If you’re a returning visitor to this old blog you’ll notice a new feature on the left hand column. I’ve entered the "Blogger’s Challenge" for DonorsChoose.org and I’m hoping to raise some money for four different education projects here in the Winston-Salem Forsyth County schools. That widget you see at the top left is the "thermometer" showing how I’m doing. Here’s my challenge page on the DonorsChoose.org site so you can see the five projects I’ve chosen.
DonorsChoose is an organization that lets teachers submit proposals for funding projects for their classrooms. Donors can review all of the proposals and then make donations for the project via the DonorsChoose site. Simply put it’s a way for people to contribute directly to education projects that they find worthy.
I searched for all the programs in the Winston-Salem Forsyth County schools and found 180 of them. I sifted through those and came up with four that I particularly liked and added those to my challenge. The goal is to raise $1,564.70 which is the combined total for the four projects, but I’m not greedy. Anything we can do will be gravy. Below are excerpts from the proposals submitted by the teachers for each of the projects I selected, or if you want you can visit my challenge page to check them out. One thing you’ll notice is that the schools all have high poverty or high need student bodies. My personal philosophy is that the schools in higher income areas are able to hit up their own parents for funding. In other words if I think a project at my kids’ school is worthwhile then I’ll chip in for it. For these projects the teachers don’t have that resource so they need to reach outside their community for help. Thanks ahead of time for any support you can give.
Beginning Podcasting ($246 Project Request)
I am a media coordinator at a low- performing, 70% minority, economically disadvantaged high school.
As a means of addressing literacy issues in our school I would
like to assist our students in the creation of an online literary
magazine. Student work would include poetry, stories, essays, and peer
critiques, as well as original artwork, photography and cartoons. In
order to meet AYP and state standards for End-of Course study, any
opportunity for reading and writing would improve their performance. In
addition, using web technology as a "hook" would generate student
interest, while teaching a variety of technology skills for future use,
such as podcasting, blogging, and web page production.
Our population would greatly benefit from a variety of
non-traditional learning environments. The hands-on production of an
online literary magazine, which I plan to implement, is just such a
format for learning. This project will also give me many opportunities
to work collaboratively with the English and Art teachers integrating
the Information Skills curriculum into both core and elective classes.
My project needs a color document scanner, microphone and headphones. The cost of this proposal is $246, which includes shipping for any materials requested and fulfillment.
"Love You Forever" ($272 Project Request)
Literacy, big word, but it simply means
reading. There many components to reading. My classroom library is
lacking in variety, components, and enthusiasm. I am a new kindergarten
teacher who inherited a classroom that was started in the middle of
last school year. There were 10 small books in the classroom and no big
books or books with tapes. Through the graciousness of other teachers,
some books have been donated.
This is a class of 16 students that are new to school, many
have never been to a preschool or had any formal training. They have
had little exposure to the world of books. These precious students are
most at risk, and have a harder time mastering the basics. I am eager
to get them reading. I want them to gain respect for books and what
they have to offer. A book for these kindergarteners to take home and
share would be the start they need. The children will be taught the
responsibility of caring for books and returning them when assignments
are completed.
I am honored just to have the opportunity to make such a request
to such a wonderful giving organization. Thank you for considering my
proposal.
My
project needs take home readers, books with tapes, and concept books
for the classroom. Requested are: a science book and tape set, learning
to write transition kit, ‘The Story of Ferdinand’, guided reading book
bundle, and much more. The cost of this proposal is $272, which
includes shipping for any materials requested and fulfillment.
Help at Home for the Whole Family ($407 Project Request)
I teach in a school which is nearly 100%
free and reduced lunch. I teach a Title 1 Pre-k class which has 15 four
year old students who need an extra academic boost to be successful in
regular school. Most of our parents have multiple children and
desperately need resources to help their children at home.
It would be wonderful if we had kits that had books, activities,
and tapes to help parents support the work we do at school at home. I
conduct parent workshops with my parents and the number one complaint
they have is they don’t have anything to help their child at home. If I
could provide this type of kit for my parents it would not only help
the children in my classroom, but all the siblings at home. Older
children could read to the younger ones. The whole family could get
involved!! These at home book kits with books, tapes, and activity
cards (plus the bag to carry them with) would fit the need perfectly.
Thank you in advance for helping these families have the resources to
help their children at home. This would greatly empower our parents
while at the same time supporting our instruction at home!
My project needs themed book learning sets and bags to encourage reading at home. The cost of this proposal is $407, which includes shipping for any materials requested and fulfillment.
Wild World of Science ($640 Project Request)
I am a second year teacher working in rural
North Carolina. I work in a wonderful new school in Forsyth County just
outside of Winston Salem, North Carolina; unfortunately we have very
limited funding. I am requesting some exciting science items to use in
my 2nd grade classroom. This year I have students who would greatly
benefit from the use of science centers and hands on manipulatives. In
the coming school year I want to offer my 2nd grade a world of exciting
science adventures.
This proposal is for several science bags with books, games and
puppets that the children can use to help develop their scientific
inquiry. The students will be able to use these in the science center
in our classroom. I am also requesting some non-fiction science reading
materials to be used in the center as well as a butterfly cage and some
manmade habitats for the children to observe animal life cycles.
These items I am requesting would encompass all the Major
Concepts/Skill areas as outlined in the North Carolina Standard Course
of Study. Including Strands: Nature of Science, Science as Inquiry,
Science and Technology, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives.
These centers and manipulatives will reinforce the competency goals as
stated in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and assist both
teacher and student by providing new and exciting ways to learn and
teach science.
75% of the student population at my school eat on a free or
reduced lunch. Many of my students have no access to science
experiences or scientific reading materials. This would be highly
beneficial to those students who want to learn but have limited or no
access to all things scientific.
Please help me with this vital project. If I could afford this
on my own I would gladly fund this project, unfortunately I am on a
beginning teacher salary with little extra funds. Any and all help
would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
The
cost of science center activities, including science bags on recycling,
floating and sinking, weather, how a seed grows, what magnets can do,
as well as butterfly lifecycle models, and books on science poetry. is
$640, including shipping and fulfillment.
Befuddled 