Explore the Blog

Looking for a special way to celebrate Valentine’s day with your students this year? 

Affirmations can help students build a growth mindset, increase their resilience, and foster a love of learning. By sharing affirmations with your students, you are sending a message of love and support, and helping to build their confidence in themselves and their abilities.

Download these special cards as-is or customize our Canva template, then print, and share with your kiddos to remind them that they are kind, clever, creative, brave, and so much more.

Teachers, thank you for pouring your hearts into your work, providing a safe and supportive learning environment for students. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

‍

Coming on February 8: Donations to every project by Black teachers and teachers at schools where most students are Black will be doubled, while funds last. 

The best way to take part in this celebration? Make sure your community knows about the awesome work you and your students are doing! Teachers who take one of the 5-minute sharing actions below have a 89% success rate on DonorsChoose. (Seriously.) To help you give your projects an extra boost, our DonorsChoose team designed some resources to make sharing your project super simple, so the only question left is: 

How are you taking part in Black History Month celebrations on DonorsChoose?

Option A: I’m sharing my project link on social media

On Wednesday morning, pick your favorite graphics from our collection and share at least twice on social media. You can mix & match your favorite platforms (i.e. 1 Facebook post + 1 TikTok), do a morning and evening post on the same platform, or post and re-share your own content (Insta feed + Insta story!). Wherever you tweet, post, snap, or share, make sure you include a link to your project!

Feeling extra excited about these graphics? You can create your own custom graphic using the Canva templates below:

• Instagram
• Instagram Stories / TikTok
• Facebook & Twitter

Option B: I’m spreading the word to my friends & family via text

On Wednesday, customize, copy, and paste the text below (with your project link!) into a group text chat with 3-5 friends or in an email to at least 3-5 people. Wherever you send it — your starred group chat, that DM thread with your funniest friends, your family email chain — make it super personal to their favorite teacher (you!).

Hi friends! DonorsChoose is celebrating Black History Month by doubling donations to my project!! I want to give my students [books by Black authors, crayons with diverse skin tones, wiggle chairs]. I’d be so grateful if you would make a small donation or share this link with others: [your project link]. Thank you a million times from me and my [28 little Einsteins-in-training]!

Option C: I’m giving my project the maximum boost!

This the ultimate option: A way to let friends and family and your wider network know about your project and the big match day. Complete these three steps together to give your project the momentum it needs:

1. Send a personalized email to one person who cares about you and your classroom, asking them if they would like to celebrate Black History Month by supporting your project. Include your project link!
2. Post your project on your favorite social media platform and Include your project link!
3. Send one group email or text to folks you know, asking them to help you spread the word about your project while there are doubled donations. Include your project link! 
   Not sure who to reach out to? Get some ideas here!

Whichever approach you choose, know that your community wants to see you and your students thrive: A warm hello, your project link, and a giant “thank you” goes a long way!

Classrooms can be powerful places for fostering expression and creativity among kids, and giving students affirming, supportive, and well-resourced learning environments is key to making that happen. Through DonorsChoose, donors fund teacher-selected resources that improve student outcomes and support teacher retention — all while building a more racially equitable education system.

In November 2022, in honor of the theatrical release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Disney matched $250,000 in donations to STEM and art projects on DonorsChoose as part of Disney Future Storytellers, an initiative that empowers the next generation of diverse storytellers and innovators. Disney’s grant doubled donations to qualifying projects, and specifically supported requests from Equity Focus Schools, which have been historically underfunded due to economic and racial inequity.

In total, Disney brought to life 1,376 STEM and art projects across 684 public schools. 

Here are a few of our favorites!

Electrical Engineers

Ms. Jackson | Elementary School | New York

“My students are amazing SCIENCE SCHOLARS! They enjoy experimenting, investigating, and designing! Each child, regardless of learning differences, feels successful while engaging in hands-on tasks. I’m excited to capture the buzz of excitement and to foster a love of science and lead students to make connections to real world phenomena.”

