tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81578926407742975162024-02-20T12:33:29.192-06:00Laughing & Learning with Kimberly HarperKimberly Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661362790591886211noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8157892640774297516.post-23773858484748878172019-07-13T17:21:00.000-05:002019-07-13T17:21:44.897-05:00DonorsChoose Tips<br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://donorchoose.org/">DonorChoose.org</a> has been a total game changer in my classroom! Thanks to the generosity of donors, I have had 39 projects (and counting!) funded over my past 4 years of teaching. I have had projects of all kinds - from books to technology to flexible seating to room transformation supplies to professional development and more! I am so grateful for the generosity of others Last year, I served as a DonorsChoose ambassador and loved getting to help teachers get started on getting the materials they need.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br />If you have never submitted a project, you can sign up to create an account here: <a href="http://share.donorschoose.org/lTh82">http://share.donorschoose.org/lTh82</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the years, I've learned a thing or two on how to have success on DonorsChoose:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Keep your project cost low!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DonorsChoose has done the research and found that chances of funding decrease the higher the project total. Think of it from a donors' viewpoint: if you had $50 to contribute, where would you feel like your money made the most impact - on a $250 project that only needs $75 more OR on a $1000 project that still has $750 to go? My biggest tip is to keep your project cost low by splitting your project into multiple parts. For example, I really wanted an iPad and document camera stand. Instead of putting the two items together, I split them into two separate projects! I aim to keep my projects below $300 if possible.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take advantage of match offers!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Match offers are how I have gotten most of my projects funded! There's something really compelling for a donor when they know their money is going to go even farther with the help of a partner like Google or the Bill Gates Foundation. Periodically check the match offers for your area/subject and take advantage of them when you see one that fits your needs! I was able to get ALL of my flexible seating funded through a google match offer. Whenever I see that one of my projects qualifies for a match, I try to promote it as much as possible on my social media accounts (especially Twitter)! </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Say thank you & be genuine!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know this sounds like a no brainer, but I am always surprised by the amount of people who don't thank the individual donor as the donations come in. DonorsChoose makes you thank all donors with a note when your project is funded, but you also have the option of writing back to each individual donor. I make sure that I thank every single donor as soon as I see the donation come through and take the time to write a heartfelt note of appreciation. I have many "returning donors" that I do not know in real life that I always make sure I thank for continuing to support my classroom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe this is irrelevant, but I like to think my catchy titles draw in donors when they are sifting through hundreds of projects looking to donate. Which title is more captivating to you? "Document Camera" or "Lights! Camera! Document!" I also try to think outside the box when requesting resources. Of course, I need things like books, paper, and technology like anyone else. However, some of my favorite projects were for things that donors found to be really interesting such room transformation items or a <a href="https://nuggetcomfort.com/">Nugget Comfort.</a></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">EXPLAIN EVERYTHING!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think sometimes that we forget that we teachers truly speak our own language. Between our acronyms and buzz words, we can easily confuse donors. I like to play it safe and assume that my donors know NOTHING about my classroom and our needs. Without being patronizing, I explain every single detail about my request. Why do I need headphones for my 2nd grade classroom? I need them so my students can listen to fluent reading in reading stations so they can build their reading fluency. Why do I need wobble stools? I need them to implement flexible seating which allows my students to pick their own seat like adults do in the real world and have ownership in their learning. Why would a teacher need a pack of 100 glow sticks? I need them for a room transformation where I will be reviewing math skills in a fun and dynamic way using blacklight games! While these things might seem second nature and obvious to us, it really pays off to take the extra time to explain to donors.