1. Cereal boxes can opened up and used to make sundials or cut into stencils, flash cards or custom rulers. 
2. The cardboard at the center of the paper towel rolls could be merged together to create a “roller coaster” for a  marble to illustrate gravity.  
3. Styrofoam egg cartons can be used to store small school supplies such as beads or buttons or they can be used as a paint palette. They can also be used to plant seedlings that are eventually planted in the school or local community garden when spring comes.
4. Plastic milk jugs can also be cut open and used as planters or turned into watering cans for the school garden/landscaping. On rainy days the watering cans can be placed outside to collect water. Students can calculate how much water they collected/repurposed and learn what a valuable resource water is.
5. Plastic shopping bags can be tied together and used as string for projects in the classroom like hanging planters.
6. Clean, old pillowcases can be donated and used to make custom reusable shopping bags that are gifted to parents at a later date.
7. Old wire hangers and clothespins can be used to display artwork and other “brag” items in the classroom.
8. Coffee tins can be used to store pencils or school supplies. Or they can be used to collect old coffee grounds that are later used for the school.

Charged  with educating America’s children, public schools boldly undertake this endeavor despite the never ending challenges and constant scrutiny they are bombarded with. While most people can agree that a good education is a fundamental civil right, it is what defines a good education that leads many to heated debate, causing power struggles and bringing change for both better and worse. As a product of the public education system I value this institution for helping to mold so many individuals into something better than they would have been had they not had the education public schools offer available to them. While some educators left much to be desired on the other end of the spectrum where educators who truly loved the work they were doing, who believed they could impact our lives positively. It was this group who inspired me to create myself, seek out challenges and to think independently. But from both of these types of  educators I took away that I was responsible for my own success and that it would not always come easily. To this day I consider that to be the most valuable lesson any individual can learn. In addition, public education systems unite students from some of the most varied backgrounds. The social skill set students like myself take with them when school ends happens almost on accident, a side effect to the educational experience. I spent countless days amongst others whose cultural, religious and other normalcies were beyond anything my young mind could truly comprehend.

Yet, on some level, we found ways to coexist and learn from each other, either forming bonds of friendship or at the very least learning to respect each other and keep our distance. And for these reasons I value and support public education.

-Claudia Leyva, I Love Schools.com volunteer

You’ve registered on iLoveSchools.com, now what?

1. Verify your email address – If you haven’t already.
2. Complete your profile – Add a photo, tell your story for donor’s to get to know you.
3. Visit DonorOffer board daily – New posts are offered daily. Log in first to see all offers only available in your area
4. Create WishLists – Browse the store through your Teacher Dashboard. Donors search for WishLists every day, but they can’t help if they can’t find your WishList.
5. Tell others about your WishLists! – Add a link to your Teacher home page on your Facebook, personal blog, school website and even Craigslist in your hometown.

iLoveSchools.com, a national nonprofit organization that links teachers, schools and districts with donors of new or used goods and in-kind services, today announced Copernicus Educational Products’ largest giving program to date. The manufacturer has donated approximately $50,000 in educational products to 66 schools nationwide through the Nonprofit, and it is not stopping there.

Copernicus’ Director of Sales and Marketing John Gerrard says, “We know that helping out teachers isn’t strictly a seasonal or back-to-school activity. They need our support year round, so we’ll continue to make donations via iLoveSchools.com throughout the year.”

iLoveSchools.com has created an online donation service that operates at zero cost to teachers and hands over total control to donors. Businesses choose which teachers or schools are eligible for the donation (based on free lunch status, location, etc.). Donation history is stored in the donor dashboard, along with the total value of items donated and the number of students served.

Additionally, each business can become a ClassroomFriend by creating a Web page, linked to iLoveSchools.com, which can be used to raise money, materials and awareness for teachers and schools. Customers directed to the company’s ClassroomFriend page can make donations to the featured teacher(s) or school(s) and see how much has been raised and how many kids have benefitted from the contributions.

With teachers caught in the ever-tightening vice of budget cuts, they’re turning toward sites like iLoveSchools.com to connect to businesses who are reaching out to classrooms.

Amy Smith, a sixth-grade teacher at Erma Henderson Academy in Detroit, Mich., says,”I received a Soft Organizer Single from Copernicus, which means no more looking through different piles to find a class’s papers.“ Smith continues, “Having a site like iLoveSchools.com is extremely helpful to teachers who work in districts that have very little money to spend on classrooms. Therefore, a lot of materials are purchased by teachers, and this can become very expensive. It’s nice to know that there are people and companies out there that generously donate to teachers in need.”

About Copernicus Educational Products, Inc.
Starting in Founder George Phillips’ basement in 1989, Copernicus grew from a small, family-run operation to what is now the largest educational product manufacturer in North America. Throughout those years, the Company has maintained the same focus on innovative, teacher-driven and child-safe educational products. Its product line includes teaching aids and easels, storage solutions and arts-focused materials. For more information, please visit: www.copernicused.com.

