Are you finding the information and resources you need?
I just wrote an email to my local chamber of commerce. Kodak was started in Rochester, NY and I am hoping through the connections of my family that I can get Kodak to come into my classroom to not only donate some professionals time, but some cameras to start a camera club. I think that would be great publicity for them and I am hoping that will work.
I talked to the assistant coach of our local semi – professional basketball team and they are going to come into my classroom this year and have their players donate their time. I think that I am going to be more excited about that than the students. He also said that when the season comes around that we will hopefully be able to make a game during the week early so that we could come to the game.
I have sent out more emails to local businesses and have not heard anything else. I sent an email to my fellow teachers explaining to them that I want to do by having local business in the community help in my classroom and if they have any ideas. Nobody has responded back.
I also have Junior Achievement lined up to come into my classroom within the first month of school starting.
Do you need to modify your action plan?
I do not think that I have to modify my action plan. I have gotten back some good responses from local businesses. I hope that they pan out once the school year starts.
What have you learned so far?
It is hard to get in contact with the right people from local businesses to support you. I have talked to many and emailed many people who said that they wish that they could help me but unfortunately they are not at the right position in the company to help me. I think that it will be easier during the school year because the students will be there and the companies will be able to come into my classroom.
What new questions have arisen?
I have a couple of questions:
- What will I have / hope for the basketball players to do when they come into my classroom?
- Should I prepare a PowerPoint to show Kodak about how beneficial their help would be not only for my class but for their company?
- What other local businesses can I incorporate into my classroom?
- What type of things will people be willing to help with when they come into my classroom?
Any help or ideas would be great….
You have got some great involvement from your Community. I think that when school gets started if you have the students contact businesses they will be more likely to participate in some capacity.
ReplyDeleteWhen the basketball players come you could have them talk about teamwork. Anytime that athlete’s play beyond highs school they have some great insight into what teamwork is and how important it is. They might also be able to talk about having goals and dreams and the challenges that they face to continue to reach their goals. My elementary school recently had a crab fisherman from the Time Bandit featured on the show deadliest catch come and speak. I wasn’t sure what he would talk about or how it would relate to the students. He was awesome. He talked about having a job that he loved, and how hard he had to work to get where he is. He talked about all the people that said he wasn’t tough enough to do it. He was great; the kids really enjoyed listening to his message.
I am glad you have gotten responses so quickly. My other suggestion is to contact the Chamber and find out when their next meeting is. It is harder for people to turn you down in person. Bring a few photos of the classroom and a few formal copies of your game plan to pass around. The kids would really benefit from knowing the other interests of the ball players. So many students think that is the key to success. It would help them to see them as individuals, not just ball players. Maybe they could talk about their favorite authors or artists.
ReplyDeleteYou also have a treasure trove of business people in your board of ed members. They are another source of presenters.
Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI think that they would love to hear them talk about teamwork. I am hoping that they are going to tell them that they grew up in a similar setting / community and they had to keep themselves out of trouble. I teach in a rough inner city school district.
Yeah I think that once the students come back to school it will be a lot easier for me to get a business to come into my classroom.
Thanks for the ideas.
Gini,
ReplyDeleteI am going to go to a meeting once school starts so that I can have actual pictures of my class with me. I think that you are right, if I am there in person, it will mean something differet from getting an email in your inbox.
Thanks for the ideas.