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Share, share, share!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While DonorsChoose is amazing, it is not a magic wand for instant funding. You have to be willing to put the work in to get your project out there! When I post a project, I post it to my Facebook and Twitter accounts. Now, I am not saying you need to spam your friends and family and depend solely on them to fund your projects, but there is nothing wrong with asking them to simply SHARE it. Instead of asking directly for donations, I like to ask for people to help me share with their friends! Another place I like to promote my DonorsChoose page is in my email signature. Underneath by signature button, I have a link to my DonorsChoose page and class website. At the beginning of the year, I explain to my parents what DonorsChoose is and how it has impacted my classroom and provided countless resources. I know many teachers have a wishlist posted at their Open House/Meet the Teacher night. In addition to the classic wishlist items such as Kleenex and Lysol Wipes, I also include "donation to our DonorsChoose project". For many parents, they prefer to help in this "no-fuss" way instead of having to go to the store.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And there you have it! My top 6 DonorsChoose tips! Best wishes for speedy and full funding!</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have never submitted a project, you can sign up to create an account here: <a href="http://share.donorschoose.org/lTh82">http://share.donorschoose.org/lTh82</a></b></div>
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Kimberly Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661362790591886211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8157892640774297516.post-18548403247441061882016-03-30T22:33:00.002-05:002019-07-10T03:02:42.951-05:00Classroom Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let me start by saying that I teach in best district at the BEST school! It's so wonderful that many families choose to move to our area just so their children can attend our schools!! My school is the largest elementary school in the district (only behind the two high schools in size). Since I started teaching, we have only grown and grown and GROWN! Our school has 10 units of kindergarten. Go ahead.. let that sink in. That's TEN classes of at least 18 five year olds. 180 five year olds under one roof. I know.. it scares me too. 🤣</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have used every possible space in our building - every closet, work room, computer lab, gym, art room, music room, etc. is now being used for instructional purposes (converted into a classroom or used for tutoring). As a result, our district has purchased Learning Cottages (what you probably call a portable). We're big believers in life's what you make it, so at our school.. they're Learning Cottages and you won't hear anyone say otherwise.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFJ_pJFTV-9k16hK1MLubJL-_hBacCgSNhgd0P5nZLaY8gY0SA8JmyWCZnmCfvklZz9GaXOBs7_Fjmif2TRH1mCEjWM3xeIAF0Ca24624cFgj0Xt1slOdAEvXe_OnCQ-Ik3K7kS8ZVYPS/s1600/IMG_1896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1242" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFJ_pJFTV-9k16hK1MLubJL-_hBacCgSNhgd0P5nZLaY8gY0SA8JmyWCZnmCfvklZz9GaXOBs7_Fjmif2TRH1mCEjWM3xeIAF0Ca24624cFgj0Xt1slOdAEvXe_OnCQ-Ik3K7kS8ZVYPS/s400/IMG_1896.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubpDAjdkVgpKKjQzfBJiDgf90q-BW4ol-kcCHWJMxKdIPw4JHU0902tLdXrRUWruOg-KtPPlxq3ZKwPNffJTaQBZ_brFyh7Bjgwlu8L1XcqMgNzAgdagJKh0A0Lk2hj66l2TNLiuckF4i/s1600/IMG_1897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1242" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubpDAjdkVgpKKjQzfBJiDgf90q-BW4ol-kcCHWJMxKdIPw4JHU0902tLdXrRUWruOg-KtPPlxq3ZKwPNffJTaQBZ_brFyh7Bjgwlu8L1XcqMgNzAgdagJKh0A0Lk2hj66l2TNLiuckF4i/s400/IMG_1897.