The project by Mrs. Herbst titled Needed: Flexible Seating tackles an often overlooked problem in American public schools: the constraints of physical activities in school. There is an expectation for students to stay seated and still for the majority of the school day, with only a half hour of playtime. Students should be encouraged to stay active, not punished when they do so. It is a worthwhile cause and I'm glad to see that there is creativity in what teachers are using DonorsChoose for and isn't just a place where teachers ask people to donate for supplies with a vagueness that incurs suspicion. However, I do think that her project page could have used a little more description. Maybe talk more specifically about the researched benefits of flexible seating or her students' situation. I guess this succinctness is what appealed to those who donated and helped her reach her goal, coupled with the very quirky and passionate writing.
The second project, Cultivating Culture for Kids (great use of alliteration) by Mrs. Deetz is greatly detailed in areas that I think Mrs. Herbst glanced over. To start with, Mrs. Deetz gives us a detailed background on the students, including exactly how many students there are, the school's Title I status, and the unique situation that exists in their school (students being in the same class for three years). This is great, and immediately gives potential donors the information they need to understand the situation and the reasoning for this project's existence and importance. She also ties the project back to the school's mission statement and its emphasis on making connections and community. Again, this project shows a great deal of creativity with the goal being having students create continent boxes where they can learn about the "flags, geography, people, animals, and landmarks" of the different continents.
Lastly, Hands Around the Globe is a project by Ms. Pipes that is riddled with typos and misspellings. It, however is a worthwhile cause and one that is near and dear to me. She is asking for donations to have geography books and other resources available for her class in order for them to learn about the rest of the world and their cultures. I appreciate this goal, as cultural studies is something that has always fascinated me. Ms. Pipes, in my eyes, makes the same mistake as Mrs. Herbst: there is a clear passion in her writing but not enough detail. With projects like these, you want your potential donors to become donors, and being up front and honest about your project, your students, and your current situation is how to do this most effectively in my opinion.
The second project, Cultivating Culture for Kids (great use of alliteration) by Mrs. Deetz is greatly detailed in areas that I think Mrs. Herbst glanced over. To start with, Mrs. Deetz gives us a detailed background on the students, including exactly how many students there are, the school's Title I status, and the unique situation that exists in their school (students being in the same class for three years). This is great, and immediately gives potential donors the information they need to understand the situation and the reasoning for this project's existence and importance. She also ties the project back to the school's mission statement and its emphasis on making connections and community. Again, this project shows a great deal of creativity with the goal being having students create continent boxes where they can learn about the "flags, geography, people, animals, and landmarks" of the different continents.
Lastly, Hands Around the Globe is a project by Ms. Pipes that is riddled with typos and misspellings. It, however is a worthwhile cause and one that is near and dear to me. She is asking for donations to have geography books and other resources available for her class in order for them to learn about the rest of the world and their cultures. I appreciate this goal, as cultural studies is something that has always fascinated me. Ms. Pipes, in my eyes, makes the same mistake as Mrs. Herbst: there is a clear passion in her writing but not enough detail. With projects like these, you want your potential donors to become donors, and being up front and honest about your project, your students, and your current situation is how to do this most effectively in my opinion.