Sewing Satisfaction

Ms. O | Elementary School | California

“Sewing is a tremendous visual art encompassing all that our school is developing through our STEAM curriculum. It utilizes math and measuring, and sewing with a machine develops technology skills and furthers students’ understanding of engineering. Teaching young people to sew through a STEAM curriculum is powerful and satisfying!”

Growing Green With My Bed-Stuy Team!

Ms. Scott | Early Childhood | New York

“Bringing environmental education to my scholars at an early age will make a huge difference in how they see the world.  The hydroponics kits will create meaningful project-based learning in the classroom.  My scholars will grow and harvest throughout the year, as they are learning science concepts behind each task.”

Experience the Mind of Leonardo Da Vinci

Mr. Trousil | High School | Illinois

“I am a teacher that believes in having students use critical thinking to solve the mysteries of history. The students will jump into the mind of Leonardo Da Vinci and use critical thinking skills to build one of his great inventions, the catapult. This STEM cross-curricular activity will bring history alive.”

Thank you to Disney for sparking creativity and ingenuity in so many classrooms!

You can watch Marvel Studios' Black Panther: Wakanda Forever streaming on Disney+ starting February 1!

‍

Across the country, teachers are putting together lesson plans for Black History Month, celebrating the monumental significance and contributions of Black people throughout history. A lesson I hope we all reflect on this year: why Black teachers matter.

I grew up in a household where celebrating and uplifting the Black experience happened all year, not just in February.

I saw it on Sundays while soaking up the fervent words of a fiery Black preacher in a southern Black church. I saw it in Jack and Jill, where Black families are the center of social and cultural programs year-round. I saw it through my parents’ community involvement in their Divine Nine sorority and fraternity. And I sought it myself, heading to the historically Black Spelman College after spending my public school education in classrooms with fewer Black teachers than I can count on one hand.

To read the full article, go to wordinblack.com.

‍

 Celebrities are fans too! When these ten public figures aren’t busy wow-ing us on screen, they’re using their star power to shine a spotlight on teachers. Public school teachers use nonprofit DonorsChoose to request the items they need for their students; over 85% of U.S. public schools have at least one teacher who has requested items through the site! The DonorsChoose teacher community is so fortunate to have thoughtful actors, authors, and other public figures helping classrooms get the resources they need! Here are some celebrities that used their platform to shine a spotlight on DonorsChoose teachers in 2022.

Amanda Seales Secured $30,000 for Classrooms on Wheel of Fortune 

Comedian and Actress Amanda Seales spun her way to $30,000 for classrooms on DonorsChoose.

‍

Reese Witherspoon Encourages Donations to Classrooms on Giving Tuesday

On Giving Tuesday, Actress and Producer Reese Witherspoon donated to DonorsChoose and shared some love for teachers in this video. 

‍

Sheryl Lee Ralph Shared What Your Donations Mean to Teachers

By sharing this blog post, Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph reminded people how classroom project donations mean the world to teachers. This year, she also spun the wheel for DonorsChoose on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.

‍

Mark Duplass Completed 25 Teacher Requests for Materials

Filmmaker and star of The Morning Show, Mark Duplass helped fund 25 teacher requests for basic supplies and invited others to join him.

‍

Abbott Elementary Cast Competed For DonorsChoose on Celebrity Family Feud

Survey says… The Abbott Elementary cast supported real-life teachers by playing Celebrity Family Feud for DonorsChoose teachers.

‍

W. Kamau Bell Shared DonorsChoose Match Opportunities and Projects

Throughout the year, comedian, host, producer, and DonorsChoose board member W. Kamau Bell used his platform to shine a light on teacher projects and share funding opportunities like this GivingTuesday match.

‍

Yvette Nicole Brown Won for DonorsChoose on NBC’s Password

Actress, host, producer, and DonorsChoose board member Yvette Nicole Brown, earned $50,000 for classrooms on the celebrity game show, Password. 

‍

Stephen Colbert Spoke About Supporting Students on the Masters of Scale Podcast

Late-night TV host and DonorsChoose Board Member Stephen Colbert shares why he got involved with the DonorsChoose community in this full podcast interview with Masters of Scale.