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The summer after my first year teaching, I was sitting in the airport when my principal called me. Her first question was if I was sitting down, which is never comforting. It was only a couple days before school was starting and she was calling to tell me that I would have to move out of my (already set up) classroom inside the building and into the library temporarily (with another teacher !!!) until my learning cottage arrived. As you can imagine, my second year self was devastated at the thought but I quickly got over it and got to work moving my belongings so that another teacher (an added kinder unit) could move it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While in that season it was hard, it ended up being the BIGGEST BLESSING! I absolutely love my learning cottage and would not give it up for the world. The teacher I shared the library with became one of my closest friends and taught me so much that I would have never gotten to learn had I not shared the library with her. The weekend our cottages finally arrived, we were SO excited and stayed late into the night to get all moved in and set up just right for our students. This will be my 4th year in cottage land and I wouldn't have it any other way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Home Sweet Cottage!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two doors means two opportunities to decorate!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The view when you first walk in! I LOVE my tables and do not miss desks at all. I could not stand their mess! As you can see, I have a lot of flexible seating thanks to DonorsChoose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My stage and picture book shelf - two essentials for me! This is where I do the majority of my teaching. Huge shoutout to Megan from Ms. Williams Y'all for walking me (aka the man at Home Depot) how to build the stage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My classroom library - the heartbeat of my classroom! Give me ALL THE BOOKS!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAduasumH4QAhQjXp2aC3JvuwWlV-GqPQ3X_T5_oYEPv-4cfWxV0mezxLZA_50OjNuMr9V9PCVQFTIpn0iiXi-4b1R2m4uubAS6UkR_OmxjR4q-RKcG_UIUPU1dneH2PcEMZIPy_gI1UU/s1600/p7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1125" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAduasumH4QAhQjXp2aC3JvuwWlV-GqPQ3X_T5_oYEPv-4cfWxV0mezxLZA_50OjNuMr9V9PCVQFTIpn0iiXi-4b1R2m4uubAS6UkR_OmxjR4q-RKcG_UIUPU1dneH2PcEMZIPy_gI1UU/s640/p7.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I ditched my teacher desk my second year and never looked back. I use my kidney bean table as my home base and it forces me to keep it somewhat clean so I can still teach small groups.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8Il9GqDPQsgf05xrf9p63Z04QwWPU51I2_xl-DoA7ULpX5cVkBj1QpcLqRmmXjrbtoajrJSVih2wPFo4zd9tNpFmxRJR49a28M4sz-6ur_FeN4PvnWB6Dxi-JDkMGK9xfI0kkTVxfQq-/s1600/p8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1125" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8Il9GqDPQsgf05xrf9p63Z04QwWPU51I2_xl-DoA7ULpX5cVkBj1QpcLqRmmXjrbtoajrJSVih2wPFo4zd9tNpFmxRJR49a28M4sz-6ur_FeN4PvnWB6Dxi-JDkMGK9xfI0kkTVxfQq-/s640/p8.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The back of my room! I have 2 Nugget Comforts and to say that my students are obsessed would be an understatement. They're both from DonorsChoose!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMWQWa139wzn4bd7ZKASo7eHvmaCeZxqKzw-FhxPBVrGSbOJUhSW-A_-xv0a8QRlMX9-i8ZFCQNFa56v0jFdt-dIZbIAOtCW4uDiOJtv1eAtIEhadZw3S-lDOGBg4wSeprmGD8lBERJex/s1600/p110.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMWQWa139wzn4bd7ZKASo7eHvmaCeZxqKzw-FhxPBVrGSbOJUhSW-A_-xv0a8QRlMX9-i8ZFCQNFa56v0jFdt-dIZbIAOtCW4uDiOJtv1eAtIEhadZw3S-lDOGBg4wSeprmGD8lBERJex/s400/p110.png" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACn4zUVnDAe_Q2lqTYu_DEbf0JUkIB9ntUzS0KRtq6pAbiOM6OFU4vYJmKDQuKn4V5s2J1RcYGb0l_HZNnqb3Ol2ds6fbiJPHixvhqEMPLGyJvHYMzMZd5vbdTFaCaSzUaeBAVBNCSnxX/s1600/p11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACn4zUVnDAe_Q2lqTYu_DEbf0JUkIB9ntUzS0KRtq6pAbiOM6OFU4vYJmKDQuKn4V5s2J1RcYGb0l_HZNnqb3Ol2ds6fbiJPHixvhqEMPLGyJvHYMzMZd5vbdTFaCaSzUaeBAVBNCSnxX/s400/p11.png" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of my favorite areas in my classroom! The saying on the wall is a chant we do every morning together during morning meeting (I stole this from my friend Kathryn who adapted it from her church. It's my favorite!) The house crests on the door show off our house pride and are from Brittany at Miss5th!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks for hanging in there! As a reminder, my classroom did NOT start off this way. I have collected a lot over the years and received MANY items thanks to the generous donors at DonorsChoose. </span></div>
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<br />Kimberly Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661362790591886211noreply@blogger.com0