CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – On behalf of the College Football Playoff Foundation and its primary platform, Extra Yard for Teachers, Fighting Illini Athletics has donated more than $1200 to Illinois schools for distance learning initiatives and other projects for low income schools.
Approximately 94% of public-school teachers report spending their own money on supplies, a 2018 Department of Education survey found. Teachers reported spending $479 of their own money on average each year. Through Donorschoose.org, individuals can fund specific projects targeted by teachers and schools.
Below are the projects the CFP assisted in funding in the words of the teachers who requested them.
Champaign: International Prep Academy // Reusable Notebooks
Our classroom uses the writers' workshop method, which requires students to go through the writing process in the development of their writing. The heart of the workshop model is conferring with students individually, having them share what they have written in their writer's notebooks and offering feedback to help them develop their talent as writers.
Chicago: Alex Haley Academy // Wild About Animals
Each week when I introduce a new letter of the alphabet and the sound it makes to my students, I teach them about an animal that begins with that letter and sound. We make an animal craft using construction paper and other materials, and students recount to me a fact or two that they learned about that animal. This connects literacy with science. Connecting literacy with the real world is critical in helping students gain those necessary early literacy skills they need to become lifelong readers. Now the we're beginning the year remotely, I will be giving my students the materials needed so that they can still make the animal craft at home.
Chicago: Kilmer Elementary School // Hands on learning materials
The air purifiers will help my students breathe easier, since they capture nearly all dust and allergens, while also killing germs and odors. The Teachers Pay Teachers gift cards will allow me to create packets for my students to help them learn while they're at home, but they will also be used to purchase name sheets, journals, and math sheets to use in the classroom. Some of the other products like the chair bands and the sensory fidget stress relief toy will help fulfill the sensory needs of some of my students who have special needs.
Chicago: Laura Ward STEM School // Healthy Snacks to Students
During this distance learning experience, my students does not have adequate healthy meal at home. My school district promised my students a healthy meals, but recently they have been closed for the last two weeks. Hunger is real and it amazes me how many of my students have not been receiving any form of healthy food. Distance learning has become a struggle because now all of my students are now worrying about is receiving meals throughout the day. If you will help me give my students these small snacks, I will personally contact free deliver them these small snacks so that their little bellies could be full.
Chicago: World Language Academy // Silent Remote Learning from Noisy Houses
I teach in an Urban school where a fourth of the student population have IEPs with various learning and behavioral difficulties. To add to their agony of having learning difficulties, COVID came through. During this challenging period with COVID on one side and remote learning on the other, my students have enough in their plates. During the Remote learning period during Spring, one of the main challenges I noticed was the difficulty of not being able to get fast internet access as well as noise-canceling headphones.
Danville: Meade Park Elementary School // Restricted Classroom material
COVID-19 has completely changed the way my instruction must be given. I want to incorporate high quality attention grabbing materials to ensure that my students thrive. This project is intended to add personal reading, writing, and math consumables for every student in my classroom. Teaching in a COVID-19 classroom requires that students not share materials, so I will use the consumables to ensure each student has their own materials. The library books will add Glare and excitement to our reading instruction, and be used as a read aloud to ensure student health and safety!
Peoria: Franklin Primary // Distance Learning Materials
These items will help create a connection to the classroom. The headphones will be extremely important in getting rid of background noises that are many times uncontrollable when learning at home. The whiteboards will further the connection to the classroom and establish learning routines.
I would love to give my students the best learning environment possible while learning at home.
Rantoul: Northview Elementary // Culturally Diverse Library
I want to have a library full of books that represent and are relatable to my students, as well as, books that may teach them about other cultures and interests present in the classroom. In first grade, students grow tremendously as readers and it is imperative they are provided a library of books that they are eager and excited to read. As a first-year teacher, my library of books mainly consists of old books that have been passed on. Because of this, most of the books I have do not represent my students like I hope they would. I would be thrilled to have the opportunity to purchase culturally diverse books for my students to read.
Rockford: West Middle School // The Hope U Give
In addition to need highly engaging text centered on relevant social issues, my middle level students need ample learning experiences during remote learning that do not involve a screen! Thus, being able to take home a copy of text that directly relates to their current life experience is invaluable.
By supplying my students with a copy of "The Hate U Give" and a Scholastic magazine, students will enjoy their "read to self" time as part of their literacy block's Daily Five, will develop a deeper love of reading, will improve their reading skills, and will give voice to THEIR truths about issues that matter to them.
Springfield: Butler Elementary // Distance Learning Books
This kit would enable me to have over 28 in person and digital texts available to my students. These texts are designed to help students become stronger readers while also being fun and engaging for little learners. I want my students to be excited about the new ways they will be learning from home.
Having both digital and physical texts allows for me to engage students from home and provide an easy transition back into the classroom by creating a sense of familiarity.
This year is going to be so new and different for my students and I want to be able to give them the best remote learning experience that I can.
Taylorville // Hands-On Activities
Most of my students have health issues and will need to do remote learning for the '20-'21 school year. I need to purchase items that I can send home for them to complete. They will get math, reading, and science packets that will be sent home and done with parents or older siblings. They will also have their own packet of money to continue to practice money.
Urbana: Martin Luther King Elementary // Remote Learning
The teachers will be able to directly model assignments and lessons for students that will mirror exactly what things look like on their device at home. It gives the teachers a device that matches their device so they can help troubleshoot and better assist them in this journey of remote learning. It will take one additional hurdle of remote learning with Kindergarten students who have never been to school before, don't know English very well, and who have never used a device to learn before.
Urbana: Early Childhood Education // Swivl for Distance Learning
Swivl will allow for quality remote instruction to occur by authorizing teachers to record and/or live stream their lessons for students to view and engage in without having to set foot inside the classroom walls.
ABOUT EXTRA YARD FOR TEACHERS:
The purpose of the CFP Foundation lies in supporting PK-12 education across the country. The CFP Foundation's primary platform, Extra Yard for Teachers, is dedicated to elevating the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers in four focus areas: resources, recognition, professional development, recruitment and retention. Since 2014, the CFP has invested $38 million in support of education, supported 311,000 teachers, reached 7 million students and impacted 33,000 schools.
