Being a Being a Teacher Ain’t Teacher Ain’t

Cheap!Cheap!How to raise funds and How to raise funds and

acquire materials for your acquire materials for your classroom classroom

What Will Be Covered?What Will Be Covered?

• GrantsGrants

• Government FundingGovernment Funding

• Local FundingLocal Funding

• Acquiring Equipment / MaterialsAcquiring Equipment / Materials

• University AssistanceUniversity Assistance

• National OrganizationsNational Organizations

GrantsGrants

Who Gives Grants?Who Gives Grants?

• FoundationsFoundations

• CompaniesCompanies

• School DistrictsSchool Districts

What Needs to HappenWhat Needs to Happen

• Average Grant takes about 3 to 5 hours to Average Grant takes about 3 to 5 hours to writewrite

• Ensure that you address every one of the Ensure that you address every one of the grant provider’s questions.grant provider’s questions.

• Looking up prices for desired materials. Looking up prices for desired materials.

• Obtaining tax forms from the school's Obtaining tax forms from the school's bookkeeper. bookkeeper.

• Note how materials obtained with the grant Note how materials obtained with the grant will help students. will help students.

What Needs to HappenWhat Needs to Happen

• Refer to the specific Standards of Refer to the specific Standards of Learning(SOLs) that will be Learning(SOLs) that will be addressed. Especially how the addressed. Especially how the materials obtained will help reach materials obtained will help reach the desired SOL. the desired SOL.

What Needs To What Needs To HappenHappen• SCORING OF APPLICATIONS:SCORING OF APPLICATIONS:

Classroom grant applications that include the Classroom grant applications that include the following will be given preference:following will be given preference:

• Meet the eight criteria for a Meaningful Watershed Meet the eight criteria for a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience. Educational Experience.

• Build partnerships with local community Build partnerships with local community organizations. organizations.

• Reach an area not previously served by watershed or Reach an area not previously served by watershed or environmental education programs. environmental education programs.

• Reach a large number of students or have an Reach a large number of students or have an extended implementation period. extended implementation period.

• Show evidence of commitment and capacity building. Show evidence of commitment and capacity building.

What Needs to HappenWhat Needs to Happen

• Remain diligent and confidentRemain diligent and confident– All grants will not be funded or fully funded. All grants will not be funded or fully funded. – Time taken can be frustrating.Time taken can be frustrating.– Don't fret if you don't get a grant or award Don't fret if you don't get a grant or award

that you wrote for. that you wrote for. – 2005 national teacher of the year stated he 2005 national teacher of the year stated he

only received about 10% of what he wrote only received about 10% of what he wrote for.for.•He got over $50,000, and, he was only 34 or 35.He got over $50,000, and, he was only 34 or 35.

What You Can GainWhat You Can Gain

• For writing one to four grants per For writing one to four grants per year:year:

• Receive from $500 to $2000 per year Receive from $500 to $2000 per year for various reasons.for various reasons.

How to Find ThemHow to Find Them

• College student’s favorite method: College student’s favorite method: Google for them!Google for them!– Search using such descriptors as Search using such descriptors as

classroom chemistry grants or classroom chemistry grants or classroom weather grants.classroom weather grants.

• Find specific organization who is Find specific organization who is eager to help for specific reasons eager to help for specific reasons – (i.e. watershed research)(i.e. watershed research)

ExamplesExamples

• Rockingham County offers Rockingham Rockingham County offers Rockingham County Educational Foundation(REFI) County Educational Foundation(REFI)

• Up to $1000 per proposal. Up to $1000 per proposal. • Can write for as many as you want. Can write for as many as you want. • One particular teacher wrote for two this One particular teacher wrote for two this

year and received both. year and received both. – One was for $1000 for weather probeware and One was for $1000 for weather probeware and

materials for experimentsmaterials for experiments– Other for $1000 water testing probeware and Other for $1000 water testing probeware and

related equipment.related equipment.

ExamplesExamples

• Virginia Naturally, associated with the Virginia Naturally, associated with the Virginia Department of Environmental Virginia Department of Environmental QualityQuality– offers classroom water grants twice each year. offers classroom water grants twice each year.

• One particular teacher received about One particular teacher received about $1500 from them this year $1500 from them this year – Included:Included:– $750 for water testing materials.$750 for water testing materials.– $750 to help build a rain garden. $750 to help build a rain garden.

ExamplesExamples• From local school district:From local school district:

– http://www.rockinghameducationalfoundation.org/grantinfo.htmlhttp://www.rockinghameducationalfoundation.org/grantinfo.html

• State grants:State grants:– http://www.vanaturally.org/classroomgrants.htmlhttp://www.vanaturally.org/classroomgrants.html– http://www.vanaturally.org/grants.htmlhttp://www.vanaturally.org/grants.html– http://guest.portaportal.com/ckaznoskyhttp://guest.portaportal.com/ckaznosky– http://www.dom.com/about/education/grants/grants.jsphttp://www.dom.com/about/education/grants/grants.jsp

• National OrganizationsNational Organizations– http://www.marine-ed.org/bridge/http://www.marine-ed.org/bridge/

• Example of grant application:Example of grant application:– http://www.envnet.org/vadeq/GrantAppl.htmhttp://www.envnet.org/vadeq/GrantAppl.htm

  

Government Government FundingFunding

What it Depends onWhat it Depends on

• Dependent on District’s BudgetDependent on District’s Budget

• Always separate budget for:Always separate budget for:– CopiesCopies– SuppliesSupplies– Mandatory needed financial supportMandatory needed financial support

What Teachers Can Do What Teachers Can Do to Maximize to Maximize

EffectivenessEffectiveness • Conserve copying throughout schoolConserve copying throughout school

• Use conserved expenses to re-Use conserved expenses to re-allocate money into school budget allocate money into school budget for other materials.for other materials.