‍

Angie Thomas Celebrated Black Educators and Students During Black History Month

During Black Month, Angie Thomas, author of The Hate You Give, shared how Black educators empowered her to find her voice. 

‍

Nicholas Ferroni and Emily Hampshire Surprise a Group of Teachers

Educator Nicholas Ferroni teamed up with Actress Emily Hampshire to surprise a group of teachers with DonorsChoose gift cards.

Happy 2023, teachers! Whatever your classroom needs most this year, it can be yours! Turn your new year’s resolution for your classroom into your next project today!

Resolution #1: This year, I’ll stop straining my eyes at screens (and help my students do the same).

Mrs. Phipps, a high school teacher in Twin Falls, Idaho wants her students to be able to “escape the indoors without leaving their desks”. She (and lots of other teachers!) have figured out the solution: fluorescent light covers to provide a reprieve from the constant bombardment of harsh lighting in school. With their treetop and cloud designs, teachers are turning fluorescent overhead panels into window-like natural lighting.

“Being in a room with no windows all day is a difficult task. These light covers give my students a chance to see nature without having windows. It also gives some students something to focus on when they need a moment to relax, calm down, or re-center themselves. It also helps soften the room and cover the ugly old yellow dingy lighting we have. I often catch students just looking up for a moment and enjoying a moment of peace imagining they are in that location, then they are able to come back to their learning with a fresh start.” – Ms. Hansen, “A Breath of Fresh Air”

“The light covers are amazing. They filter the lights enough that children are able to see the board or TV in the front of the room when they are sitting in their carpet spots. The light covers have also helped reduce the glare on papers and work when students are sitting at their desks. The reduced glare of the lights has also helped me develop a calming atmosphere in the classroom.” – Ms. Moon, “Reducing the Glare”

As one supportive donor from Wilkesboro, North Carolina noted on this project for light covers, let’s “make your New Year a little easier on your eyes!”

Resolution #2: This year, I won’t reinvent the wheel.

DonorsChoose teachers tell us TPT gift cards (formerly Teachers Pay Teachers) are a shopping spree in the world's largest catalog of educator-created learning content. Or, as Mrs. Chudnofsky puts it, TPT is the best way to “spend less time creating lessons by purchasing already beautifully made resources and more time teaching the content and working with students.”

High school teachers, Ms. Bates (Human Anatomy and Physiology teacher) requested gift cards with her project, saying::

“Teachers Pay Teachers is a wonderful site in which teachers share their resources with one another. The luxury of having a gift card is that when I come across something, or go looking for something that would benefit my students, I have the ability to purchase right away. This is especially helpful with students that may need a little extra help on a specific topic. I am able to find supplemental materials that help them to master the topic and not fall behind.”

Middle school teachers, Ms. Siebers explained:

“TPT gift cards are especially helpful for social emotional learning, math intervention, reading comprehension, and growth mindset lessons that can keep my students on track for high school.”

And for you elementary school teachers, Ms. Peterson tried it out for you:

“Activities available on TPT often contain strong visuals, leveled versions of the same task, and cross-curricular connections. It is for these reasons that activities found on TPT are a perfect resource for my group of diverse students!”

TPT gift cards give you access to materials for every student and every unit, including core curriculum lessons in Spanish, Black History Month projects, science experiments, animal research projects, Women in History projects, and activities for students with autism spectrum disorder or specific learning needs, and much more. 

Resolution #3: This year, I won’t waste time digging for a pencil.

Last fall, Ms. Mulhall posted her project 2022-2023 Organization Tools. Thanks to the DonorsChoose community of donors and partners, she received post-it pads, a new bookcase, pencil cases, and command hooks to get her classroom neat, clean, and organized. Here’s how it went:

“These organization tools have been a life-changer in this classroom. Students are taking care of all of their materials and they have a safe place for all materials. In the morning, students come into the classroom and their room is clean and organized and they know where to access the supplies they need. This project also is helping students stay accountable for their things and teaches them great life skills.”

