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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

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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. .

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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!”

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! With Giving Season around the corner, this is a great time to think about resources to request for your classroom. This November, take a peek at the match offers we have available and consider what resources will help you start 2023 off on a strong footing. 

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

Currently available, while funding lasts. Updated as of 11/03/22. For the most up-to-date status on our funding opportunities and more match offers, visit our Help Center.

All Projects in Jackson, MS Will Get Doubled

The DonorsChoose Community is supporting teachers and classrooms impacted by the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi. Donations to any DonorChoose project at a Jackson, MS school will be doubled. If your school is in Jackson, MS let our donors help you focus on your students and brighten up their days! Learn more about this match offer. 

Find out if you qualify for $100 or $200 donations from Amazon

Amazon is making donations of $100 and $200 to help schools in select regions get much needed classroom resources. If you teach at one of the qualifying schools and already have a live DonorsChoose project, the funding is yours. It’s as easy as that! Select public school districts in Washington State and select Equity Focused Schools in DC, Virginia, and New York State are eligible for this donation. Learn more about this offer and which districts qualify.

Win a $10,000 DonorsChoose Gift Card for Your Middle and High School Computer Science Program

If you are a  6-12 grade teacher anywhere in the 50 states or Washington DC, your school is eligible to be awarded a $10,000 DonorsChoose gift card. Code.org is thrilled to help public schools around the country expand computer education for students and will be awarding a total of $1 million during CS Education Week. Make sure you get that submission in by Monday, November 21st! Learn more about eligibility and how to make a submission.

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.

crowd·fund·ing (noun): the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the internet.

Teacher Translation: the ability to get exactly the materials your students need most by connecting with a community of passionate donors who want to see your classroom succeed.

If you’ve found yourself wishing for “more” or “new” or “different” at your job, opening up your classroom to a crowdfunding request can get you exactly what you need. Though it may seem daunting to articulate your classroom needs to an unseen audience, here are a few compelling reasons to give it a try…

Reason #1: It works.

Over the past 20 years, crowdfunding has become a go-to source for offsetting the costs of everything from new product ideas to medical expenses to independent films. Small donations made by many people can create a massive impact.

And it works for classrooms! DonorsChoose was born from the belief that there were people out there who'd want to help teachers and students — if they could see where their money was going. Crowdfunding at a nonprofit like DonorsChoose tracks every dollar from donation to classroom delivery. Teachers ask for the exact materials they need, donors select the specific projects they want to fund, and our team takes care of the purchasing, shipping, and delivery. With these powers combined, classroom funding through DonorsChoose offers a highly transparent, interactive, easy-to-use option for teachers and for donors.

Today, teachers at 86% of public schools in America have posted a project on our site. Together, 5,150,359 citizen donors and dozens of generous corporate and foundation partners have given over $1 billion to make learning more engaging. The data proves it: crowdfunding works.

Reason #2: There’s a community waiting for you.

On DonorsChoose, 75% of the dollars given to classroom projects come from donors who have never met the teacher they’re supporting. These are donors who we’ve built up over time and who love to support teachers, based on a shared passion or affinity. Every day, thousands of donors come to our site — searching for everything from Shakespeare to science to racial justice to the city where they grew up — and discover classroom projects from teachers they’ve never met.

On the opposite side of the screen from these donors are teachers like you posting requests for their classroom needs. Right now there are 44,643 live projects on our site from teachers who know exactly what it’s like on the front lines of education. It’s a window into the real-time needs of classrooms across the country. As a nonprofit dedicated to public schools, that’s our crowdfunding goal: Connect teachers to our donor community and connect teachers to ideas and inspiration from their peers.

Reason #3: You’re the expert here.

Crowdfunding upends the idea that one-size-fits-all resources work for every classroom. You know your students best, so you get to pick the materials and experiences that will work for your room. Your story is a personal invitation for donors to support your unique vision. No more standard issue projector or single-catalog ordering, the DonorsChoose community will fund whatever you need, whether it’s the latest and greatest — or the weirdest and coolest.

Reason #4: It’s your classroom, delivered.

Crowdfunding through DonorsChoose removes the weight of fulfilling classroom resource needs from teachers’ already-overloaded shoulders. The DonorsChoose platform gives you access to many vendors all at once (think: an online mall just for teachers!). And because we’re honor-bound to both teachers and donors, we make the entire process as transparent as possible. Once a project is fully-funded, we take care of all the fulfillment so everything you ask for shows up right at your classroom door.

