Donor's Choose Grant

I am thrilled to announce I have written my 1st Donor's Choose Grant for next year. I am hoping to incorporate a document camera into my classroom guidance program since I am in the rotation again.

You can read all about it here.

www.donorschoose.org/msfiltness

Please consider donating $1 and sharing with as many people you know. Give to my classroom by August 4, 2014 and your donation will be doubled thanks to DonorsChoose.org. Just enter the code INSPIRE on the payment page and you'll be matched dollar for dollar (up to $100).

If you chip in to help my students, you'll get awesome photos and our heartfelt thanks.

ASCA #14 Reflections

Wow! What an amazing conference. How many newbie ASCA conference attenders can say at their first conference they heard the First Lady speak!!

I am writing this post for 3 reasons:
1) To share with you my highlights and lessons/knowledge learned at the best conference ever.
2) To help ADHD brain remember all the things I want to share with the other counselors in our district.
3) To help me go back and access the information. A online "storage space" for reference if you will.

So let's get started:

Counseling Critters

Last year we lost our library Blondie. She was adorable and I miss seeing her every morning. I know what your thinking "a rat!" Really, she was great and when she passed the students filled a book with wonderful stories, memories, and goodbye wishes.  She was a sweet gentle creature that the students loved talking to, carrying around, and reading to. I am a firm believer in pet therapy.

So, I have been playing around with the idea of getting a counseling office pet. When I started the search I found some amazing resources. First, is an amazing kit from Petco. This lesson in a box is a great way of introducing pets into the classroom and discussing the importance of taking care of them. What a great idea for teachers! I think I will ask my Student Council members to assist with pet care so I plan on doing this lesson in a box with them. Want to know the best part it's FREE! Yep, I didn't even have to pay shipping.

I continued my search and found a wonderful blog by  First Grade Brigade. Kristen has a wonderful entry on pets  and turned me onto Pets In The Classroom. Not only does the website share great information about the benefits of pets in the classroom (something I can't stress enough), but it also has some wonderful links to grants that can apply for. Did you know there were pet grants? I didn't and I am adding apply for a grant to my bucket list of the year!


So here is where I am stuck. What type of pet do I want? Petsmart offers grants for:

• Hamster
• Guinea Pig
• Bearded Dragon
• Leopard Gecko
• Fish
• Aquatic Turtle
• Snake
• Fancy Rat

 Petco also offers grants with a similar, but shorter list. So what do you think? Do I want one that stays in my office or can go class to class? Do I want a soft fluffy one whose cage might smell or a smell free fish that the kids can't snuggle with?

Ok readers help me out, what type of pet do you think would be good? Also, has anyone ever applied for one of these grants? All tips are welcome!