For your next project, build a bundle of supplies that will get your classroom ready for the months ahead. Take a look at these projects for inspiration. (On DonorsChoose, copying is never cheating!), then copy and paste the cart of your most organized dreams!

• Little Things Make a Big Difference
  “[My students] were thrilled to see all the educational games, white boards, and flexible seating, along with triangular shaped pencils, a laminator, big money, and other new learning tools. They wanted to get started using everything right away!”
  
• Supplies to Help Students Shoot for the Stars!
  “Making sure that my classroom is inviting and well equipped with the proper materials will help students perform better and lessen the stress on parents for certain materials throughout the school year.”
  
• Tidy Tigers!

“My students’ reactions were priceless when the boxes and supplies arrived. They were excited to see the big boxes. They actually started unpacking the boxes before I could. The students started sorting and situating where the items would go and what they would use. They made space for the items and placed them in what they saw as the most useful spots in the room.”

But the best resolution of all? The one that gets you started!

Resolution #4: This year, I’ll post a project.

‍

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a blossoming of support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the corporate social responsibility (CSR) sector, with racial equity campaigns front and center. 

Through our education crowdfunding nonprofit platform at DonorsChoose, companies and foundations make a tangible impact for public school students by funding learning materials handpicked by teachers. Public schools aren’t created equal — school districts that serve mostly students of color get $23 billion less in state and local funding annually, and teachers of color are steeply underrepresented. Recognizing this, many of our partners have been coming to us, looking for a way to build a more racially equitable public education system.

We’ve honed in on three paths for CSR teams who want to tangibly and authentically foster racial equity in education.

Funding frontline teacher wisdom

Research shows that DonorsChoose-funded resources help students achieve academically and inspire teachers to stay in the classroom. By funding resources requested by teachers of color or that support predominantly students of color, companies can directly retain powerful educators and improve student outcomes.

One in four Black teachers in America use DonorsChoose, and we have access to robust school-level student demographic data. This, combined with our hyperlocal funding capabilities, allows partners to zoom in on the exact communities, teachers, and schools they’re passionate about supporting.

For example, Robert F. Smith, Vista Equity Partners, and PowerSchool gave $1.3 million to bring to life 2,161 projects in six southern communities where more than half of Black Americans live and work. Read Robert F. Smith’s letter to our community about this support.

‍

Filling classrooms with diverse & inclusive learning resources

Every teacher and student has a role to play in building a more equitable education system, and making sure teachers have classroom resources that reflect and affirm a diversity of identities brings us closer to that goal. From books featuring protagonists of color to crayons that express a diversity of skin tones, culturally-responsive materials are shown to have a positive impact on students’ overall learning and success.

We launched a new project category: Racial Justice & Representation. Since we launched this category in August 2021, 32,000 donors have given to such projects, bringing more than 13,000 of them to life.

Supporting insights through direct research initiatives

Teachers’ voices and perspectives are often overlooked in public discussions, and passing the mic to educators is a powerful way CSR teams can elevate front-line solutions from the teachers closest to the issue. By providing funding incentives for teachers to participate in research and surveys, companies expand DEI field’s overall knowledge, while providing material support to classrooms.

A coalition of anonymous funders teamed up to support the biggest ever survey on the experiences of male teachers of color. Teachers who participated in the survey received $300 in DonorsChoose funding as a thank you, and partners sustained support by fully funding projects from Black male educators across the country.

Our team would be excited to work with you to build a custom DEI CSR campaign that achieves your goals, aligns with your brand, and truly brings us towards a more racially equitable public education system. Contact us to learn more!

‍

Every month, companies and foundations from all across the country show their support for public school teachers and students by matching donations to DonorsChoose requests — and it’s one of the easiest ways to secure funding for your classroom! Right now is a wonderful time to think of what resources to request for your classroom and make the most of this year’s giving season.

When a project receives a doubled donation, its chance of success jumps from 85% to 92%.