‍Ready to share your classroom with the DonorsChoose community? Start your project today and see how crowdfunding can help you level up your classroom. 

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Founded in 2000 by a history teacher, DonorsChoose is a highly-trusted nonprofit organization 100% focused on educators. Through DonorsChoose and its network of donors and partners, you can get everything you need to be the teacher you want to be — all in one place. It’s simple: you post a request for the exact materials and experiences your students need, your friends and family lend a hand, and our community of donors takes care of the rest. We order everything for you and ship it straight to you. From books to underwater robots, if you can dream it, you can request it.

Every month, dozens of companies and foundations 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! This October, take a peek at the match offers we have available and consider what resources you want for your students. 

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

Currently available, while funding lasts. Updated as of 10/07/22. For the most up-to-date status on our funding opportunities and more match offers, visit our Help Center.

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Projects in FEMA-designated disaster counties in Florida: 3X Match from the DonorsChoose Community

Hurricane Ian caused major damage to schools and communities across Florida. To help, all donations to projects from schools in 19 FEMA-designated disaster relief counties are getting a 3X match! Learn more about this match offer.

Projects Requesting AKJ Education Materials: 2X Match Offer from Seed to Read 

Are you hoping to get more cherished stories and undiscovered favorites in the hands of your students? Seed to Read is a 2X match program created in partnership with AKJ Education and Kirkpatrick Family to help you nurture a love of reading! To qualify, create a project only requesting books, collections, and materials from AKJ Education. Learn more about this match offer. 

Third-Eighth Grade Engineering and Technology Projects from Equity Focus Schools: 2X Match Offer from YOUNG SHELDON, in Partnership with The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation

In partnership with the popular comedy series YOUNG SHELDON, The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation wants to support 3rd through 8th grade STEM projects at Equity Focused Schools. To receive this 2X match offer, create a project under $1,000 and select the Engineering and Technology subject area. Learn more about this match offer and how to qualify.

Projects from Sarasota County School District, FL: 2X Match Offer from Education Foundation of Sarasota County, FL

Are you a teacher in the Sarasota County School District in Florida? The Education Foundation of Sarasota County wants to take care of their teachers and is offering a 2X match on qualifying projects. Learn more about the Sarasota County match offer. For information on how to get support in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, please visit our help center article.

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.

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To see the full story, go to abc7ny.com.

When natural disasters strike, schools in impacted areas face many challenges in getting back to normal, from replacing supplies to comforting students. But every time the unexpected arrives, teachers prove themselves up to the task by making sure their students have a place to call home in the middle of chaos. We’ve visited damaged schools after Hurricane Harvey, the 2016 flooding in Louisiana, tornadoes in Joplin, MO and Moore, OK, and Hurricane Sandy. At every school, teachers shared with us lessons they’d learned during the recovery. Every disaster is different, but these five lessons stuck out as essential for teachers if they ever find themselves dealing with this kind of unfathomable situation.

1. There are people out there who want to help

Although no disaster is the same, one thing remains constant: the outpouring of support from across the country for impacted teachers. However, these generous people don’t always know what teachers need. We’ve heard stories from school districts that end up with a warehouse full of backpacks donated by well-meaning people, when what they really need is to replace the class library, or technology. For Ms. Harwell in Houston, it was notebooks, which were important, but that wasn’t all they needed: “It was the other stuff that people forget about that we use too.”That’s where creating a project on DonorsChoose comes in — teachers can tell our community exactly what’s needed most, and we’ll help deliver it.

“I would tell them about DonorsChoose I would tell them that there's people out there to help you. I will say there's people out there to help you and your students.” – Ms. Sam

When a teacher creates a DonorsChoose project, we can get supplies to an impacted area in a matter of days.

‍Protip: Make sure to specifically mention the disaster in your essay, so people can quickly find your project to give.

2. Recovery looks different for everyone

Depending on the kind of disaster and the level of damage, there are a few different situations teachers might find themselves in. Here are three of the most common:

1. Teachers return to their classrooms after a thorough cleaning, but all materials are lost and sometimes walls, shelves and doors are missing for weeks during repairs.
2. Teachers and students relocate to another school, sometimes having schooldays in alternating shifts with the host school.
3. Schools relocate to another facility like a church or college, which doesn’t offer the traditional school necessities.

