1: The Power of the Fidget
--When I first saw this title I was drawn into the project immediately. The goal the social worker had was to raise money to be able to buy things for the students that she visits with to help them open up more. These objects would be objects meant to be fidgeted with. When I read this, I was surprised because I had these same tendencies growing up, where I would always need to be fidgeting with something or tapping my foot at all times of the day. I know how stressful it can be and it does lead to distractions. I felt like this report was written well in that she seemed very interested in the process that she could make with students had she had these tools at her disposal. Students could be more willing to open up when they are able to control these tendencies. She did a really good job of directing the focus on what the typical middle schooler looks like in that they are always having issues and questions especially in a low income area.
2: We Want to Visit a California Mission
-- I chose this one because I was brought back to being a student in elementary school when we would take field trips. We would always be introduced to a whole world that a text book or our teacher could never teach us. It gives that one on one attention and direction that some students respond better to. I really liked this because the teacher seemed genuinely interested in the experience that his students should have rather than just taking them on a field trip for no purpose. He was talking about the experience itself they could have and the importance that it holds with them. He can't teach them this information, they should have first hand experience to fully understand what they would be learning. I thought he did a good job of articulating the meaning and the purpose behind the experience they would be having. Students would be able to have first hand observations about the site itself instead of just reading about it. They would be able to learn this and explore on their own and then come back as a group and discuss it.
3: Two Lonely Music Stands Seeking New Friends
--I was first attracted to this one because of its title. I was honestly wondering if I had gone to the wrong site or that somehow someone could sell something on the page. This is what made me initially click on the post. I then started reading and found out this wasn't the case at all. I realized that the school is in a low income area and that this is all the music stands that they have total. All of the students have been using the floor to hold their music. I was really touched by this project because I was in Orchestra since 4th grade and so I had a personal connection to the project. I know how hard it can be to not have enough stands or to try and place an instrument while the music is on the floor, which was never good for posture while playing the instrument. One thing I really liked that this author did was had the reading envision their reaction to a certain situation and to have them think deeper about how they would feel, it appeals to the emotions of the people that are reading and considering donating. Another good thing she does is speak of her students so genuinely and like she really wants to see them succeed for real reasons and not just for something that may be superficial.
After looking and reviewing these Donor Choose accounts I would say that 5 ways to write a winning Donors Choose Application would be to do the following:
1: Explain your reasoning in detail, including specific instances with students to make it more personable and relatable.
2: Have the reader imagine what they would feel in a certain situation based -- relate it back to emotions.
3: Show how genuinely you care about your students and their performance after they are out of your class.
4: Talk about your students, not directly and specifically, but their opinions and stories about them that would make people realize that there are real students behind all of these projects.
5: Don't just always ask for money for material objects but also ask for money for things like field trips that provide experiences rather than objects. Experiences last a lot longer with students and their learning.
--When I first saw this title I was drawn into the project immediately. The goal the social worker had was to raise money to be able to buy things for the students that she visits with to help them open up more. These objects would be objects meant to be fidgeted with. When I read this, I was surprised because I had these same tendencies growing up, where I would always need to be fidgeting with something or tapping my foot at all times of the day. I know how stressful it can be and it does lead to distractions. I felt like this report was written well in that she seemed very interested in the process that she could make with students had she had these tools at her disposal. Students could be more willing to open up when they are able to control these tendencies. She did a really good job of directing the focus on what the typical middle schooler looks like in that they are always having issues and questions especially in a low income area.
2: We Want to Visit a California Mission
-- I chose this one because I was brought back to being a student in elementary school when we would take field trips. We would always be introduced to a whole world that a text book or our teacher could never teach us. It gives that one on one attention and direction that some students respond better to. I really liked this because the teacher seemed genuinely interested in the experience that his students should have rather than just taking them on a field trip for no purpose. He was talking about the experience itself they could have and the importance that it holds with them. He can't teach them this information, they should have first hand experience to fully understand what they would be learning. I thought he did a good job of articulating the meaning and the purpose behind the experience they would be having. Students would be able to have first hand observations about the site itself instead of just reading about it. They would be able to learn this and explore on their own and then come back as a group and discuss it.
3: Two Lonely Music Stands Seeking New Friends
--I was first attracted to this one because of its title. I was honestly wondering if I had gone to the wrong site or that somehow someone could sell something on the page. This is what made me initially click on the post. I then started reading and found out this wasn't the case at all. I realized that the school is in a low income area and that this is all the music stands that they have total. All of the students have been using the floor to hold their music. I was really touched by this project because I was in Orchestra since 4th grade and so I had a personal connection to the project. I know how hard it can be to not have enough stands or to try and place an instrument while the music is on the floor, which was never good for posture while playing the instrument. One thing I really liked that this author did was had the reading envision their reaction to a certain situation and to have them think deeper about how they would feel, it appeals to the emotions of the people that are reading and considering donating. Another good thing she does is speak of her students so genuinely and like she really wants to see them succeed for real reasons and not just for something that may be superficial.
After looking and reviewing these Donor Choose accounts I would say that 5 ways to write a winning Donors Choose Application would be to do the following:
1: Explain your reasoning in detail, including specific instances with students to make it more personable and relatable.
2: Have the reader imagine what they would feel in a certain situation based -- relate it back to emotions.
3: Show how genuinely you care about your students and their performance after they are out of your class.
4: Talk about your students, not directly and specifically, but their opinions and stories about them that would make people realize that there are real students behind all of these projects.
5: Don't just always ask for money for material objects but also ask for money for things like field trips that provide experiences rather than objects. Experiences last a lot longer with students and their learning.