Unlike most public school teachers, those who teach preschool do not get the same benefits and pay scale structure. The average preschool teacher earns around $28,000 per year. This leaves very little money to purchase extra supplies they may want for their classroom. Whether you need to buy supplies or you want to plan for extra fun activities in the classroom, there are programs offering financial help for preschool teachers.
Many preschool teachers may want to purchase extra supplies for their classroom. The schools or centers that they work at don’t usually have the extra money in the budget to purchase more supplies. They may expect the teacher to buy those items on their own, or figure out a way to acquire them. Rather than take the funds out of your own pocket, which will make it more difficult to pay your own bills, it is a good idea to look for financial help for them.
Getting Financial Help
Preschool teachers who need help have several options they can consider. Below you will find some of the best options for obtaining the money you need to help with your classroom. Every preschool teacher wants to give kids some great learning tools and if they are not in the budget where you work, that doesn’t mean you have to go without them.
Adopt a Classroom – This organization has created a way for the public to help support teachers at all levels. You can register with the organization and people can choose to support your classroom by donating money. Once you join, you can post the link to help get people interested in supporting your classroom. The program is easy to take part in. You simply create an account fundraising page, donors will give to support your classroom, and then you can order the items that you need. Registering only takes a few minutes. To get more information and get started, click here.
Supply a Teacher – This program will collect donations on your behalf, so that you can get the items that you need for your classroom. The program is provided by the organization called Kids in Need Foundation. They will supply your classroom with two big boxes of supplies, providing you with the most needed items. You will just tell your story to them by completing the application. They help teachers of all levels nationwide. To get more information and sign up to get the free teacher supplies, click here.
Make a Wish – This online educator supply store allows teachers to make a wish list that they can then share with the public. By doing this, people will know exactly that you need for your classroom, and they can help you purchase it. The list also lets people know you need assistance with buying the items in a way that will not seem overly pushy. Within a few minutes you can create a wish list that will help you get the items you need. People visiting their site can also choose to support your efforts, even if they don’t know you. To get more information and create a wish list, click here.
Schoolhouse Supplies – Since 1999, this organization has helped teachers at all levels get free supplies. You can shop for free supplies on their website. People in the community help pay for the supplies for teachers that participate in the supply drives. They also take donated supplies from the public, which they then give to a teacher who needs them. To get more information about their program and shop for some preschool teacher supplies, click here.
Donors Choose – This organization provides a platform where preschool teachers, as well as teachers at all levels, can create an account and share with the public what they need. Then those who want to help can log onto the site and read the teacher stories and decide who they want to donate to. They give the donors the ability to choose which teachers they want to support and then make donations to help them get their classroom supplies. The site is free to use and they help to promote it, so even people who do not live in your city can choose to provide you with supplies to help out. To get more information and create an account to seek help, click here.
Back 2 School America – This organization makes up supply kits that are given to teachers for free. They do this each year when school goes back in session. Their program provides the free supplies that many teachers, including preschool teachers need, for their classrooms around the country. People from the community can help support it by paying for a kit that will be given to a teacher in need of free supplies. To get more information and sign up to get a free supply kit, click here.
Parents – Asking parents to help purchase classroom supplies is a popular options. Most teachers do make a list of what type of supplies they need for their classroom and they share it with the parents of the kids who will be in their room that year. Parents will often either purchase the supplies directly, or give the teacher money to help pay for the supplies. By doing this you may get all the supplies paid for that you need. Be sure to get the list to your friends and family as well, because some of them may also want to help you out and supply some items.
Thrift Stores – Contact thrift stores in your area that are operated by churches. They may be willing to give you the items you need for free, if they have them available in their thrift stores. The church-based thrift stores get all of their items donated to them from the public and they typically sell it for cheap prices to those who need the items. Some of them give all the items away to the public. Many thrift stores have items that can be used in the classroom at all levels.