Each of these three scenarios poses a unique set of challenges, and could change what kind of supplies will be most important. For example, if you are moving to a new building, the district might be able to provide furniture immediately, but you’ll have no pens, paper, or technology. If you are sharing with a nearby school, quickly adding items to help students adapt to the cramped quarters will be key.

3. Students will need a place that feels like home

Natural disasters impact entire communities, and that means many students will be uprooted from their homes and dealing with emotional trauma. Having a stable place at school for kids to call “home” is more important than ever, and often the burden falls on teachers to serve as counselors. For Ms. Alejandro-Uvalle, what her kids needed most was to “feel secure” and to “feel like they were home even though they weren't.” Ms. Wells found that “they have the stability in the school that they might not have at home and that's really important.” Creating a safe, welcoming environment can manifest in different ways. For some teachers, it could mean using art or personal narrative to help kids process the trauma. For others, it’s making the classroom feel as familiar as possible.

“What is most important to have in your classroom that you feel can make the biggest impact for the kids? Maybe it's having a good book… or something that will brighten up your classroom... be creative!” – Mrs. Wells

4. Think about things you’ll be able to use now, and down the line

After a disaster, many teachers will find themselves in a temporary classroom, whether that’s in a new school or a portable building. Eventually things will return to normal, and that will mean another move. So teachers recommend requesting supplies you can easily transport. Many teachers will request tablets after a disaster, to quickly give their students access to technology in a convenient and easily movable form. Ms. Harwell shared why she chose to request tablets instead of traditional computers:

“It was something that's mobile so you can carry it around. I'm sure there was other things that people wanted but they were like "Okay, I'm going to have to pack this back up, so what can I easily pack up?"

Protip: Keep each project small (under $600), so it is funded and shipped as quickly as possible.

5. Take care of yourself

As a teacher, you’re already accustomed to thinking of others first, and that instinct will be even stronger in a crisis situation. But make sure to take care of yourself, too. Every teacher we meet talks about recovering from a natural disaster as one of the biggest challenges of their teaching career, but it was a challenge they did overcome. We hope no one reading this ever has to deal with this kind of challenge, but if you do, we want to make sure you have a network to turn to for support.

“Stay strong. It really will be okay. Don't give up, don't give up. Find resources, there's people out there that will help you.” – Ms. Smith

Need materials for your students after a disaster? Get started with a project on DonorsChoose.

The results are in: By giving to classrooms on DonorsChoose, you are measurably improving teacher retention. A groundbreaking study from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business demonstrates that funding teachers’ DonorsChoose projects reduces teacher turnover.

The Study

Dr. Samantha Keppler, Dr. Jun Li, and Dr. Andrew Wu examined data from 20,000 classroom projects posted by over 11,000 Pennsylvania teachers on DonorsChoose. They paired that dataset with Pennsylvania teacher employment records from 2013 to 2019. The researchers found that teachers funded on DonorsChoose are 2.67 percentage points less likely to leave the profession.

The Results

 In general, teachers are 22% more likely to stay in their current classroom if they have a funded DonorsChoose project within that school year. 

Why do funded DonorsChoose projects affect teacher turnover? Researchers spotted two main reasons.

1. Improving the Classroom Environment

Teachers frequently request items that improve the effectiveness, organization, and comfort of the classroom for teachers and students alike. Resources like bookshelves, classroom rugs, and storage bins address a key factor in teacher turnover: inadequate work conditions.

2. Increasing Teacher Innovation and Autonomy

DonorsChoose projects are created by teachers who are closely attuned to their students’ unique strengths and learning needs. When teachers can select innovative resources individualized to their students, they can teach more effectively and feel empowered in their expertise, making them more likely to stay in the profession.

For example Ms. McGinnis from Philadelphia says:

“I can’t thank you enough for your kind gift of the new carpet my class gets to have this year! We use this gift everyday. Our morning meetings are the gateway into our day. It's such a nice addition with a brand new space where we sit while we are learning about our day and building a community within our room.”

DonorsChoose helps teachers continue to cultivate the minds of their students, one classroom campaign at a time.

