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Seeing the look of surprise on a teacher's face when they are recognized with the Virginia Lottery's Super Teacher Award is reward enough in itself. Before realizing that they have won $2,000 in cash and a $2,000 classroom supply credit from The Supply Room Companies, these educators are happy (if sometimes stunned!) with the recognition for a job they simply love doing.
After four years and the selection of 32 outstanding educators across the state, the Virginia Lottery checked in with some Super Teachers to hear about how they have used their winnings: |
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Super Teacher 2009: Sharon Carino Petsworth Elementary in Gloucester |
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These are just a few items that I have received from the classroom supply money. Not only did I benefit from the various items I have received, but I have shared and continue to share with my grade level. A fellow teacher tells me whenever he plays the lottery, even when he doesn't win, he thinks of me because of what the Virginia Lottery has given to me!
• Cd/Dvd discs used to make movies or audio recordings for the class
• Rechargeable batteries and a battery charger used for various electronic gadgets in the classroom
• Glue sticks and various art supplies
• Dry-erase markers for use on whiteboard
• Mailboxes for my students' work
• A paper-cutter • Gallon and quart sized storage bags |
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Super Teacher 2009: Joel Block George Mason High School in Falls Church |
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I'm not so sure that the office supplies are so exciting, but they've certainly come in handy! I purchased a lot of small things like 4-color pens for my students to use when I color code the notes. As far as big ticket items go, I got an ergonomic chair to replace the old chair I had for my computer. |
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Super Teacher 2010: Alisa Burns Salem High School in Salem (Super Teacher 2011 Judge) |
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Listed below are some highlights of how I spent my classroom supply money. I'm sure some of it differs from the choices made by elementary school teachers, so I've tried to explain some of the pedagogy behind my selections, too!
• Posterboard, construction paper, markers, etc. I usually purchase "art supplies" on my own for class projects, just to make sure we'll have exactly what we need, so these items will really come in handy. My statistics classes have already made box-plot posters this year, but these supplies will be even more valuable this spring. While reviewing for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Mathematical Studies Exam, my students will create an exam review project. Last year, most student groups chose to create review board games and similar craft-related projects.
• Ink pens! In addition to using these pens for my own grading, I often have my students use a pen to "grade" or correct their own work on an assignment. I find that students have more success with multi-step statistics problems if they have had an opportunity to "grade" themselves before I actually grade them on a similar problem. This helps them know exactly what I will be looking for!
• Miscellaneous pencils, filing supplies, a personalized homework stamp (I haven't decided how to best use this yet) ... and my big purchase:
• Multifunction printer (printer/copier/scanner/fax) and back-up toner cartridges, white/color paper, etc. I could not be happier with this purchase, but my explanation will require telling you about some other Super Teachers! Salem City Schools are becoming more and more focused on the idea of Assessment For Learning, also known as AFL or Formative Assessment. This philosophy suggests that students learn more, retain more, and actually become better learners when they are given the chance to see what they do and don't know before test day (when it's already too late). Informal assessment methods can and should be used daily to help students and teachers make adjustments! My wonderful math department co-workers at Salem High School have really stepped up to the plate when it comes to experimenting with AFL strategies. While some perfectly great strategies such as a quick show of hands or thumbs up/down can be done spur-of-the-moment in any classroom, many teachers in my department have created more sophisticated-looking AFL instruments which require printing and copying. Our school's traditional method of copying asks that items be turned in 48 hours prior to when they are needed. This approach works well for typical copying needs - a worksheet or project assignment used last year or a test created for use at the end of a unit - and we are very fortunate to work at a school where copying is provided! However, I believe that AFL-done-right can require last-minute printing ... and I am NOT a procrastinator! Imagine teaching a lesson on calculating standard deviation. It went well last year, and you're sure it will go well today ... but it doesn't. Maybe your projector bulb burned out, maybe it was a shortened period due to an assembly, maybe too many of your students were on yesterday's field trip and lacking some important background knowledge, or maybe you just didn't teach the material very well! In this situation, you have a decision to make. Tomorrow, you can either move on to teaching covariance and hope that your most confused students seek out extra help on standard deviation before Friday's test ... or you can make up a quick AFL handout. My department members and I choose option two. In this situation, I might print out several half-sheet surveys asking, "Which step confuses you?" using my (previously-owned) home printer and newly-purchased paper and toner ... or I might create a "check-up" to print and copy in the Math Office, the home of my newly-purchased multifunction machine! I came up with the term "check-up" to describe a NON-GRADED quiz given in my classes. Usually a check-up is completed by students working individually and without a book or notes. I "score" this assignment as I would a quiz, correcting students' work and showing where point deductions occur. Occasionally, I share check-up scores with students' parents, but they DO NOT affect a student's grade! As the teacher, I am getting very valuable feedback about what my students have and have not mastered. Other department members and I are also experimenting with increased use of rubrics, notesheets, goal-setting activities, and other AFL strategies that are, sometimes, made possible by last-minute copying. And don't even get me started on the scanning feature! Since my classes are college level - students can earn college credit by dual-enrolling through the local community college - I try to run most aspects of my class as a college professor would. Students know that answer keys to various assignments will be posted on my webpage (quickly, thanks to this new scanner) so they can study independently. |
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Super Teacher 2010: Kimberly McKnight Robious Elementary School in Midlothian |
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(The Virginia Lottery) gave not only myself, but my entire staff a chance to benefit. I allowed my team to pick out supplies that they would need, I bought a pair of nice scissors for all 45 employees at our school, and was able to make out with a great deal of wonderful things that I would have not been able to purchase otherwise.
• From a flash drive to hold all of my files to Permanent Markers for Fabric to help decorate the kids' Native American t-shirts for Thanksgiving.
• Our school is VERY old and during the first 2 months of school, students are usually sweating. I had enough money left over to buy a fan to put in the classroom, so both the kids and I do not have to sweat all day long!
• For my students with fine motor issues who normally get frustrated since they cannot hold the crayons and pencils very well, I was able to get oversized crayons and pencils (which cost twice as much as the regular sizes), so they can hold them better.
• Kindergarteners can go through crayons and glue sticks faster than most. I usually have to ask parents to buy extras or just buy them myself, but instead I have enough replacements to last a while!
• The Supply Room Companies even had Lysol and antibacterial hand soap, so we can try to cut down on the amount of germs. |
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