I know that in the past ten years I've spent hundreds of dollars on school related items. I've bought stickers, pens, books, pencils, erasers, dry erase markers, overhead markers, paper, etc. And all of that quickly adds up.
One thing teachers learn to be really quick is resourceful. Here are some tips on how to find FREE resources for your classroom.
1. Look around your school. You'll be surprised to find out that in some closet or hole in the wall there is a plethora of stuff that's been forgotten and just sits on shelves collecting dust rather than being in use. Ask questions. Ask your administrators. Ask your department head/chair/leader. Ask and you shall receive! From filing cabinets that maybe another teacher has gotten rid of, desks, chairs, file folders, and other school supplies, you're first line of defense is your school itself.
2. Donorschoose.org is a great website where you can create a project, upload a picture of your classroom (make sure that it does not contain any information on your school or state), and give a brief explanation of what you need and why your students would benefit from it. It works on a point system. If your project gets funded and you complete your Thank You package, you get more points which means you can submit more project proposals. I have been most successful at getting projects funded right before the new year. It seems that wealthy, generous people are looking for ways to get rid of some of their money around the end of December. So make sure before you leave on winter recess that you have a project uploaded and active on the site. I've been successful in receiving a printer, toner, and several reams of paper that my classroom needed. It's a great program and it's quite easy to do.
3. The educationfund.org offers a Teach-a-Thon in many areas that you can participate in and raise money for your classroom. It works just like a walkathon where 'Teacher Champions' (business professionals from the community) come together to raise funds for education. If selected, you'll work with a Teacher Champion in helping them come up with a lesson that they'll teach your students. It's an awesome opportunity to get business professionals in your classroom offering their advice and suggestions to your students. It's a wonderful way for students to see how the concepts you learn in class are used in the real world. This year I was fortunate enough to have IT people come in to my statistics class and go over how they use spreadsheets to come up with projects that will get funded and impact the community. The students were engaged, the concepts we covered in class were solidified, and they got to ask these business professionals questions about their line of work. It's very interesting to have outsiders come into your classroom and teach your students. Many business people have no idea how difficult it is to attract students' attention and retain it for an hour or two at a time. It's a real eye-opening experience for them. It's also a great way for you to get money for participating. The amount depends on how much is raised and how many teachers have participated.
The Education Fund also offers Teacher Mini Grants and other Grant opportunities. Competition is fierce but if you put your time and effort into creating a great project, your chances at receiving additional funding will increase.
4. Adopt-a-classroom.org is another great website for teachers to get much needed resources.
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