Cords be GONE!

Whoop! Whoop! My Donors Choose project to make headphone cords disappear in my classroom was fully funded on Monday morning!  This is going to make our listen to read center run so much smoother.  No more cords getting in the way of turning a page, or being tangled up with another student's headphone cord.  Gone are the annoying shorts that always happen in cords.

Everyone HaPpY DaNcE!!!!!

I have two more projects to go for summer funding. First, We Are Authors is a project that will enable our writing supplies to be organized as well as an optional writing desk for up to four students.  This will come in handy as our whole school is focusing on writing this year--Kindergarten through Fifth grade!

We are using Lucy Calkins brand new CCSS Writing Curriculum.  I have attended our district's training and read through about half of the materials. As I progress through this new curriculum, I will let you know my thoughts and how things are working in the classroom.  So far I am loving how the units of study are laid out and are appropriate for the kindergarten classroom.  Click here to find out more about this "spiraled" writing curriculum.

My last project for summer funding is Leveling Up!  This project is for a leveled reader cart that is eye level and easy for students to choose their own "good fit" books.  This will save a lot of my personal
and instructional time.

I have been truly blessed by a discovery this summer for my DC projects--Giving Pages.  If you have not heard about them or used them for your own Donors Choose Projects, you are missing out.  My Cords, Cords, Go Away! project would not have been funded as quickly if it was not for the wonderful  support of the Send A Smile Giving Page.  Giving pages help you promote your project while helping other teachers promote their own projects.  It is a win-win.

My two other projects have recently been added to giving pages.  We Are Authors is on Northern Lights giving page and Leveling Up! is on Kindergarten Rocks giving page.  Each giving page has a purpose and focus that is unique.  I know with the help of these two additional giving pages, I will be doing the HaPpY DaNcE very soon for my two other projects.

Were you aware of giving pages on Donors Choose?  Do you have any funding tips for Donors Choose?  Do you have a writing curriculum?  Let me know...leave a comment below.

Biz Card Script

Before returning to the classroom in 2008, I spent many years in business with my family.  I have worked in my family's candle shop, toy Store, and online businesses.  I even grew up with my grandparents and parents working in fast food.  I have done the party plans selling crystal, jewelry, and make-up.  I have been a bank teller and moved up to an account representative.  My husband and I successfully built a handmade candle business and just recently "retired" from our video production business.  Whew!  With all this business background, no wonder I thought I need to be marketing my classroom to the community.

But I know not every teacher has this same background.  So here are some tips that I have learned through my business experience to help promote what you are doing in the classroom.

This takes practice and I promise it will become easier over time.

Tip 1:  Be Sharp!  Make sure you are "Dressed for Success".  I don't mean a business suit, but you certainly do not want to promote your classroom in a t-shirt and sweats!  Remember you are representing your school and classroom to your community.

Tip 2:  Be a Customer!  I would not recommend using this method for "door to door" promotion of your classroom.  This is about connecting with businesses that you frequent.  Build the connections for future donations.  This method takes time to see results.  

Tip 3:  Be SMOOTH!  Have your biz cards in a place that is easy to access.  I have placed mine in my wallet just in front of my debit card.  Each time I reach for my debit card, I slide one out.  No searching or fumbling in my purse for one--it is ready to go.

Tip 4:  Be NICE!  It is much easier to ask for a donation from a stranger when you have treated them with kindness.  For instance, make sure you leave a good tip for your server if you are also giving him/her your card.

Tip 5:  Be Respectful!  After introducing yourself and handing them the card, have just a couple of sentences to explain your purpose.  Keep it short.  It does not hurt to rehearse it at home, but make sure it is natural.  It should only take 60 seconds or less to hand your card to someone.  Being quick shows respect to the business and other clients who may be waiting.

If you want a "script" to play with I have one below.  Please put your own personality into it.  I have never said these EXACT words but I follow this formula:  introduce my position and school, state my mission, give an invitation to go online, and give the range of donations accepted.  Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

Script
"I am a kindergarten teacher at Dayton Elementary.  And I am letting area businesses know about my classroom projects on a non-profit website called Donors Choose.  If you are interested in supporting education in our community, please take a couple minutes when you have time to visit my website.   Donations from a $1 on up are appreciated and tax deductible."

A Biz Card for Your Classroom

Early in the Spring I designed customized self-inking stamps due to Kinder Craze's blog post that show me how to use VistaPrint to create them.  I love how mine turned out and can't wait to see how hard my new students are going to work to earn one of these special stamps!

While I was creating my stamps, my eyes wondered to the business cards.  Hmmm...How could I use a business card in my classroom?  The answer came quickly.  Along with my preferred contact info I could also include my Scholastic Online Book Order Code, my Remind101 directions and my DonorsChoose web address.  Whoop!  Whoop!  A new way for parents to keep all that info in one spot in an adorable way.  I love my design and spent the extra few dollars to have the cute back on the card as well.  (The black boxes are there to protect too much of me going public.)

Next Question--How to make sure a parent receives and keeps my business card?

The first step will be to include one in my "Welcome" letter that I will mail out to each student asking them to give it to their parents.  I am excited that this will be the first summer that I CAN send them a "Welcome" letter since I already have their addresses from early registration.  I will share the letter after I create it!  Have an idea for a "Welcome" letter--tell me about it in the comments.

The second step is to tape one in each "Take Home Folder" for easy access to my info during the school year.  Since it is a very rare occasion that a folder is lost (might be misplaced for a couple days), this should be a good spot for this info.

Next IDEA...not a question this time...use a business card when I am out and about with local businesses to encourage donations to my DonorsChoose projects.  This required a REDIGN of my original biz card because I want it to just focus on my DonorsChoose link.  I decided to add a quote from my favorite author on the back.

Before designing this new DC Biz Card, I tested out how people would react with my classroom card.  I have handed out 10 cards in the last 24 hours.  Every time I received smiles and positive comments.  Donations have not been made from these folks YET but it is a numbers game.  One of those cards could fund a project!

It will be a few days before the DC Design arrives so I am going to continue to hand out my originals until then.  Why?  Because I posted 3 projects for this summer!!!  If it's meant to be it is up to ME!

I would love to hear your ideas on how to use a biz card to promote your classroom.  Leave me a message in the comments.