About iLoveSchools.com
Established in 2003, iLoveSchools.com is the first national web-based nonprofit organization matching schools and teachers with donors of new and used classroom equipment, materials, supplies and in-kind contributions. Our unique Internet-based solution links teachers and schools with donors committed to creating constructive learning environments for America’s preK-12th grade schoolchildren regardless of cultural or economic circumstances. For more information, please visit: www.iLoveSchools.com.

I’ve repeated information I learned that fully 50% of African-American and Hispanic students will dropout of school this year – something that has really unnerved me. Now, mind you I am not complaining about this ground-breaking study, I’m only speaking to my learning of a newer study that attempts to dispel such horrific graduation rates and explains they are still horrible but, not quite as bad as thought.

In the brief for the first study the author wrote:

During the past year, we have repeatedly heard that the nation’s public schools are facing a high school completion crisis. My research at the Urban Institute, for example, reveals an overall graduation rate of 68 percent. Even more troubling, there’s only a fifty-fifty chance for a student from a historically disadvantaged minority group to finish, the same odds as flipping a coin (Swanson 2004). But I am not alone in this assessment. Findings from independent studies conducted at a variety of institutions—Johns Hopkins University, Boston College, the Manhattan Institute, and others—all point in a similar direction (Balfanz and Legters 2004; Greene and Foster 2003; Haney et al. 2004). Far too many of our youth, particularly poor and minority students, are failing to complete high school with a diploma.

I’ m writing this post because I am not contradicting that research, I’m just frustrated that another study shows significantly different numbers. Better graduations rates hurray but, the significant difference is what bothers me.

From what I understood, the need for this Gates Foundation-funded study, was because reformers needed baseline statistics but, our federal government didn’t even start tracking national graduation rates until a few years ago. Also, from what I now understand, there is no consistent state-by-state longitudinal measurement standard or, tool for that matter, that can be used to track a student throughout their educational-lives, regardless of when and where they attended school.

My discovery of a 2006 study by the Economic Policy Institute has thrown everything in the air for me and that’s ok. I don’t like being an alarmist on one hand but, I also don’t like seeking huge disparities in our educational system because of what color our skin is. The study I’m referring to is called Rethinking High School Graduation Rates and Trends which gives the history of our government’s graduation-tracking methods (seemingly largely based on census results) compared to the CPI mentioned above and the National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS).

This latter study gives their argument that the national graduation rate with a regular diploma is between 80-83%. They further say that from 69-75% of African-Americans graduate with a regular diploma and, of the those who do dropout nearly half end up getting a GED certificate. Hispanic students are reported to graduate with a regular diploma are from 61-74% with from 9-12% receiving a GED certificate. The study also shows that the gap between whites and blacks is about 15% and between whites and Hispanics is 23%.

One major observation is what is termed the 9th grade ‘bulge effect’ where there are significantly more 9th graders reported in the above graduation surveys compared to those students leaving 8th grade the year earlier.

What’s the most bothersome is that our scholars are so widely divided on what our high school graduation rates are. With at least a basic high-school education one is reported to make over $1 million more than a dropout, contribute to society nearly $800k value in their lifetime vs. cost over $5k, and experience considerably less incarceration levels.

One would think, with so much on the line, we would make it a priority to establish a nationwide standard for data collection and reporting so that, as a nation, we can all focus our energies on the solutions that will significantly reduce the gap between our races as well as significantly raise the level of all high school graduates. As the authors of the latter report imply … we shouldn’t hold our breath waiting for this to happen. That’s unfortunate as they’re probably right.

That’s my thoughts, please share yours…

Among children born between 1955 and 1970, 62 percent of black children were raised in neighborhoods with at least a 20 percent poverty rate, compared with only 4 percent of white children, according to the Pew report. This gap persists even when the poorest families are excluded from the analysis. Among children from the upper three income quintiles, almost half of black children — 49% — lived in high-poverty neighborhoods, defined as those with at least a 20% poverty rate. Only one percent of white children from the upper three income quintiles lived in high-poverty neighborhoods.

Call me naive but, I’m so blown away by this last number I’m not quite sure what to say. I will say one thing though. It’s no wonder 25% African Americans are having such a difficult time graduating high school.  But, it seems at first blush, compared to the approximately 82% of European-Americans who graduate our African American students are doing an unbelievably great job under trying conditions.

December 10, 2009 — iLoveSchools.com, a national nonprofit corporation that links teachers, schools and districts with donors of new or used equipment and in-kind services, today announced that landfills have gotten enough for Christmas (face, they’re more than a little spoiled). Now it’s time to channel gently-used technology, games, books, art supplies and music instruments to America’s classrooms instead.

Christmas came, saw and conquered this year, leaving a pile of wrapping paper, boxes and new goodies in its wake. With storage space at a premium, today’s gifts are putting the squeeze on yesterday’s favorites. What should be done with gently-used items?

Donate those items through www.iLoveSchools.com, where they’ll find new life in a student’s hands. Once a donor registers on the site, he or she can post a DonorOffer, narrowing down which teachers see the post based on the following criteria: school type, grade, free-lunch, location and delivery method. Teachers will then respond to the offer, leading to painless coordination of the gift’s transfer. Teachers then thank the donor electronically with classroom images and student messages. The iLoveSchools.com service is a zero-cost service to teachers, while donors voluntarily give a small donation to help with the nonprofit’s administration costs.

