This morning, I spent two hours sorting and shelving books for the first grade team at our elementary school. When KitKat started kindergarten, I committed to volunteer in the schools as often as possible. With the subsequent births of more babies through the years, it wasn’t always easy to stay consistent with that goal, but I always made it into the school at least once a month. As a teacher by degree, I love spending time at school…without the burden of being the one in charge. I feel at home in an elementary school. I can tutor children one on one or make copies or sort books. All of the teachers (even the ones my kids have not had) know me by name (which comes in really handy sometimes!).
AJ used to join me at school while I sorted papers during Reese’s lunch hour. He loved it!
Since I have been a teacher, I know first hand how challenging (yet rewarding!) a job it can be. Teachers need all the support they can get. What they do every day when they go in to work is some of the most important work being done. Anywhere.
When I was given the opportunity to share Bing’s Teacher Appreciation Website with my readers, I jumped at the chance. I visited discoverbing.com/education and entered the name of a teacher who meant a lot to me while I was an elementary school student. Just for sharing my story (it took less than 5 minutes) Bing.com gave me a $5 donation code to be donated to a teacher/program of my choice at DonorsChoose.org.
Here’s how DonorsChoose.org works: a teacher can log onto the DonorsChoose.org website to start a “classroom project” or donation request. Parents and students can then visit the Bing Teacher Appreciation site to leave a comment [up to 5 per visitor] about a teacher who has made a difference in their life, enabling them to receive a $5 giving code to donorschoose.org [one per comment]. Parents and students can then apply the $5 giving code to the “classroom project” of their choice. Classroom projects are created by teachers, so reach out to your childrens’ teachers and encourage them to submit their own projects!
Here’s what I said about Mrs. Smith, my 5th and 6th grade teacher: “She pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of. She believed in her students and expected their best….and so we usually always gave it. She was tough, but by the end of my two years with her I had no doubt in my mind that she loved us.”
I also mentioned my kids’ wonderful Mrs. O, who has been a diligent teacher at my kids’ elementary school since it opened it’s doors about 20 years ago.
I could also mention the teacher who encouraged my daughter to get over her reading hump and become a confident reader. Or I could tell about my college professor who took me under his wings and not only made me feel important (and smart!) and gave me a job as his assistant but remembered me when I visited him 15 years later.
What teachers have made a difference in your life, or the lives of your children? What special memories do you have of those teachers?
Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Bing. They sent me a $100 DonorsChoose.org giving code to facilitate my review. Mom Central also sent me a thank-you gift certificate.
© 2010, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
Great read thanks for sharing! Crowdfunding is another effective way to easily raise funds and more people are benefiting from it everyday. Check out crowdfunding platforms like https://www.plumfund.com/ to learn more about its benefits.
I volunteer two sometimes three times a week and I love it too. I look at the teachers as partners in my child’s development. We have had a lot of great interaction this year:-)
I just read another post about an amazing teacher. It makes my heart smile. Teachers are so important, next to parents, probably the most important things in a child’s life.
.-= Allison´s last blog ..Soaking Beans and Meal Plan =-.