Currently available, while funding lasts. Updated as of 12/15/22. For the most up-to-date status on our funding opportunities and more match offers, visit our Help Center.

Get $100 in Classroom Rewards for Using Kahoot!

Are you a 3rd - 8th grade teacher who loves using Kahoot! with students? Complete one Kahoot! Lesson with at least 15 students and you could receive $100 in classroom rewards! Once you’ve done your lesson, all you have to do is fill out a survey to be eligible. Learn more about this offer

Earn $150 Classroom Rewards for your Equity Focus School

PwC Charitable Foundation is excited to help students explore career pathways and passions! If you teach 3rd - 8th grade at an Equity Focus School, your class is eligible for a $150 gift code. Check out the Time for Kids interactive career exploration platform called Your 🔥 Job, complete a short survey and you’re all set! Learn more about this offer

Donations Doubled to Sports Team Projects at Equity Focused School

Could your winter basketball team use a restock of supplies? Does the spring track & field team want a head start at getting what they need? This 2x match from the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation is meant for you! Equity Focus School teachers are eligible to receive doubled donations on team sports projects. Use the campaign code SPORTSMATTER and request materials for your school’s sports teams to qualify. Learn more about this offer

These are just a few of the match offers we have live this month — make sure to bookmark our funding opportunities and match offers page to stay up to date! 

New to DonorsChoose?

We’re a nonprofit platform that connects public school teachers like you with a thriving community of donors eager to fund your classroom projects. Learn how you can get funding for the exact items your students need to thrive.

‍

Our community of teachers is loving ABC’s Emmy-award winning Abbott Elementary. This critically-acclaimed (and hilarious) show explores life at a fictional Philadelphia elementary school. Since its pilot episode, educators have been stunned by how accurately the show captures the highs and lows of teaching in the U.S. public school system. We asked DonorsChoose teachers what the show gets right — here’s what they said:

🚨Spoiler Alert🚨If you aren’t caught up, what are you waiting for? Stop everything and watch right now!

1. If you’re a teacher, your students will definitely think you’re corny

As an adult, you might be the life of the party in your group, but the moment you become a teacher, your students will see you as O.L.D.! There’s no way to avoid it; making students cringe is part of the job description. You might not have done a silly performance like when Jacob joined the improv group, Story Samurai, on stage. But, chances are you’ve done something a bit corny.

2. Teachers have to figure out creative ways to get the supplies they need 

Abbott Elementary shows how teachers go to unusual lengths to get the get the supplies and materials they need from Melissa calling in a favor to get that Eagles branded carpet, to when Janine used TikTok to ask for supplies during Wishlist Week. This show demonstrates what every DonorsChoose teacher knows — to make amazing classrooms, the community needs to get involved! 

3. When students have teachers that look like them, it matters

Having positive role models and representation in the classroom is so important! When Gregory’s students draw pictures of him, he initially doesn’t think much of it. But Janine tells him that his students must really love having him as a teacher.  While the show hasn’t gone into great depth about the impact of Black male teachers (yet!), we can see it in the students’ appreciation for Gregory.

4. Teachers have to find time when there’s no time

These days, we all feel like we need more time, but no one needs more time than teachers!  When first-year teacher Gregory planned out every single moment of his schedule so he could try to meet the demands of a new and robust curriculum, teachers all across the country felt seen.

5. Teacher salaries are too low

When Janine finds herself struggling to pay rent, she tries lots of outrageous ways to figure out how to avoid eviction. While this episode is one of the funniest so far, it also showcases a hard truth: Teachers’ salaries often aren’t enough to sustain regular living expenses. 

6. Communicating with parents can be difficult

A big part of every teacher’s job is to make sure they provide updates and feedback to parents and guardians. In one episode, Gregory struggles to tell a parent why her child needs to be dropped off at school on time. While it was a frustrating conversation for him, it was one of those crucial small moments between teachers and parents that keep kids learning. 

7. Setting boundaries doesn’t mean teachers don’t love their jobs

Over the past few years, teachers have received criticism from those who don’t have school or classroom experience. But veteran educators know: Teaching is a marathon, and the know how to protect personal time to recharge. 