What can you donate?
Electronics: It’s inevitable – Blu-Ray is replacing its aging father, DVD. But that doesn’t make the DVD player obsolete. Teachers are rarely outfitted with the latest and greatest in electronics. They need DVD players to play compatible movies.

Technology: Got that great new computer you’ve been wanting all year? Now, you can donate your trusted 2.0 ghz+ computer and LCD monitor to a classroom (CRTs go to the recycling center nowadays).

Toys: Make it fun! Children can take part in the giving process by choosing which toys to donate. Not only does that take the sting out of parting with a once-cherished plaything, but it’s instilling generosity at an age where lessons in citizenship stick.

Books: Classroom libraries are always looking for new additions. Teachers love to expand their libraries and turn their kids on to new books.

Sports equipment: Little Kelly lost interest in soccer two months ago and currently her her sights set on Tae Kwon Do. Now the lonely soccer ball sits in the garage, deflated. Give it a sense of purpose! Donate it to a school’s PE class or after school soccer program.

About iLoveSchools.com
Established in 2003, iLoveSchools.com is the first national web-based nonprofit organization matching schools and teachers with donors of new and used classroom equipment, materials, supplies and in-kind contributions. Our unique Internet-based solution links teachers and schools with donors committed to creating constructive learning environments for America’s preK-12th grade schoolchildren regardless of cultural or economic circumstances. For more information, please visit: www.iLoveSchools.com.

by Laura Hahn

’Tis the season to give thanks—and give back. Remind your child that donating to a charity doesn’t require writing a check. Sharing what’s in her closet or backpack with people in need can be a more satisfying—and more personal—way to help. Here are four ideas.

• Sports Equipment

Encourage her to pass last season’s athletic gear
to Sports Gift (sportsgift.org), which will distribute it to kids in need.

• School supplies

If your child has extra books, markers, or other items,
you can find teachers who need them at iLoveSchools.com, a nonprofit
that connects donors with teachers in U.S. classrooms.

• DVDs

Suggest she send movies that haven’t been watched in a while to
troops in Iraq and Afghanistan through AMVETS Task Force DVD
(amvets.org/taskforcedvd). Children’s titles go to families of soldiers.

• Cell phones

When your kid upgrades, check out recyclewireless
phones.com together to locate programs that recycle or refurbish old
phones, then donate proceeds to various charities.

1) Post a message to your blog: Tell your network about the good that iLoveSchools.com is doing to support all schools and teachers, no matter where they teach.

2) Post a DonorOffer for items you already own: Teachers are very resourceful people. They can use everything from kitchen supplies to scrapbook materials.

3) Invite a teacher, school or PTA to sign up: Use the ‘Spread the Word’ email feature on any page of iLoveSchools.com to invite your teacher friends to visit and sign up.

4) Become a fan of iLoveSchools.com on Facebook or follow us on Twitter: Help us spread the word to educators and potential donors. Everyone can get involved when they know about our mission.

5) Volunteer your time: Spend time volunteering with iLoveSchools.com or offer your expertise to a classroom through the DonorOffer board.

So there you have it; five ways to support schools without spending a nickel. Teachers can’t do it alone, but with our combined efforts we can all make a difference in the lives of students.

Do you have other ideas how you can use iLoveSchools.com to help teachers? We welcome your comments.

During back-to-school season all eyes are on education, mounting budget cuts and the disparity between classroom resources. iLoveSchools.com, with its new website, wants to spotlight and garner support from donors for classroom needs year-round.

Now in its seventh year, iLoveSchools.com in response to user feedback and the struggling economy, has expanded its business model by launching a brand new website. The new iLoveSchools.com has gone from serving only teachers to now serving all teachers, schools and districts, both public and private, in the U.S. and its territories; regardless of geographic location and cultural or socioeconomic background.

Hall states, “While our objective is to help classrooms in need, our long-term goal is to improve student retention and critical thinking skills by making a quality education available to all children through donated supplies and services. We are creating a community-based support system that channels materials to the classrooms year-round, as well as matching schools with local volunteers.”

Teachers, schools and districts can visit www.iLoveSchools.com and create WishLists by shopping in the website’s featured online store and choosing from over one hundred thousand products, or simply describing the items and services they need in a special request. Donors either fund all or some of the WishList or post a DonorOffer for the resources and services they want to donate. The donor ultimately decides who receives their donation based on their selected criteria and how much of their dollar—if any—goes to iLoveSchools.com’s administrative costs.

Additionally, individuals, businesses, and parent organizations such as a PTA or PTO can support educators and students by creating a ClassroomFriend Group, a unique web page that highlights particular teachers, schools or districts on iLoveSchools.com. ClassroomFriend Group pages, which are personalized with a unique story and photo, connect friends and customers with a social cause and encourage the community to financially invest in America’s classrooms.