What Else Government What Else Government Can Do Can Do

• Local government agencies often have Local government agencies often have technicians who will come to school or technicians who will come to school or field trip site to teach about various topics.field trip site to teach about various topics.

• For example:For example:– The Department of Environmental Quality The Department of Environmental Quality

employees put on a fish shocking employees put on a fish shocking demonstration at a river near a local school. demonstration at a river near a local school. http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/wildwoodhttp://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/wildwoods/february-2002.pdfs/february-2002.pdf

Local FundingLocal Funding

Within The SchoolWithin The School

• Budget within the class, department, Budget within the class, department, school, or school districtschool, or school district– Teachers are allotted a certain amount of Teachers are allotted a certain amount of

money each year by their principals (and money each year by their principals (and occasionally division science supervisors) occasionally division science supervisors)

– Meant to be spent on materialsMeant to be spent on materials– This money goes quickly considering one This money goes quickly considering one

has to replace chemicals, buy has to replace chemicals, buy probeware,etc... probeware,etc...

FundraisingFundraising

• FundraisingFundraising– The classThe class– Individual studentIndividual student– Parent GroupsParent Groups

FundraisersFundraisers

• Ideas:Ideas:– Bake saleBake sale– Car washCar wash– 5k run / walk5k run / walk– Pie in the facePie in the face

DonationsDonations

• One particular science department at One particular science department at a local middle school received an a local middle school received an anonymous donation.anonymous donation.– Bringing the yearly total to close to Bringing the yearly total to close to

$6000$6000

•   In general, this particular In general, this particular department receives between $500 department receives between $500 and $1000 in donations each year.  and $1000 in donations each year.  

PartnershipsPartnerships

• Community businessesCommunity businesses

• Neighborhood OrganizationsNeighborhood Organizations

• Service GroupsService Groups– Optimist, Kiwanis, Ruritans, ect.Optimist, Kiwanis, Ruritans, ect.

• PTSAPTSA

Acquiring Acquiring MaterialsMaterials

Government LendingGovernment Lending

• Agencies lend materials to help Agencies lend materials to help educate students on important educate students on important issues.issues.

ExampleExample

• The Soil and Water Conservation The Soil and Water Conservation Offices in Virginia loan out water Offices in Virginia loan out water education trunks. education trunks.

• Include models to help teach about Include models to help teach about run-off and groundwater flow. run-off and groundwater flow.

Work Shops and College Work Shops and College CoursesCourses

• Free to teachers Free to teachers

• Offer lots of good materialsOffer lots of good materials

ExamplesExamples

• American Meteorological Society American Meteorological Society

• Offers free graduate-level courses in Offers free graduate-level courses in which you receive numerous which you receive numerous teaching aids.teaching aids.

• http://www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/http://www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/DataStremeFrames.htmlDataStremeFrames.html

ExamplesExamples

• Earth Science Content Academy at Earth Science Content Academy at JMU and the Earth Science JMU and the Earth Science Collaborative Collaborative

• Provide free, or low cost courses, Provide free, or low cost courses, that offer lots of materials. that offer lots of materials.

ExamplesExamples

• Our very own Dr. St. John teaches Our very own Dr. St. John teaches classes for both, and “the materials classes for both, and “the materials that she provides are very good.” that she provides are very good.” (Anonymous former student) (Anonymous former student) – One particular teacher is using ideas One particular teacher is using ideas

and materials from a class and materials from a class •Use of convection currents and heat carrying Use of convection currents and heat carrying

capacity (or specific heat) of land and water.capacity (or specific heat) of land and water.

Further Further Assistance From Assistance From

Local Local UniversitiesUniversities

What They Can DoWhat They Can Do

• Assist by Assist by – Answering questions Answering questions – Hosting field trips Hosting field trips – Loaning equipment. Loaning equipment.

Develop RelationshipsDevelop Relationships

• Not all schools have direct teacher Not all schools have direct teacher liaisons like our very own Dr. St. John. liaisons like our very own Dr. St. John.

• Can write to the college’s department Can write to the college’s department head. head.

• Also, possibility that school’s division Also, possibility that school’s division science supervisor can have existing science supervisor can have existing relationships with local college faculty.relationships with local college faculty.

Join An Join An OrganizationOrganization

What They Can DoWhat They Can Do

• Provide: Provide: – SupportSupport– PublicationsPublications– Websites Websites – ConferencesConferences– Networks with other teachers Networks with other teachers

ExamplesExamples

• National Science Teachers Association National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) www.nsta.org(NSTA) www.nsta.org– local chapters: local chapters:

• Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST) Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST) www.vast.orgwww.vast.org

• National Marine Educators Association National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) www.marine-ed.org(NMEA) www.marine-ed.org– local chapter:local chapter:

• Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association www.mamea.orgwww.mamea.org

ReferencesReferences

• Calvin (Buck) BuchholtzCalvin (Buck) Buchholtz– John Jay High School, San Antonio, Texas John Jay High School, San Antonio, Texas

• Jerry CookJerry Cook– Phoenix Country Day School, Paradise Valley, Arizona Phoenix Country Day School, Paradise Valley, Arizona

• Dan Bregar Dan Bregar – Crescent Valley High School Crescent Valley High School – Corvallis, Oregon Corvallis, Oregon

• Chris Kaznosky Chris Kaznosky – Elkton Middle School Elkton Middle School

• Vicki ClarkVicki Clark– Virginia Institute of marine Sciences, Outreach and Virginia Institute of marine Sciences, Outreach and

Education Director Education Director