Meet Amanda Calzada, an elementary English Language Program teacher in Chicago, and a teacher representative on our DonorsChoose Board of Directors. In honor of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, we asked Amanda to share some insights into her decade-long teaching career, and how her identity as a Latina educator helps her connect with her students. 

Tell us a little bit about who you are, your teaching experience, and your students.

My name is Amanda Calzada and I am entering my 10th year of teaching in the Chicago Public Schools. For 9 years I taught Kindergarten and this year I was nominated to be the English Language Program Teacher (ELPT) for my school. Also known as the Bilingual Coordinator, this new position gives me the opportunity to work on program coordination for all of our approximately 400+ students who are English Language Learners and ensure they are getting the proper services and supports needed to meet their unique learning needs. I am currently overseeing our entire language program for students in preschool through 8th grade. This amazing opportunity has already allowed me to advocate for the needs of our bilingual students and work closely with teachers to provide them with resources and supports they need for their bilingual students to be successful.

Who inspired you to become a teacher?

Ever since I was a young girl I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. My parents were both young when they immigrated to the United States from Mexico and they always prioritized my sister’s and my education. They understood that having a strong educational foundation would provide us with opportunities they never had and they worked very hard to ensure we had them. My own personal schooling experience plays a big role in my desire to teach because I had amazing teachers who supported me, advocated for me, and saw potential in my abilities. 

My own personal schooling experience plays a big role in my desire to teach because I had amazing teachers who supported me, advocated for me, and saw potential in my abilities.

When I entered school in Kindergarten, I spoke mostly Spanish at a school where my peers spoke mostly English. It was an intimidating experience at first but I received the help and support from my teachers who taught me to embrace my unique skills and qualities. As I went through my schooling years, I was privileged to be in the classrooms of wonderful, highly trained teachers who guided me in my learning journey. By the time I reached college I had no hesitations about entering the field of education. Ever since, I have been pursuing my career in education with the hope that I too can touch the lives of and inspire my students the way I had experienced through my schooling. This year marks my 10th year in the classroom and I am so very grateful for the lessons and experiences my students have given me along the way because they have forever shaped who I am as an educator and as a person.

How does your identity influence your teaching?

My identity is central to my teaching because I see myself in all of my students. I am my students. Just like me, my students are children of immigrants. They are the first generations to live and attend school in the United States. They are entering school with limited English-speaking abilities and are expected to assimilate quickly just like I did. They are adapting to the cultural differences just like I did. They feel the pressure from their families to take advantage of opportunities the rest didn’t have and be successful just like I did. They have hopes and dreams of one day going to college, starting a career, and living their life with purpose just like I did. And just like I had, I am striving to be an educator that can provide them with whatever it is that they individually need to reach their goals.

In a recent survey of our teachers, we found that Latina/o teachers are more likely to be asked to act as liaison to families of color or spend extra time serving as a  translator. Have you had this experience?

As a teacher who is Latina, I have always been and continue to be asked to act as liaison to families of color to bridge language gaps in communication. While this may seem like an extra task or for some even a burden, I have always viewed this as an honor because it allows me to ensure that the families I support are receiving important and accurate communication regarding their child’s learning and wellbeing. As the daughter of immigrant parents, I know the difficulties parents face when they are unable to communicate regarding their child’s schooling experience. Oftentimes, so much of the stress of the inability to communicate falls on the child who in many instances is too young to truly understand. Being bilingual is a gift that I possess that allows me to help parents, students, and families take ownership of their schooling experience. I am proud to be Latina, proud to be bilingual, and proud to be an educator who can assist my students with all of their diverse needs.

What does it mean to your students to have you show up as your whole self in the classroom?

I try to show up as my whole self for my students each and every day. One of the things I have always aimed to do as a teacher is to be my authentic self with my students. I have learned that by being open and honest with them, I am able to form a relationship with them that is strong and meaningful. I open up to them about myself and I share personal life experiences with them. I am constantly reminding them that our classroom family works just like that — a family. We will struggle, argue, laugh, cry, and compromise as most families do. I remind my students that I am human and I too have things that I struggle with and need to work on. I make errors just like they do. I have bad days just like they do. I want to have fun just like they do! All of these things are reminders that our goals are the same and that we must work together to achieve them. I often share experiences of my own that they can relate to because my upbringing was very similar to theirs. 

