Donors Choose Update

Since my previous post on Donors Choose, a lot has happened.

Shortly after I changed schools in August, I was invited to be a Donors Choose Ambassador. 

As an Ambassador, but "job" is help spread the word about Donors Choose--specifically helping new staff get started. I've helped 4 teachers from my school, as well as 3 from other school, post their first project.  Most of them have had at least one project funded.

I have now had 21 projects funded--totaling over $6000.

My projects have included:

• Books---lots of books
• Laptop risers--so students can stand to work
• Folding lap tables--so my kids can work on the floor with a desk
• A standing desk for me, with a wireless mouse and keyboard--so I can access my Promethean Board without being in the way of the class.
• Snacks
• Hygiene and warmth items
• Headphones, scissors, and mice for each student
• Water bottles for each of my 70+students
• Cushions and bean bags for alternative seating

Where did I go?!?!

Well....I've been busy since I lost posted. I changed schools, my Mama died; my oldest son moved out and then got married; my middle child lives at home and started college this week; and my youngest son started college in August--about 90 miles from home. 

And we just finished a busy Santa season.

It's been a bit of a whirlwind.

My plan is to post more often. I have a lot of websites and tools I'd like to share. Stay tuned...

But for now....pictures....

Our youngest is a member of the Greyhound Sound at ENMU. (The one with his hat on backwards)

The boy left his 70 pound puppy. He's "Grandpa's" buddy.

Santa and Mrs. Claus visited the nursing home where my mother spent her last 6 months.

Our newest outfits. (The backs say "Santa" and "Mrs. Claus")

Got to spend time with my sisters right as school was starting. Mama's service was the day before school started.

Our son got married in Arizona.

Most recent news! Our son's band won Metallica's "For Whom the Band Tolls" contest (College division 2/3). This shot is from ESPN. My son is the clarinet right behind "marching" on the banner.

Google Digital Applied Skills

TLDR: Google Applied Digital Skills  offers dozens of projects for students that use various Google projects in real life applications. My 5th graders have loved them!

What is Google Applied Digital Skills?

Teach and learn practical digital skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow with our video lessons that are free of charge.

The process:

Get started in just a few steps

• 

  Sign in to create an account

  Sign in to fill out your profile and view your teacher dashboard

• 

  Create a class and add your students

  Share the class code with your students or import your roster from Google Classroom

• 

  Find a lesson

  Filter lessons by grade, digital tool or topic, or search by keywords

• 

  Prepare to teach

  Use resources like lesson plans and rubrics to tailor your teaching to meet student needs

My Google Applied Digital Skills experience:

I originally tried Google Applied Digital Skills for the $100 gift card on Donors Choose (which I received today!) Info on the offer here. But my kids LOVE it.

Each project includes 6-10 videos (3-6 minutes long) with step by step instructions. They follow the steps, test out Google products, and complete a real project.

I have done 4 (and they are begging for more!!)

My students--from my gifted student to a student who struggles with reading and math--have all completed the projects with little direction. One student who struggles to stay focused and on task was the first one through the AI project--and he was even able to help another student who got stuck.

On the first project, I did a short intro ("How does Spotify or Hulu know what to recommend?" and how do we use AI in every day life?) We watched the first video on the Promethean Board together, and I stopped so they could do the steps on their Chromebooks. (Steps: Copy file to Google Drive, Rename, etc.)  Then I set them loose. I only had a couple of questions from students--and I most times I referred them to re-watch the video.  

We invited the Principal to come in and watch as we presented our Visual Dictionaries--complete with AI generated drawings, Google translate pronunciations, and links between slides.  Several of my students chose to go back and add more words to the dictionary. (The assignment called for three words).

The assignments we completed were:

* Discover AI in Daily Life

Tools used: AutoDraw, Docs, Quick, Draw!, Slides, Translate

Skills taught: Creating a report, Critical thinking, Presentation formatting, Slide design, Slide hyperlinks
Final product: a Google Slides—Visual Dictionary with links to pronunciation.

* Make Pop Art in Google Drawings

Tools used: Google Drawings

Final product: Pop art

*Google Sheets for Beginners

Tools used: Sheets (like Excel)

Skills taught:  Organizing data, Project management, Spreadsheet design, Spreadsheet organization

Final product: Google Sheets --budget with calculations

*Work with Fractions in Google Sheets

Tools used: Sheets

Skills taught: Advanced formulas, Data representation, Spreadsheet design, Spreadsheet organization (They even learned how to FREEZE the top panels!)

Final product: Google Sheets--Recipe conversion spreadsheet

Donors Choose--Like Go Fund Me for Teachers

TLDR: DonorsChoose is like Go Fund Me for teachers. Teachers post projects. Friends, family, corporate sponsors, and total strangers donate (every dollar counts). If the project is fully funded, the items are orders and shipped to the school.

I've received about $900 in funding.

Teachers; Click this link to get started (and you'll help me with my next project!)

What is DonorsChoose?

Mission: "We make it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education."

Stats:

• 87% of public schools in America have posted a project on DonorsChoose
• Over 5.7 million individuals have donated
• Over $1.4 billion has been raised
• 88,753 schools have been funded

Closer to home, in New Mexico:

• $6.65 million raised
• 4009 teachers supported
• 13,026 project funded
• 55,177 books delivered

Process:

1. Teachers select the items they need through vendors such as Amazon Business, Lego Education, Kaplan, Lakeshore, and Staples (to name a few).
2. Teachers follow a simple template to explain the need and the request.
3. Within 5 days, the project is either approved or more information/clarification is requested.
4. Project is posted and anybody can donate.
5. Teacher shares link with friends, family, and social media.
6. If project is fully funded, the items are ordered and shipped directly to the school.
7. Teacher shares pictures and an impact statement.

