Donorschoose.org

Bill and Melissa Gates funded the website DonorsChoose in order to help schools get the basic needs and help school enrich their programs. Teachers can create a profile, create different projects (ranging from school trips, books, carpets for reading, computers, etc to anything you want that you can find through the vendors), and then wait for generous people to donate to their projects.

Companies like Build a Bear and Townsend Press go on to this website and make substantial donations toward projects. People who are not teachers make accounts and can donate to any classroom project they choose. They can donate a dollar if they want. As a teacher I know that a dollar can go a long way.

I have been creating projects on Donorschoose.org for two years. I have received 25 The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, 35 copies of Rachel's Tears, and over 60 independent reading books, including Before I die, Clockwork Angel, Willow, Hate List, Fallen, I am Number Four, and the list goes on. I would say that I have had about $2,000 worth of donations to my classroom. It's an amazing website. During March this year, for any dollar donated, the website would match it. I posted my project on my facebook and several of my friends donated money and project was quickly funded. (I am very grateful for friends!)

This website is a great resource that is probably under-utilized. Please pass on this website to other educators and people who are education enthusiasts!

Classic eBooks for Free

I have an overwhelming need to blog about the site that I have found! For all you, NOOK, Kindle, iPads and other eReader that is out there who love the classics. I mean Hawthorne, Twain, Malory, Joyce, Shakespeare and one else you can imagine, this site, the Gutenbergproject.com is for you! Yes, YOU!

Because of copyright laws, all the old classics are up for dibs on this website. It costs NOTHING, unless you want to donate. I just downloaded, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Scarlett Letter, Several Sherlock Holmes books, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, several of Shakespeare's play plus more! Did I mention for free? And that they work?

I have to say that I love the modern reads, but there is something comforting about the classics. Now they are forever part of my NOOK.

If you love the classics, go visit this site!

Second Draft Done and Making a Difference

The second major revision of my book is done. It took all summer and part of fall to do, minus the months of August and September because of the house, but it is finally done! Well, this section, at least. I finally have a full understanding of when people say "A piece of writing is never done." I mean, when I first finished the novel, I really thought it was ready for the editors. Stephanie Meyer, look out, I was going to be on Forbes too! Haha, OK maybe that was bit over-reaching for my first book. But, I really thought, I was in good shape. It is with this second draft, that I know Nadine is going to send it right on back to me with errors and gaps in it, and once I fix that Marie is going to turn right around and do it too! But that is OK. It's the process.

On a side note, I just received a text message from a former student and her college English professor told her she was the best writer in the class, that she was only person who knew how to cite correctly, and to thank me for doing a good job! I am very proud of Christian and also a little proud of myself!

Stemming from that, Christian participated (probably unknowingly) in one of my favorite activities: Make a Difference. It's where a person tells another person how they have made a difference in his/her life. It really does go along way!!!