Posts Tagged ‘Teacher’

Give Your Teachers More than Apples

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, the pool is becoming less refreshing, and the kids are starting to get antsy. It’s about that time of the year again… school time! The first day of school is just days away for many kids across the country. The start of school often means stress and instant panic for parents and teachers who scramble to get last minute things together for the new school year.

Being a volunteer for your community’s school is one of the best ways that you can combat school year stress; after all volunteering is proven to make us happier! Whether you are a parent who wants to become more involved in your child’s education or you are an individual just looking to make a difference. Check out our ideas to serve your community’s schools this upcoming year!

  1. Volunteer at the library: Many schools fall short when it comes to keeping up with their library and ensuring proper staffing. Volunteer at your child’s library to help with book donations, shelf organization, checking out books, or reading to children. It is a great way to meet your child’s teachers and remain visible at the school.
  2. Time to take a trip: Volunteer to chaperone for your child’s field trips. Teachers often lack the necessary funding to rent transportation for field trips. Volunteering your time to chaperone or drive will ensure that your child gets an enriching and fun education!
  3. Clean up on the school aisle: Have you noticed that your child’s school grounds could use some beautification? Put together a volunteer cleaning crew who will help clean up the school grounds and restore routine maintenance. Often schools need new paint jobs and other beautification projects. Volunteers can be a great asset to this need.
  4. Teach kids about the work force: Volunteer your workplace as a field trip. If you work somewhere that could be particularly educating to a group of youngsters. Suggest that your child’s teacher bring his or her class for a day of learning!
  5. Share your time and talents: Are you crafty or do you have a green thumb? Volunteer to a classroom volunteer. Teachers often need assistance with small classroom projects. Volunteer to teach children an arts and crafts skill or about gardening.
  6. Hold a donation drive: If you know a school that could benefit from some extra supplies; hold a drive at your workplace. Often teachers have to purchase their own classroom supplies. Help ease the burden on these teachers, by donating things that they need!
  7. Join the club: Volunteer your time with the PTA, planning committees, or school board. You will help make a difference on your community’s education system by being part of the decision making process.
  8. Tutor or mentor: Many kids are forced to go into after school or daycare programs when the school day is over because parents have to work. Volunteer to mentor a child after school. Present a mentoring program to your school, if they do not already have one. It is great way to get kids more motivated about school!

There are so many ways that you can volunteer in your community’s schools throughout the year, these are by no means your only options! Check out your local volunteer centers or speak with your school’s principal to see how your talents can be of use at your local school.

Have your volunteered at a school? We would love to hear about your experience or tips in our comments section below!

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Posted in Education, Volunteering, Volunteerism | No Comments »

How Service Can Be Added to Your Classroom Lesson Plan

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Service learning projects are an important addition to the enrichment of education. Service projects are important not only because they can be incorporated into the learning environment of the classroom, but also they can teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities. The most important thing that service learning can add to an educational atmosphere is an answer to the question “Why do I need to learn this” because it adds a real life application to daily lessons.

It is important that service to the community is taught at an early age, to ensure a lifetime of service and giving to others. Children who serve together tend to have higher levels of self-respect, character development, and academic achievement. Projects can be big or small depending on your classroom schedule and time availability. Projects should also be developed based upon your class’s age level.

So you want to start a classroom volunteer project? How on Earth do you begin a service project especially with young kids and very little time to stray away from lesson plans? Here are some project ideas for all types of ages and schedules:

  • Preschool age: Teach your class about sharing through a cheer cards service project. Provide construction paper, crayons, pictures, etc. to your class. Ask students to think of an individual who has made them happy in the past year. The students will make a card for that person with a “cheery” message attached to spread happiness with loved ones.
  • Kindergarten age: Spread the message of kindness and friendship with your class by making pet collars for shelter animals. These collars can be made out of felt or cotton and decorated by your students. Once the collars are finished they can be donated to a local animal shelter. Teach children about animals while doing this project.
  • Elementary school age: teach respect to your classroom by making friendship quilts. Have students decorate a cloth square with messages or pictures of peace and friendship. Put all of the squares together as a quilt or string of messages. If your class has extra time, students may also make peace cards to accompany the quilt. Once the quilt is completed, it can be donated to your local shelter.
  • Middle school age: teach your class the power of giving by holding a class or school-wide food drive, canned goods drive, clothing drive, or coat drive. Have each classroom make a box to collect donations in. This box should be visible in the classroom so that others know about the drive. Let others know about your donation drive by having a write up in your school newsletters, a note to parents, or local organization announcement.

