Know Different
Take it from teachers who know different.
It is no secret that teachers do what they can in order to make magic happen within their classrooms. However, the magic of engagement often comes at a cost- literally.
So how can teachers fund these classroom projects, transformations, update classroom libraries, or provide daily supplies to their students without making sacrifices? Check out our latest edition of Know Different, in which teachers share how they break through this barrier to get what they need.
The Art of Writing Grants
Teachers Choose Donors Choose
Go Beyond Three Wishes with an Amazon Wishlist
Why PEF is Worth Your Attention
Our Events
Megan Parker, Griffin Elementary
According to AdoptAClassroom.com, teachers spent an average of $775 on school supplies last year. While we do receive Teacher Lead Money, our wants and sometimes even our needs far surpass this single fund, leading most teachers to spend a lot of their own money. But what if there was a way to spend less and get more for your students?
My top three sources for grants/donations:
1) AdoptAClassroom.org– This site allows teachers to describe their classroom and needs, then collect funds to spend through approved vendors. They frequently post grant opportunities in addition to the individual teacher fund and hold discussions on Twitter where participating teachers have a chance to win money for their classroom fund.
2. ClearTheList.tree3.com– This site allows teachers to create a wish list of items using approved vendors. The teacher shares the list and donors can purchase items on the list to ship to teachers.
*I personally applied for and received a Clorox Grant from ClearTheList.org. The grant was for $500 in supplies off my list.
3. DonorsChoose.org – This site allows teachers to develop a project, select items from approved vendors, and solicit donations to fund the project. The site has opportunities for donations to match if the project meets certain criteria.
*Donors Choose is my personal favorite. In 2020, I had 8 projects funded totaling over $800. My projects included a listening station for audiobooks, snacks for students during the shutdown last spring, diverse books for my classroom library, gift cards for Teachers Pay Teachers, a novel study, and a social-emotional curriculum.
After you visit one of these sites and start your class page/wish list/project, how do you get funded?
- Share on social media. Tag close friends and family and ask them to share too. Make sure you always tell people who you are, what your students are like, and what your need is.
- Use hashtags. Whether you share on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, hashtags can help raise awareness about your needs.
- Build a community of giving. Lean on relationships with local businesses and meet other teachers who share a common purpose to help get funding.
- Be patient. Sometimes there’s a special day or event that takes place when donors are more willing/able to give. Some examples include the start of the school year, teacher appreciation week, and giving Tuesday.
- If all else fails, ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from the teacher community! There are lots of teachers who are successful at getting funds for their classrooms. Reach out to ask how they do it and see what you can start doing or do better.
Donors Choose is a nonprofit organization that allows individuals in the community to donate directly to public school classroom projects. Here is how the organization has impacted a few teachers and their students! We asked a few teacher's thoughts and experiences on Donors Choose.
Ansley Morris, Highlands Grove Elementary
"I love that you can create projects for such a variety of classroom needs. You are able to receive items that you are not able to order through Classroom Lead money.
Here's how you can get started:
- Create a project.
- Include information on how you will utilize what you are asking for and how your students will benefit.
- Choose item(s) that you wish to purchase with the donations.
- I usually share it online with family/friends or post it on social media.
- Most of the time there is a match code. Any donations will be matched by a company or Donors Choose. That helps get projects funded super quickly! Most of my projects were funded in under 2 weeks thanks to matches!" -AM
Dr. Bridget Bowman, Crystal Lake Middle
After creating a project on Donors Choose, I reach out to close friends and family members who wish to help and donate (for a tax deduction). Donors Choose partners with foundations and companies to provide matching opportunities. Once the project is funded, the team at Donors Choose assists in purchasing the best materials and shipping the materials to the school.
Voila! The students have opportunities to complete hands-on projects and learn how to express appreciation towards those who donated to the project." - BB
Mackenzie Skinner, Blake Academy
Tanya Hoke, Laurel Elementary
"5 reasons as to why I created an Amazon Wishlist for my classroom:
- Amazon is known and trusted, thus donors aren’t as skeptical about donating or purchasing products from Amazon.
- Donors are able to view and select the item(s) they would like to purchase for your class, and they can be sent out once purchased, instead of waiting for the total cost to be covered, like on other donor sites.
- Items purchased can be sent directly to your home, which is extremely beneficial when you work from home (or teach e-learning).
- Amazon allows me to choose from numerous vendors, allowing me the option of choosing between prices.
- When it comes to more expensive items, you can edit it where donors can share in purchasing that item. Meaning that they can contribute to that purchase." - TH
Ashley Cerjan, Wendell Watson Elementary
"My sister actually encouraged me to make an Amazon Wishlist! I was constantly on the phone with her on the way home from work and making notes to myself of things that I needed to get at the store for my classroom. I am not someone who is comfortable with asking for others to buy things for the classroom but was encouraged to have a list on hand in case anyone ever asked. Then, it was a huge help to have when family, friends, and parents from my classroom would ask at the beginning of the school year if there was anything else that we needed for our class.