8. Working with students is the most rewarding experience 

One of the best feelings for teachers is getting to know their students and watching them learn new things. In one episode, we even get to see Barbara run into a former student and see how much they’ve grown.

9. Classroom management styles can be tricky to navigate 

At some point, every teacher has to figure out how to address or correct inappropriate behavior in class. When Gregory sends one of his students to the principal's office, he’s annoyed that Ava doesn’t discipline them. After a helpful conversation with Barbara, Gregory adjusts his approach for getting the student to stay focused in class. 

10. Support from other teachers and school staff makes a world of difference

Throughout the show, the teachers and staff at Abbott Elementary work together to create the best experience they can for the students. Whether it’s the teachers helping each other solve problems or Mr. Johnson and Ava stepping in to watch a class, everyone leans on one another. 

11. In spite of challenges, teachers show up and do their best 

Whether it’s finding the right type of desk for a student using a wheelchair, or taking on an extra grade level, teachers go above and beyond for their students every day. 

This holiday season, warm a local teacher’s heart! Find your local “Abbott Elementary” and support a classroom! 

‍

Wintertime Activities

Whether your school days are snowy or sunny, you can transform the winter blues with low-intensity, colorful activities for the whole class. Projects like these can help your students decrease stress and increase focus (and fun!).

‍Boring Food Web Drawings? Not in My Class!
I want to make learning about biomes, ecosystems, biotic and abiotic factors, and food webs fun and engaging for my students. The game can be used as a great review game before final exams, to help students de-stress while polishing their skills and knowledge of the content, or as a fun refresher on minimum days or before a holiday, when student's brains are already on vacation.

Poster Printer
This project has only one item: A poster maker. I remember as a child, my teachers would have motivational posters, celebratory posters, and educational posters displayed. We often gripe about children growing up too fast, but simultaneously take the excitement and color out of schools. I want to bring it back, and this poster maker is a great start.‍

Learn About Different Cultures’ Holidays

Put a global spin on your festivities by exploring diverse cultures, customs, and holiday traditions. From geography to literature to the culinary arts, any subject can become a cultural celebration.

Reading in a Winter Wonderland
My project is for winter-themed books on holidays (Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah), hibernation, arctic animals, snowmen, and more with a fun mix of fiction and non-fiction books.

Celebrating Holidays Through Geography
By providing geographical culinary resources, hands-on crafts and interactive activities, our spectacular students will learn about world geography, cultural histories and fascinating customs. ‍

Giving Back

Embrace the giving season in your classroom! Help your students make their classroom, campus, or community a brighter and more beautiful place this winter with service-oriented projects.

Virtual Reality Experiences Leading to Community Service Impact
Our culminating activity in the unit is going to be for my students to develop a community service project that will allow them and others to have an impact on a global goal of their choosing.

Art Supplies for Community School Murals
Creating murals and large canvas artwork that can be displayed throughout our school is one way to build community, teach teamwork and art design skills, and is also a great way to have fun with students!

Whatever your students need – a pick-me-up on a cold, gray day or a high-energy creative outlet for almost-vacation wiggles – get creative and then get all the supplies you need by submitting your next DonorsChoose project!

Every November, the United States recognizes Native American Heritage Month to celebrate the culture and achievements of Indigenous people. Today, we are thrilled to share that Livia & Biz Stone just gave $250,000 to support Native American students through DonorsChoose! This funding fulfilled a classroom project for every teacher at a school where the majority of students are Native American.

Historically, schools on reservations and those mostly serving Native American students have been underfunded and overlooked. We also can’t forget the painful history of Native American boarding schools and the impact it has had on Native communities. Yet in the face of oppression, Native Americans have beautiful stories to celebrate and vital contributions to honor. The DonorsChoose team is thrilled to partner with Livia & Biz Stone to help invest in Native American students.

Here are just a few of the amazing projects that were fully-funded, thanks to today’s donation.

