Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/3058
Philosophy: “Teachers shouldn’t have to ask. We know this, but we do it anyway for our students.” Strategies: Attends open houses for teachers at places like Office Depot and Staples, where pencils, highlighters, paper and other supplies are given out. Takes advantage of free days for teachers at loc al museums and re cei ves curriculum packets with fun activities. Asks for extra promotional items like rulers, pencils and pens at county fairs or community events. Enlists local restaurants to help with fundraisers and snacks: Outback cooked dinner for a set price and let the school keep the profits; Starbucks supplied free coffee for parent workshops. Asks local sports teams — the San Diego Chargers and the Padres — for promotional items left over at the end of the season, and uses sports posters and items as incentive prizes for students. Invites community members she meets schmoozing to be guest speakers at her school. Richie Wong — Thir d-grade teacher at Visitation Valley Elementary School and member of United Educators of San Francisco Philosophy: “I’m pretty good at telling people why I need money. I say, ‘We’re poor, and my students perform very well on the test.’” Strategies: Uses www.donorschoose.org, a we bsite where te achers from disadvantaged neighborhoods are matched with donors to pay for items the school can’t af ford. Last spring, Wong needed $800 to take his students to Golden Gate Park for a field trip with San Francisco Nature Education, a nonprofit bird-watching organization. Through the website he was matched with a donor who fronted the money for the trip. Students, accompanied by naturalists, were able to experience lots of wildlife and received a guidebook to help identify animals. He also receives money through www.adoptaclassroom. com that helps pay for books and supplies. Denise Stewart — English language development teacher at Willow Glen High School and member of the San Jose Teachers Association Philosophy: “I love the Internet. I live on it. But if a site isn’t teacher-friendly, I move on.” Strategies: The website she and two friends co-founded, www.ellteacherpros. com (click on “Recommendations”), offers a wealth of websites with free educational games, databases, lessons, WebQuests and resources. She suggests visiting the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times online for free lessons in economics, history, science and technology; and websites for news agencies such as MSNBC and AP to get videos of political events, weather or important stories of the day. She especially likes www.filamentality. com where teachers can post and share hotlists and WebQuests for free. ABOVE: Rebecca Sze at her computer at Bret Harte Middle School in San Jose. Denise Stewart’s online picks for freebies > www.storylineonline.net Actors read children’s stories online. > www.waterproof-paper.com/ graph-paper Different styles of graphing paper. > www.coolmath.com Math and science for all levels. > www.readwritethink.org/ student_mat Among other resources, “Comic Creator” invites students to create their own comic strips. > www.studentsoftheworld.info/ menu_infopays.html Helps further communication between young people all over the world. september 2009 | www.cta.org 13