I have been able to secure so many new and exciting books for my students as well as laminating paper to make task cards and puzzles for engaging math activities. During Teacher Appreciation Week last year, someone asked teachers to post their Amazon Wishlist in a group on Facebook. A Harry Potter lover who saw my list bought the entire book series for our classroom to pass on the joy that the books had given her. It has been such a blessing to have on hand throughout my time teaching and I would highly recommend it for any teacher!" - AC
Want to Create One Today?
Creating a wish list is EXTREMELY easy. If you’ve ever created a bridal, wedding, or baby registry, the process is just the same!
What is the Polk Education Foundation?
Five Things Teachers Should Know About the Polk Education Foundation (PEF)
- They have a Free Teacher Market where everything is free to teachers that visit! Emails are sent to all teachers usually three times a month inviting you to sign up for a possible date and time slot to shop, then a lottery drawing decides who gets appointments. Teachers can visit once every nine weeks.
- Many grant opportunities are offered in the Fall of each school year. Some information goes to principals to share and some opportunities are sent directly to all teachers. STEM grants, opportunities for matching funds, financial literacy, science, and food insecurity are all examples of grants that have been offered.
- The Teacher to Teacher Connection Idea Expo is a free afternoon of sharing offered to kindergarten – 8th-grade teachers so they can visit with colleagues and share ideas. “Developer Grant” recipients who’ve had their programs judged as innovative have display booths. Visiting teachers get to see booths representing each program and visit with the teacher who developed it. Any teacher who visits and sees an idea they would like to put into their own classroom can then apply for an “Adapter Grant”.
- PEF has opportunities for your students through their scholarships and their reading tutoring program. College scholarships are offered for graduating seniors and ninth graders can apply for Take Stock in Children scholarships. Over $800,000 in scholarships are awarded each Spring by PEF! In addition to scholarships, their AmeriCorps Polk Reads program tutors about 400 young elementary students each year, helping them become better readers!
- You should check out the Offers for Staff page on the district’s staff webpage, maintained by PEF. Discounts are posted there offered by local businesses for teachers.
Visit polkeducationfoundation.org to learn more about all of PEF’s programs and services.
Education Outreach and Sustaining Grants Sponsored by SPIE
Program Description: SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, provides grant support for education projects related to optics and photonics, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities with an optics or photonics component. Proposed projects are judged on their potential to impact a large audience and increase awareness and interest in optics and photonics.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit entities; elementary, middle, and high schools; colleges and universities; youth clubs; optics centers; industry associations; international optical societies; and science centers. Previous grant recipients may apply again if they have fulfilled reporting requirements for previous awards. Programs that have received an Education Outreach Grant twice in a period of five years are eligible to apply for further support only through a Sustaining Grant. Complete applications must be submitted online.
Deadline(s): Applications are due February 28, 2021.
Eligibility: Grade Level(s): K-2, 3-5, 6-8, Higher Ed, Adult, 9-12
Award(s): Awards vary.
Contact: SPIE PO Box 10 Bellingham, WA 98227-0010 Phone: 360.676.3290 or
888.504.8171 Email: outreach@spie.org (For questions) Website:
http://spie.org/education/education-outreach-resources/education-outreach-grants?SSO=1
Focus: Engineering, STEM/STEAM/STREAM, Technology Education/Computer Science
21st Century Themes and Skills: Critical Thinking, Digital Literacy, Innovation, Problem SolvingSnapdragon Book Foundation School Library Grant
Program Description: The Snapdragon Book Foundation provides funds to improve school libraries for disadvantaged children. Founded by a former school librarian, this foundation exists to put books in the hands of students. In a time when many schools are reallocating their funds to technology and audiovisual equipment, Snapdragon Book Foundation hopes to make sure that school libraries are still offering children good books to read.
Grant funding is to be spent on traditional books, processing or cataloguing fees, reference materials for student use, and magazine or newspaper subscriptions. Other media, such as posters, arts and crafts supplies, software, hardware, or online databases, is not eligible. Projects that include significant technology are not likely to be funded unless they express a strong connection to the mission of the organization.
Grants are awarded to public prekindergarten through grade 12 schools in the United States and its territories. Applications must be submitted online through the application form available on the foundation website.
Deadline(s): Applications are accepted November 1 through February 14, 2021.
Eligibility: Grade Level(s): 6-8, 9-12, 3-5, K-2, PreK
Award(s): Awards range from $2,500 to $10,000.
Contact: Snapdragon Book Foundation 2133 Bering Dr. Houston, TX 77057
Focus: Library/Media, Literacy, PreK-12, Underserved Populations/At RiskThe Ignite Project Podcast
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Grand Canyon University
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Carolina Burdier
University Development Counselor
407-988-9381