What's in a name?
Justify Your Need
With my Dr. Seuss project, I wrote the whole thing as if I were Dr. Seuss. Everything from beginning to end was written in a rhyme. I had so much fun it should've been considered a crime!
Dr. Seuss was an author we grew up with and read
but our classrooms are filled with other books instead.
Common core! Common Core! That's the phrase they all shout,
but our kids are only four, what's that all about?
Our kids are young, ambitious, and curious
but there's darkness lurking about that's much too serious.
Pre-k is a time to explore and play,
to imagine and create until the end of the day.
But the trouble that's looming seems to be blooming.
Academic rigor! Academic rigor! They're telling us to grow up much much quicker.
They want to prepare us to be college ready, we want to go to college but at a pace that's steady.
Our parents can't help us of the troubles that's lurking,
it's not their fault! They're too busy working!
It's up to you to help us keep our childhood we're about to lose,
you wonderful people, the people of Donors Choose!
Keep the Project Cost Low
Now, this doesn't mean don't create projects over $400. If you're confident that it will get funded, go for it! Otherwise, break expensive projects into two projects or even three. Take the Deathly Hallows or the Star Wars Trilogy approach! Remember…get creative with the title too!
- ___________ : Part #
- ___________ : Episode #
Long Live the Project!
If You Believe It, They Will Donate
'Tis the Season to Be Giving!
Last year, I had a project that was up for 2 months without any activity. As soon as December rolled around, one donor fully fund the project. This year, my colleague had a project going since September without any donation love. During the holiday season, donations flooded in and helped her fully fund her first project. I created a photography project in December and it was complete within a week.
There's Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, and now...Donate December.
Special Offers
Give A Little to Get A LOT!
Turn on Facebook Updates
Be Thankful and Meaningful!
Since we're on the topic of Thank Yous, be sure to complete your Thank You package on time. Take great pictures and write a well thought out impact letter detailing what the materials has done for your classroom and your students. Make sure the individual hand-written student thank you letters are awesome as well.
Don't Reinvent the Wheel
If you've had success before, use what works. The portion where you describe who your students are can be reused. If you have projects that overlap in similar resources or themes, go back and look at what you wrote. It will definitely help in the submission process. Don't try to reinvent the wheel!
Community Pages
A Personal Touch for Those You Know
Promote Yourself!
Besides my WALL OF DONORS, I have a Classroom Herald board next to it that informs parents and any visitors about what donorschoose.org is and how they can help. There are strips of paper with my donorschoose.org web address. I also post project that need help in funding along with their info. The attention grabber are the photos of the kids using the materials we've received from previously funded projects.
I've also created and order business cards with my contact info, personal webpage, and my donorschoose.org/ayung details. I wear shirts that promote my donorschoose page. As ridiculous as that sounds, putting yourself out there is very important.
Check Out Part 2!
http://kinderheim.weebly.com/blog/more-tips-to-ensure-success-on-donorschooseorg
Help a Teacher Out!
With that being said, I'd like to take this opportunity to promote a project that needs your help!
Check out www.donorschoose.org/ayung