Parent Donations

[MsCoffeeLover]

Sorry I haven't been here in awhile. The field of education doesn't seem to think about the fact it may be killing us on the inside.

Need advice on the thought that hit me this morning:

Y'all know the theme for my room is reuse and recycle, and let me just tell y'all, I have more beautiful cell projects than ever before. We could eat most of them. Kids still bring in little things here or there so we have supplies in the classroom to work on.

I was thinking about sending a list home with the students. It is basically a checklist of things, and, upon parent permission, students pretty much clean up or go around the house looking for certain items on the list that are destined for the recycle bin or the trash. They are encouraged to bring them into school to be used in crafty projects. These are things like blocks, toy or game pieces, puzzle pieces, cd, cannisters, yarn, string, tape, old cards, etc.

Aside form having the supplies available in class for projects, I was also thinking about having the kids make christmas gifts from usable materials. We already have a few kids decorating the science classroom.

Would it just better to send the list home and hope for the best or could incentives be offered? Incentives like points that can used on a test or a certain number of items on the list can serve as a test grade? What do you think? Our district mandates that tests count 40%, and our lower level students and struggling readers don't test very well, so I try to have other alternatives like projects to help out with test grades.

I am sending thank you cards to the students and parents that just donate stuff for the sake of donating, but we all know teachers need whatever supplies they can get. What is the best thing to do here?

We will be starting our recycled human body project, so I guess I better throw a few things on the list for that project as well.

Help please!

[MissTeach]

I always give my students a list of supplies that we need and when they bring something, they get a homework pass. I only allow three passes per student per semester.

The teacher across the hall from me gives out extra credit points for supplies that students bring. She applies the points to their final average. Another teacher does the same, except she applies the extra credit points to a test grade.

[Brit]

for many parents, I think the idea of getting rid of their junk would be incentive enough. What else are they going to do with the puzzle pieces that no longer make a puzzle?

the thank you cards would be gravy for kids and parents. but honestly, I think it's just good to have someplace to get rid of those things! the list is a good idea.

Be careful what you start -- my mom is still dropping her crap off at the public school 20 years after I've left -- AND I get "donations" from her too! There's only so many empty pudding cup containers I can store!!!

[MsCoffeeLover]

A few students participate in a journal project with me for fun. I asked one of the students about his Christmas and what they are doing. Only dad is working, mom is in college and selling Avon to make a little extra money for Christmas, and they have six kids in the house. The sweetest boy said the older ones wouldn't be getting much of anything for Christmas because the little ones need it more, and he agreed with that idea. He also talked about making presents for his family. Now I am determined to get more stuff in the classroom so some of my kids can make things.

I was thinking about points or coupons for certain assignments. What would be good point values for the following? I think I need help with specifics. The things I really want the kids to donate are:

Game/toy pieces: Dominoes, puzzles, scrabble letters, jacks, lincoln logs, tinker toys, dice, blocks,

Crafty things: Marbles, buttons, balloons, pipe cleaners, film cannisters, coffee cans, beads, feathers, googly eyes, popsicle sticks,

Adhesives: Duct tape, Duct tape, Duct tape, stickers,

Gift bags, used greeting cards, yarn, twin, fuzz, cigar boxes, play dough,

it is an exhaustive list, but it is probably time for some cleaning so Santa can see who was naughty or nice.

I have so many kids that just create stuff and their ideas are endless. If I have two kids participating, that will be enough for me.

Oh, by the way, today is America Recycles Day!

[Brit]

Please remember, too, that lots of places will donate good stuff if you just ask them! anything you see in a store is donateable -- you just have to ask the right person in the right way with the right incentive.

Heck, we went out to lunch the other day, decided the chairs in the restauraunt would be perfect for a new observation area we have, called up the resturaunt, and they're now looking to find some for us!

Never hurts to ask for what you want.