-school has always been one of my favorite times of year. I look forward to seeing the great sales every Sunday. Who doesn’t love crayons for 25 cents, notebook paper for a penny, and rulers for 50 cents — the deals just keep coming!
However, what I really love (and hate at the same time) is when the teacher catalogues start coming in the mail. I will spend too much time drooling over things I wish I could have in my classroom. I mean, who doesn’t want a traffic light decibel reader or a wireless Eggspert in her classroom? But then reality sets in when I look at the prices, and I begin to wonder if there is some magical classroom out there that actually has all of these great things. Or do all teachers drool at the catalogues as I do?
I have had quite a bit of luck using DonorsChoose.org; my first year of teaching I had two projects funded to the tune of $364. Last year I had seven projects funded, totaling $2,232. While I appreciate all of the items, the ones my students have enjoyed the most include the graphic novels, the sets of Fly Guy books, the classroom subscription to BrainPOP.com, and the calculators. My all-time favorite, though, is the set of 42 math picture books. Not only do they coordinate with our curriculum, I am able to use the books to bring literacy into my math instruction. My students could tell what a big deal these books were to me and would constantly read them during free reading time.
So many teachers at my school ask me how I keep getting projects funded on DonorsChoose.org and why I continue to put new projects up. To be honest, it’s not that difficult. You just really need to know what you want for your students and be able to write about it in a way that persuades people to donate to your classroom. It takes some time, but it is well worth it when I tell my students we won a “contest” and people choose us to get cool stuff. The kids really enjoyed writing thank-you letters to the donors, telling them great it is to have the new resource our classroom.
So I’ve been thinking about what I want to ask for this year and I have three new projects in mind. I would like to create a section in my classroom library that has books about or written by people with disabilities. There are so many great books out there and I think it’s important for all students, even those with disabilities, to read and learn about people who have different challenges.
I also want to create a math manipulatives section in my classroom to better help my students understand math concepts. What little I have works great, but I often find myself borrowing from other teachers.
The last item that I would love to have in my classroom is a SMART Board. This past year I used my LCD projector and my white board to fake one, and it was successful with my students. I can only imagine the benefits of having an actual SMART Board in my classroom.
Be sure to check out DonorsChoose.org, whether it is to get resources for your own classroom or to help out another teacher.
I did not know that this website existed! I will definitely be going on there to check it out. The district that I am student teaching in has more money than other school districts, but is still struggling due to budget cuts. My teacher is extremely dedicated to her students and will spend about $500 a year for things the district cannot buy. I will inform her of this website so hopefully she can keep some of that money for herself!
Posted by: Ashley | November 26, 2011 at 05:08 PM
To answer your questions:
There are no costs to the teacher for using DonorsChoose.org (just your time to post the project). I am always amazed by how many people are willing to help support classrooms around the country. It varies in how long it takes to get a project funded, anywhere from a couple days to a couple months. You will be sent out the exact items that you requested.
I hope this answered your questions, but be sure to check out DonorsChoose.org's "Help Center" for all your questions!
Posted by: Theresa | September 12, 2011 at 10:43 PM
One, being a special education student teacher I love your first new project for this year! Such a great idea!
Two, donorschoose.org sounds like a great idea since all school districts are pinching pennies these days. Questions though, how long does it generally take to get something donated? Do a lot of people know about this website (donors/teachers)? Are you given the money or object? Are their any costs to you (the teacher)? Thanks for the infofmation! I'll take a look at it now.
Posted by: Ashley | September 11, 2011 at 09:47 PM
Thank you for sharing this website. I know that today with school districts budgets being cut it is hard to get supplies, new curriculum for your classroom, books for your students, and computer software so this is a great resource for teachers and their students. I am going to be sharing this resource with my cooperating teacher because she is working on getting a SMART board for her classroom as well, but the special education budget in the school district is not allowing her to do so. I feel that a SMART board would benefit a lot of her students so thank you again for sharing this website!
Posted by: Courtney | September 11, 2011 at 08:38 PM
This sounds like a wonderful resource to use when I get my first classroom. Thank you for sharing this website!
Posted by: Alysha | September 11, 2011 at 03:32 PM
Thanks for the comments and for sharing the website. It's a great list of books!
Posted by: Theresa | August 13, 2011 at 03:08 PM
I gave my media specialist a list of children's books that are about, or are written by, people with disabilities. It turns out that she had some money for books in the media center budget, so she ordered these. Now not only I have access to these books, but the whole school does. A 2nd grade teacher who has 2 of my students mainstreamed into her classroom for science/Social studies block asked how she could help her kids understand and accept my child who has hearing aids and my child who has CP and uses a wheelchair. I gave her the title of 2 of the library books that were purchased last year. She read those to her class and she said that it produced a great conversation and the kids are now more understanding of their new, special friends. Tell your librarian/media specialist the titles of the books you want. You can help the whole school by giving them access to these books.
(my school is pre-k through 2nd and I teach self-contained)
Posted by: Suzanne Slaughter | August 13, 2011 at 03:08 PM
Thanks for talking about such a wonderful resource. I love your idea about making your library inclusive of characters with disabilities. I found a great online listing of many books and they are categorized by readability levels. Here is the website.
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/learning-disabilities/reading/5316.html?detoured=1
Posted by: Elizabeth | August 10, 2011 at 03:43 PM
I recently met another teacher who uses DonorsChoose.org. She has been able to get several projects funded in her class, too. What a wonderful resource!!!
Posted by: Loretta | August 05, 2011 at 01:02 AM
Good luck on DonorsChoose.org! It's well worth the effort to get awesome resources for your students.
Posted by: Theresa | August 04, 2011 at 02:19 PM
I just finished dog-earring all the pages in my latest Remedia catalog, even though I had no beliefs that I would be able to purchase the items. Thanks for the tip on DonorsChoose.org. Off to check it out :)
Posted by: Jessica | August 04, 2011 at 12:37 PM