With the right amount of planning and development your class really can give back to the community at any age. Whether your project is big or small children really do learn the power of giving back by participating in service projects.

The holidays are the easiest time to give back this year, with a wide variety of projects to choose from. You classroom can join GenerationOn this year from November 29 to December 13 for their Holiday Gift Campaign. Get your classroom service project started by having your students pledge service to GenerationOn, every pledge of service will be honored by Hasbro who will donate a toy to a child in need.

Do you have more ideas to get a classroom involved in service? We would love for you to share with us!

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Posted in Service Learning, Tools You Can Use | No Comments »

National Thank Your Mentor Day

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

The month of January is National Mentoring Month.  Today, January 25th, is National Thank Your Mentor Day.

We asked our staff who their mentors were and were moved by the memories they shared about their mentors.

Kellie Bentz, Director, Disaster Services

Leslie took me under her wing as one of her mentees in her mentee group made up of other young professional women leaders in New Orleans. She has consistently supported me since that point by talking  me through personal struggles, work struggles and has gone out of her way to ensure she makes time for me even when she has prior commitments. I feel truly blessed to have someone as committed to my personal and professional growth as she has been.

PJ is a very memorable mentor. He is the reason I landed in New Orleans. He saw something inside of me I could not and kept on believing in me. PJ has consistently challenged me in ways that have frustrated me and other ways that have helped create more joy in my life. While we aren’t as in frequent communication as we once were, he is always there when I need to pick up the phone and ask advice.

My father is one of the most instrumental mentors in my life. I can consistently count on him to answer his phone and give me the advice or words I need to hear at that moment. Everything from gender differences in the work place to developing business plans he has been there to talk me through and give advice. I continue to be amazed by his general grounding nature and ability to look at everything in a positive light…he never lets me dwell in negativity…one of my favorite sayings of his is “smile and the world will smile with you” …I am blessed to have my father in my life to help me continue grow personally and professionally. I realize now how unique it is to have my father as one of my greatest mentors and for that I am blessed.

Megan Motlagh, Office Volunteer

I don’t remember exactly how I felt on my first day of kindergarten—excitement or anxiety, bravery or fear of the great academic unknown—but I do know one thing now, very well. I know that I cannot thank my kindergarten teacher enough for the wonderful foundation she built for the rest of my academic career. Ms. Toni McCray was knowledgeable and nurturing, and beyond her position as a kindergarten teacher, a wonderful and valuable mentor. She encouraged an environment steeped in appreciation and understanding of the value of learning and of my fellow classmates, a classroom where even the softest six-year-old voice (I admit, this was me) was heard and respected.

I will never forget the impact she had on my education and on me as a person; I visited her classroom every year (give or take a year or two) afterward for twenty years, up until her retirement last year. While the chairs I sat in those twenty years ago got smaller every year, my gratitude for all that my kindergarten teacher had instilled in me in that very first year of school has grown exponentially. Thank you for being one of the most valuable mentors I’ve ever had, Ms. McCray.

Meridith Rentz, Chief Operating Officer

My mentor, Rick Smith, “adopted me” as a mentee over 15 years ago, and even though we no longer work directly together, he’s always one of the first people I talk to when I need advice or grounding or even just a good “talking to”.  There are three main things Rick taught me that I use pretty much every single day:  1) how to take a super-duper complex problem that seems impossible and break it down into “doable pieces”; 2) how to challenge, support, push and develop the people on your team; and 3) family and friends always, always come first….no matter how important your job is.  He also taught me how to sail – but I don’t get to do that every day!  When I mentor others, my personal goal is simple – “be like Rick Smith”.

Who is your mentor?

How have they influenced your life?

Write a tribute to your mentor at the Thank Your Mentor Day website.

You can find opportunities to be a mentor and have an impact on someone’s life at your local HandsOn Action Center.