By being my authentic, whole self with my students, it allows our relationships to form with a strong foundation of trust.

By being my authentic, whole self with my students, it allows our relationships to form with a strong foundation of trust. Having their trust allows me to really get to know them and ensure that I am doing everything I can to teach them, help them, and shape them just like my teachers did with me.

One project. All your essentials. Funded by donors.

This back to school season, post a hodgepodge Basics project. (It’s more than allowed, it’s encouraged!) Give your project a snazzy name, then add-to-cart all the essential items that will make your year run more smoothly. 

Through DonorsChoose, your school year prep can be one-stop shopping, funded by the DonorsChoose community.

Need some inspiration? We’ve rounded up suggestions from the DonorsChoose Teacher Community on Facebook (thanks, teacher friends!), stellar projects, and 22 years of DonorsChoose back-to-school seasons to bring you the Top 10 Back-to-School Must-haves:

1. Pencils ✏️

A super sharp tip (pencil pun intended) from Ms. McGinley in Chicago:

“My students need pencils to write fabulous stories and persuasive essays. We want to maximize our learning time and use every minute on learning, not pencil sharpening.” – “Pencils to Increase Time on Task!”

Pre-sharpened pencils are a time-saving, inexpensive, and totally necessary item for every subject and grade, making the classic yellow #2 the #1 item on our list.

2. Ziploc bags

Here’s one item from Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Davis-Foxworth’s essentials lists that absolutely makes ours, too:

“We use ziploc bags daily to hold game pieces, left over snacks, paper when a backpack is forgotten at home or even loose teeth that have fallen out!” – “New Supplies for a New Year!”

**For an extra-environmentally friendly alternative, shop DonorsChoose vendors for BPA-free reusable storage bags (they come in gallon, sandwich, and snack sizes just like Ziplocs!) Check out Mrs. Sturgis’s project “Eco Friendly Storage for Individual Student Book Bags” for ideas.

3. Paper 📎

Graph paper. Printer paper. Lined index cards. Unlined index cards. Notebooks. Sketch pads. Drawing paper. Sticky notes. Bigger sticky notes. Rainbow colored sticky notes. Manuscript paper. Butcher paper. College-ruled paper. Construction Paper. Chart paper.

Types of paper are as varied as the ways you and your students use them. Check out:

• Ms. Francis’s project “On Your Mark, Get Set, Create” for artistic ideas
• Mrs. Vince’s project “Let’s Get Creative” for science-y possibilities
• Reading intervention teacher Mrs. Rouslin’s project “It’s the Little Things” for the many ways paper can help improve the written word
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‍4. Batteries & Chargers 🔋

New school year, new technology? Check out your calculators, noise canceling headphones, robotics kits, tablets, and toys for their power source. Then request batteries or back-up chargers to match.

Rechargeable batteries are saving Mr. Farley’s classroom and they can save yours, too:

“If you have ever reached for batteries only to find them dead even though they have been sitting in a charger forever, then you know my pain. I spend way too much on batteries and I still never have enough. These rechargeable batteries and chargers help us to have a constant supply of batteries.” – “Can We Just Have Charged Batteries Already?”

5. Markers 🖊️

From your dry-erase collection to your highlighter assortment, it’s a Proven Law of the Public School Classroom™ that your markers will dry up exactly when you need them most. 

Mrs. Collins and her South Carolina kindergartners know best:

“We have our hands in everything, which means we use a large variety of materials. One of those things, in particular, is markers. We use dry erase markers, highlighters, washable markers…If you can name it we probably do it with our markers.” – “Making Our Mark with Markers”

6. Band-aids and tissues 🤧

Clean and healthy classrooms are happy classrooms! Re-stock your shelves with first-aid basics, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, and other cleaning supplies.

Here’s a reminder from Ms. Michalek that these materials can directly impact learning:

“Healthy students are more likely to come to school, be engaged, and gain confidence. If students are at home, or constantly going to the nurse for bandaids and cough drops they are disrupting their learning and the learning of their peers. I am asking for things like bandaids, cough drops, and Kleenex so that kids can stay in good health.” – “Healthy and Happy Students”

7. Stickers 🌟

Motivational incentives (lots of them) will set your year on the right track. And before you skip past this one as being for the “little kids”, take a look at Mrs. Khatadia’s project for her high schoolers…

“Sometimes we all need to be reminded that we are doing a job well done. And who doesn't like an eye-catching sticker to add to a water bottle, Chromebook, or folder?