There are often matching gifts for specific criteria. Currently, the first project a teacher funds has a 2x match for the first week.


My DonorsChoose Experience:
I've heard of Donors Choose often over the years.  The first I remember was a teacher who wanted Chromebooks for her class--this was pre-pandemic and EVERYBODY having Chromebooks.

After I got all the Legos (see story here) I needed a place to store them--as well as some "regular" Lego bricks. (I got a bunch of free Legos, but most of them specialty pieces.).  My first project: Lego My Bricks  was funded during the first week, so my $170 project required $85 which was doubled.  My project was fully funded before Spring Break, so I was able to delay shipping until the following week. It arrived in 3 days!

While I was on Spring Break (in DisneyWorld!!) I heard of a special one day 2X match for projects that were mostly books. At first, I decided not to do it. But I kept hearing about it. I created a small project: Keep Reading A Series with 4 different book series sets (Percy Jackson, Babysitters Club, Emily Wingsnap, and The Mysterious Benedict Society).  I based my request on the idea that if a child (or adult!) falls in love with a character, they will keep reading the next book.

Imagine my surprise when, less than 2 hours later--before the match started!!--my project was fully funded by PandaCares--the philanthropic arm of Panda Express!

I quickly created another project (they were approving quickly!) and called it Keep Reading a Series Part 2 where I requested another 6 book series sets including Narnia, Anne of Green Gables, and Artemis Fowl.  Before noon, on match day, this project also funded.  I was in class when I found out, so I asked my students for ideas.

Then I created Keep Reading a Series Part 3. (I know--original!). I requested more Babysitter's Club, some Star Wars, Dogman, and Cat Kid. This was also fully funded.

Within 24 hours, I had 3 book projects funded--totally just under $500 worth of books!  Most have already arrived in my classroom.

I currently have 2 projects open.  First is Out of this World Classroom Decor. Our schoolwide them for next year is Outer Space/reach for the stars. I'm looking to purchase a full decor set that I can print from my home printer.  The second (Making Better Use of My Space) was because of a special match for projects requested through the vendor Quill. There is a 2X match (while funding lasts).  I requested a standing desk/lectern that I can use with my Promethean Board.

My current stats:

• 4 projects funded
• 2 live projects 
• 23 donors have supported me (only 2 were people I knew!)
• $897.07 raised in 4 months
• 1 teacher referred

First Book (website)

TLDR: First Book  offers inexpensive books of various levels.  They also offer bulk cartons of books for shipping only (often about $10 for a box of 20 hardback books).  Additionally, they have free lesson plans that can be downloaded.

 

What is First Book? 

First Book believes that education is the best way out of poverty for children in need. We address the needs of the whole child supporting their education, basic needs, and wellness – all of which are essential to educational equity. All of these resources are made affordable to our member network of more than 550,000 educators who exclusively serve kids in need.

Stats:

• Started 1992
• Distributed more than 225 million books and resources
• All 50 US states and provinces of Canada
• Reaches about 5 million children per year

 

Features:

In the First Book Marketplace, you can sort books by age, topic, genre, language, type, or price. Currently on the age 10-12 filter, you can get a hardback copy of Kingdom Keepers (Disney) for $1.35 (retail $17.99), and there are hundreds of books for less than $3 including an assortment of “Who is….” books, National Geographic books, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.

 

The Book Bank is a quick and inexpensive way to get a lot of books into kids’ hands. These new books are available by the carton for just the cost of shipping and handling. Often the cost is about $10 for about 20 hardcover books.

 

There are free resources https://www.fbmarketplace.org/free-resources  including lesson plans on topics such as Teaching about the Holocaust, Supporting Grieving Students, Trauma Toolkit, and A Future without Waste.

 

The Digital Learning Section https://www.fbmarketplace.org/digital-learning has the Lego Build the Change series of lesson plans.  Also included are free access to Open eBook, Boddle, and codeSpark

 

 

My First Book Experience

When I was looking to expand my outdated classroom library, a teacher friend recommended First Book. I looked around a little—grabbed the free Lego Build the Change downloads—and moved on. A couple of weeks later, I received an e-mail offering me up to 10 free (!!) Brick Play Boxes https://www.fbmarketplace.org/brick-play-boxes-432638?utm_source=sa&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nonbook&utm_content=mp_2.2.23_brickplaypromo_lego  because I had downloaded the Lego course packs. These boxes of used and sanitized Lego bricks are listed on the site for $4.68 shipping per box (still a good deal!), but they sent me a code to cover the shipping. (Note: these are listed on the FirstBook site, but they are currently “out of stock”.)  I ordered my 10 boxes and waited—not knowing what to expect. Boy was I shocked! I received 10 boxes as I dumped them into a large plastic tub, they overflowed!

 

 

We received over 100 Lego Mini Figures (including a lot of Star Wars ones!) and all sorts of specialty pieces. My students loved them!

Later, I was invited to join a virtual focus group for the Lego Group and First Book. In exchange, I received a $100 gift card to First Books.

 

I chose 22 individual books (about half were hardback) and included titles like: Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Ra the Mighty, and the Orphan Band of Springdale.  When I compared the price to purchase on Amazon, these books would have cost about $250!  But wait! There was more!

 

I also selected 3 cartons of 20 hardback books. These books would have retailed for about $1000.  One and a half hours of my time = more than $1200 worth of books! One of the books was the Artemis Fowl Guide to the World of Fairies. Other options including High School Musical and Star Wars Mandalorian Poster Books.