I wanted to touch base with you all about the DonorsChoose.org Bloggers Challenge taking place this month. I created a challenge page for this blog and have encouraged readers to get involved. But, I haven’t had much inspiration to be as dedicated as many other bloggers and want to explain why.
I browse through the many projects on the DonorsChoose.org website, take the time to select ones I think you all would like to support (as I explained in an earlier post, I’m selecting projects that focus on technology in the classroom), and add them to the challenge page. But, by the time I come to blog about the challenge or encourage donations about a specific project added to the list, they are already funded! This is great news, that so many projects are successfully reaching their funding goals, but it does make it difficult to inspire donations from readers!
The Bloggers Challenge widget is in my sidebar, so that readers who come to the site, any time, can see the challenge information and participate. But, it isn’t very compelling to donate any amount of money when the highlighted project is fully funded already.
I have edited, refreshed, and selected new projects for the challenge many times this month, but the same thing keeps happening. Now, I’m certainly not mad or frustrated. Quite the opposite – I’m thrilled to know that so many projects I found insteresting and deserving of the spotlight have been funded! That’s the goal of the challenge, right?
Here’s my question, and I do hope you’ll weigh in: How could I do a better job in the future of 1. inspiring you to participate and 2. keeping up with the ferocious turn over of funded projects?
I’d really love to hear your thoughts! And, if you have a minute and five dollars, here’s a great project that you can help support!
I teach kindergarten in a low income neighborhood. My students do not have a lot of parental support at home. I have to provide for all their education needs.
I am currently allowing my students to use my big CD player to listen to books on CD. The problem with that is the whole class has to listen to the book being read. It becomes very distracting for some and the noise level makes it difficult for me to work with small groups. Therefore we are not able to listen to the books very often. Listening is a important part of reading instruction. It allows students to follow along and develop word recognition and fluency.
Being able to provide my students with a kid friendly CD player and headphones would allow them to listen to books independently. The headphones would allow for a quieter classroom which would be appreciated by all.
By supporting this proposal you are providing my students with a kid friendly CD player and headphones. You are also helping my students develop fluency and the word recognition that is important in learning to read.
My students need a CD player and 4 headphones to use in the listening center. The cost of this proposal is $160, which includes shipping for any materials requested and fullfilment.
Help support the Bloggers Challenge and this great project!
Thanks so much for your ideas, thoughts, and participation!