Quiet student in the back making all the right choices and working hard? Sticker! Squirrly student came to class and got straight to work? Sticker! Classmate helping out another student understand what to do? Sticker! Work turned in on time? Sticker! Help me place emphasis on positivity.” – “Celebrating Success with Stickers”

8. Nutritious snacks 🍎

Nothing sidetracks learning faster than a grumbling stomach. Stocking your classroom with healthy snacks can make the day significantly more successful for all growing students, especially those for whom breakfast at home isn’t readily available.

Mrs. Mailhiot’s students (and probably yours, too?) need to be able to recharge throughout the day:

“Many of my students are hungry throughout the school day and simply eating a snack helps their brains to be more focused on completing these tasks more successfully. My students utilize a work to reward system and love the snacks listed in the cart (applesauce, jello, pudding, oatmeal- and hey, it's nutritious too!).” – “Nutritious Snacks”

9. Folders 📂

Good habits start from Day One. Color-coded, 3-ring, or pocket – folders are a great first step to keeping students organized.

Ms. Favors’ has home communicator folders, daily seatwork folders, and subject area folders…here’s why:

“For the upcoming school year, I want my students to be organized each day with their assignments. I find that when students are organized, the school day seems to flow better." – “Let’s Get Organized”

10. Glue

And finally, the item to make this whole list stick together, glue. Glue sticks, glitter glue, white glue, and a hot glue gun can make all your creative projects come to life this year.

Wondering why your glue supply is always gone? Fifth-grade teacher Ms. Varga has a few ideas…

"We go through glue sticks like candy, I'm not sure if my students are using the glue sticks for our class work, wasting it, or eating it. We do a lot of gluing in 5th grade, even though you wouldn't think that-- we do a lot of project based and hands-on learning. It also helps my students with their dexterity.” – “Glue, Glue, and More Glue”

Back-to-School Bundles

Mix and match the materials listed above (plus any others your classroom needs!) to create a back-to-school bundle, like these teachers:

• Ms. O’s First Classroom!
  Index cards, rubber bands, thank you cards, bubble mailers, pencils, glue sticks, tissues, permanent markers, portable speaker, tape, multi-purpose paper, pens, staples, 3-hole punch, monthly planner, stickers, paper clips, and scissors
  
  
• So Cool Back-to-School
  3-ring binders, crayons, headphone earbuds, dry erase markers, pre-sharpened pencils, colored pencils, mesh zipper pouches, glue sticks
  

• Back to School Basics
  Spiral notebooks, washable markers, 3-ring pencil pouches, #2 pencils, glue, highlighters

• Basic Needs
  Laminating pouches, scissors, notebooks, super sticky big notes, dry erase markers, highlighters, construction paper, permanent markers, binder clips
  

• Supplies for Scholars
  Printer paper, sheet protectors, 2-pocket folders, highlighters, expanding file folders, whiteboard/chalkboard erasers, markers, pre-sharpened #2 pencils, permanent markers

To shop for basics on Donorschoose, create a project and shop at Amazon Business, DonorsChoose Featured Favorites, Kaplan Early Learning Company, Lakeshore, Nasco, School Specialty, Staples, Teachers’ School Supply, and Quill.com

"From bills being introduced to prohibit the teaching of 'The 1619 Project' by Nikole Hannah-Jones to 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison being pulled off shelves, book bans are rising in the United States at unprecedented rates. Over the past two years, most bans are targeting books about the LGBTQ+ experience and race in America.

And the upswing in book bans shows no signs of letting up. This year has already seen a record number of books targeted — 1,651 unique titles from January 2022 through August 2022, according to a new report by the American Library Association. This surpasses 2021’s record of 1,597 banned titles, which had been the highest number of challenges or bans ALA has seen in its more than 20 years of keeping track.

Banning books equates to wanting to control a framework of thinking, whether it’s for certain people or issues or ideas, says Dr. Fedrick Ingram, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers. This isn’t fair for young people, and it creates an uneducated populace, which isn’t good for democracy."

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