Read more from Kellie Bentz:

Read more from Meridith Rentz:

  • My Resolution for 2011: Party Like A Rock Star At Work
  • 20 Reasons Why Volunteering Is Like Beer

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Posted in Volunteerism | 1 Comment »

8 Great Lessons for Teaching Kids about Philanthropy

Friday, June 11th, 2010

One way to empower young people to make a difference in their school, their community and their world is to teach them about giving.

Learning to Give offers lesson plans, activities and resources to educate youth about the power of philanthropy — sharing time, talent, and treasure.

You can use these ideas yourself, or talk to your child’s teacher about incorporating them into next fall’s lesson plan.

1. Traditions
Grades 3-5
Students will learn the vocabulary of philanthropy, use literature to discover acts of philanthropy in the making of quilts, and participate in their own quilting bee.

2. Earth Connections
Grade 3-5
Students will expand their awareness of the earth through the study of some traditional Native American beliefs about the concept of “Mother Earth.”

3. Global Garbage
Grades 6-8
This unit is designed to promote an understanding of the adverse effects of the careless actions of people.

4. Environmental Groups and the Three Economic Sectors
Grades 9-12
Students will learn about the three economic sectors: profit, nonprofit, and government.

5. Watch Me Grow!
Grades K-2
The purpose is for students to see the interconnectedness of nature and its importance in their lives

6. Building a Mini-Park and Bird Sanctuary
Grades 3-5
Students will take an active role and gain pride in adding beauty to their surroundings.

7. The Four R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, RESPECT!
Grades K-2
Through four quick and easy lessons, this unit emphasizes the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling with a particular focus on the significance of respecting our environment.

8. Pitch In! – A Philanthropic Puppet Project
Grades 3-5
Students will study philanthropists and environmentalists through literature and research environmental issues.

Learning to Give units and lessons tie together service and learning, core academics, and real world learning.

These eight ideas are a small sample of more than 1,200 Learning to Give lessons correlated to state academic standards, that link learning and service.

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Posted in Education, Equip, Get HandsOn, Inspire, News & Links, Service, Tools You Can Use, Volunteerism | 2 Comments »

Who Will Be The Mayor of The LEAD Summit?

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Because we’ll be exploring ways to use social media for social good at the LEAD Summit in Washington, D.C. next week, we thought we’d experiment and have a little fun with foursquare during the event.

We’re curious about how foursquare might be used to mobilize people to take action, but since many of us still aren’t using this mobile application, we thought the LEAD Summit might be a good excuse to download it and give it a try.

LEAD Summit participants can “check in” at the event and compete to become The Mayor.

I realize that technically the LEAD Summit is an event, but we’ve entered it in foursquare as a place.

[Because this is an experiment.]

I also understand that Mayoral status is awarded to the person who “checks in” at a foursquare location most frequently and this might mean that those interested in becoming The Mayor of LEAD will have to cheat by repeatedly checking in.

[Did I mention this was an experiment?]

This will probably mean that participants vying to be The Mayor will be bent over their smart phones checking in over and over again and not paying attention to the speaker…

[I know, I know,  there are a few sticky places in this experiment.  It's a leap of faith.]

Twice during the summit, we’ll call out the reigning Mayor and, each time, he or she will receive a $100 gift card from DonorsChoose.org.

DonorsChoose allows you to select a worthy education related project to which you can donate the full value of the card.

[These make excellent gifts you know. Just sayin'.]

If you’re planning to join us at the LEAD Summit in DC next week, I hope you’ll play along on this one.

May you become The Mayor of the Lead Summit!

More information on DonorsChoose.org

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit Web site where public school teachers describe specific educational projects for their students, and donors can choose the projects they want to support.

After completing a project, the donor hears back from the classroom they supported in the form of photographs and teacher thank-you letters. To date, 88,000 public and charter school teachers have used the site to secure funding for $30.3 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn.

Through DonorsChoose.org, individuals from all walks of life have helped 1.8 million students.

Follow them on and and read their blog!



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Posted in Inspire, News & Links, Service, Social Media, Tools You Can Use, Volunteering, Volunteerism | 4 Comments »