Indigenous Culture Through Art

Ms. Siena’s elementary students love learning about their Indigenous culture through art. This project will give students the supplies they need to create a piece of art composed of geometric patterns and symbols of Anishinabe or Dakota contributions, including foods, housing, games, traditions and more.

"The study of art and culture can build confidence as well as a sense of identity." — Ms. Siena, elementary teacher, MN

Bees Get Married When They Find Their Honey

Mr. Wright’s elementary school science lesson will teach his students all about bees and honey production. 

“The bee's life cycle displays are really engaging because most students haven't been that close to a bee before. So students will get a kick out of holding these acrylic insect displays.”

Native American Appreciation

Mrs. Larson is getting Native American books and artwork for her high school students in Montana.

“Having more Native American representation in the classroom will allow my students to have a better understanding not just of their own tribe but others across the United States.” — Mrs. Larson, elementary teacher, MT

Let's Get Together!

Mrs. Kay is excited for her students to have dedicated space for collaboration in the classroom. 

“This classroom area rug would allow all students in the room to gather simultaneously for discussion and working on various assignments.” — Mrs. Kay, elementary teacher, NC

Reading to Expand Native Culture

Decodable books and sight word activities will soon be arriving in Ms. Hirst’s classroom! 

“With their increase in reading skills, [students]  can begin to read and comprehend more complex texts about their own culture written and illustrated by Native authors. This, in turn, will increase their pride in their Native heritage.”  — Mrs. Hurst, elementary teacher, AK

____

‍

If you’re a parent or teacher looking for resources about Native American Heritage, the First Nations Development Institute recommends this list of books. 
To learn more about the systemic issues that Native students face on a daily basis, check out these resources from  Learning For Justice.
‍‍To support Native American students and teachers or the celebration of Native American Heritage Month in our schools, donate to a project on the DonorsChoose Native American Heritage month giving page. .

‍

This time of year brings a tidal wave of support (in dollars and heartwarming messages!) from donors to teachers. But what’s really going on? Is it just the spirit of giving season and the holiday shopping bug that bring people to DonorsChoose? Let’s find out.

By the numbers

First, let’s examine how the holiday season really shakes out compared to other times of year: The next few weeks will see more fully-funded projects than any other time. Want to get nerdy with some numbers?

Last year, between Thanksgiving and New Years…

• More than 125,000 people made a donation to a classroom project.
• Classroom projects received over $15 million in donations.
• On average, donors give $12 more than usual per donation.

So now the only question is: Why do donors feel so compelled to make this most wonderful time of the year on DonorsChoose? Our team scoured the plethora of donor comments left on the site every single day, and two major themes emerged.

Halfway there

Between the back-to-school season supply surge and the plentiful packages of Teacher Appreciation Week, classroom cabinets and desk drawers start to run dry. Donors everywhere realize just how critical the mid-year restock can be. 

“Mrs Casey, I am excited to help support your work in the classroom. You should not have to sweat the basics. Keep up the awesome work that you do!”

“Want to help get some of the supplies for your classroom. Hope you all have a great rest of the school year!!👏🏾👍🏾”

“Hope this helps fill your empty cupboards and have a great school year!”

Giving thanks

‘Tis the season for gratitude. Giving to a teacher’s project is one way thankful folks can show their appreciation for all teachers do. Neighbors and families, folks who have spent time in your community, people practicing acts of kindness from across the country — they all see the contributions teachers make and want to say thanks.

“It's so clear you're doing exceptional things for your students. Very grateful to have educators like you going above-and-beyond for kids every day! Wishing you so much luck this school year.”

“My grandkids and great-grandkids attend Riverton schools. I know that our teachers are working so hard to make learning FUN!!”

“Thanks for teaching me about 8 years ago.”

“As a retired schoolteacher, I am totally aware of the importance of materials needed for traveling on the roads to success. Children should have supplies that speak of the importance [of] learning. I hope your students will appreciate the importance you place upon the availability of supplies to aid them in their classroom experiences.”

“Best wishes to you and your students from your neighbor in the Bronx!”