There are various ways to help teachers financially, with Classful becoming one of the most popular. Many prospective donors wonder how exactly their donations will be used.
Classroom
How Will I Use the Funds I Received on Classful?
There are various ways to help teachers financially, with Classful becoming one of the most popular. Many prospective donors wonder how exactly their donations will be used.
Let’s take a moment to review how I, as a teacher, will use the funds I have received via Classful. First of all, let me say that Classful has been such a positive experience that I often find myself wondering, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”
I’ve had a number of parents, and other teachers ask me what I’ll do with the funds that I receive, and after giving their queries much consideration, I’m now able to narrow my answer down to five main ways that I utilize these funds:
- Classroom supplies
- Field trips
- Materials for art programs
- Instrument rental for music class
- Miscellaneous items that I would have previously paid for myself
It’s amazing how much teachers are expected to spend out of pocket. For the first few years I was teaching, I didn’t keep a running total of how much money I spent during the school year. When I took the time to add everything up, I was shocked by the amount! It’s amazing how much money teachers spend throughout the year, and when parents or other community members step up to help ease the financial burden on teachers, it means the world to us.
Education resources
Classroom supplies
Whenever there is a budgetary shortfall, the first cuts seem to always be at the classroom level. Whether there are cuts to supplies, hand-outs, copying budgets, or the like, most teachers are likely to pick up the shortfall rather than have their students suffer. Even when we may not have a lot of financial security, it just feels like the right thing to do!
With donated funds, I no longer have to worry about budget shortfalls or buying extra copy paper or school supplies.
Field trips
Taking students outside of the school environment can be an enriching experience. They learn how to conduct themselves in public, and when the trip is to a historical or cultural locale, they learn even more. There is a lot that students can learn in a classroom setting, but the benefit of hands-on experience can magnify their understanding of a certain topic or subject matter.
Think back to your school days. Remember how difficult it was to grasp abstract ideas and concepts? With a trip to the natural history museum, for example, it becomes much easier for the students to understand science and how it affects the world around them.
Materials for art and music programs
We all know that arts and music programs are often the first to fall on the budgetary chopping block. We have set up a number of successful campaigns that focus solely on arts and music programs. Whether the funds are used for instrument rental for the students or to pay for art classes that are no longer a part of the budget, these funds make a significant difference in the lives of our students!
Miscellaneous items that I would have previously paid for myself
Throughout the year, so many things pop up that aren’t covered by our classroom budget. There are times when such items as a weighted blanket can significantly impact a student’s educational experience or a trip to the local planetarium will help students gain a much deeper understanding of their planets module. In addition to field trips, there are also a lot of classroom displays that help to further our students’ knowledge base.
There are a lot of great ways that teachers and schools use funds. And when we see the donations from parents and community members roll in, we realize that we’re not alone in this! Knowing that we have this support significantly affects how we approach our jobs and our willingness to go the extra mile or two.
If you know that a local classroom is struggling financially, please consider donating and helping your school best serve the children in your community!
