Submissions will be selected according to the following criteria:
Submission Requirements
- General Information
- Name
- School
- Position
- Short Biography
- Please write a brief (2-3 sentences) biography we can use if we publish your submission. This should be a general bio about you as an educator (not a description of why you are applying for the grant).
- Your Photo
- Please upload a photo of you that we can use if we publish your submission. Do not include anyone except yourself in this photo. School photos work great!
- File Types Accepted: .png, .jpg., .gif, .pdf; max file size 10MB
- Submission Details
Note: Submissions may be either a “Tips and Tricks” video (see an example here) or an Activity Plan (see an example here). AdoptAClassroom.org reserves the right to revise your submission for clarity or communication purposes.
- Submission Title
- Brief Description of Submission
- Please write a 2-3 sentence description of the activity you are submitting so that teachers can read about it in our Resource Library before viewing it.
- Target Grade Level(s)
- Target Subject Area(s): (e.g. English Language Arts, Biology, Music)
- Subject Topic(s) (e.g. Close Reading, Genetics, Chords)
- Your Teacher Leader content (submit one of the following):
- Video
- Upload a short (no more than 3 minutes) video highlighting materials you purchased with AdoptAClassroom.org funds and explaining how you use them to integrate arts education (if applying for an Arts Fund grant) or to create a more inclusive classroom space (if applying to the Inclusive Classroom Fund grant). If you are having trouble uploading your video, please email [email protected]. If you are including a student in this video, they will need this release form signed by a parent or guardian.
- Format Details: Maximum file size: 2.9GB; file types accepted: .mov, .mp4, .avi, .mkv, .webm
- Written Activity Plan
- An action plan for an activity you have done using materials from AdoptAClassroom.org. It should include an explanation of how the activity supports student engagement and learning, along with a document providing detailed step-by-step instructions to other educators on how to execute the activity in their classroom. To prepare to fill out the form, applicants can also fill in this template and may submit additional documents as needed.
If you are including a student in any materials, they will need this release form signed by a parent or guardian.
- Intended Student Learning Outcome(s) / Objective(s) / Skills
- Materials Used from AdoptAClassroom.org’s Marketplace and/or Other Materials Used
- Directions
- Additional Planning Notes for Educators
- Upload any other supplemental materials you created yourself, if needed (graphic organizers, slides, etc.).
- Accepted Formats: maximum file size: 10MB; file types accepted: pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, csv, txt, rtf, html, zip, mp3, wma, mpg, flv, avi, jpg, jpeg, png, gif, ppt
- Please Note: You must submit materials and activities that you own. Any submissions that include copyrighted materials will not be considered for the grant.
- An action plan for an activity you have done using materials from AdoptAClassroom.org. It should include an explanation of how the activity supports student engagement and learning, along with a document providing detailed step-by-step instructions to other educators on how to execute the activity in their classroom. To prepare to fill out the form, applicants can also fill in this template and may submit additional documents as needed.
- Video
Grading Criteria
| Points | Option 1: Video Submission | Option 2: Activity Plan Submission |
| Content (2 points) | Video Includes: – Introduction – Educator name – Position – Grade band Mentions specific item(s) purchased from/available in the AAC Marketplace and the vendor Explains/demonstrates how the item has made a difference in the classroom/instruction is a minimum of one minute and does not exceed three minutes | Submission includes: – Completed Application Form Adequately completes all sections of Activity Template: – Teacher information – Grade level Identifies materials purchased/available on the AdoptAClassroom.org Marketplace, including the vendor Includes teacher-created supplemental materials if needed (graphic organizers, powerpoints, etc.) Clear step-by-step directions |
| Quality (6 points) | Clarity (2 points): – Picture and sound quality – Clarity of message (how easily can another AdoptAClassroom.org teacher incorporate these tips?) Tips (3 points): – Provides at least one tip for using the highlighted item and describes the full process (more credit for additional tips) – Provides parameters for using these tips (e.g. grade level, content where appropriate) – Creative and innovative (e.g. supports high student engagement, teacher time management, has multiple applications) Relatable to Teachers (1 point): – Is the activity engaging and relatable to potential AdoptAClassroom.org teacher viewers? | Clarity (2 points): – Submission is legible (clear formatting, etc.) – Does not require additional materials other teachers might not have (eg. specific text book) – Is clear and replicable in other classrooms (Includes step-by-step directions for execution from beginning to end of the activity. Could a first-year teacher follow the plan?) – Is created by the teacher and is not from a copyrighted source. Content (3 points): – Is grade level appropriate. – Cites any external sources (websites, etc.) – Supports student engagement and learning in the arts or helps to create more inclusive classrooms. Relatable to Teachers (1 point): – Is the activity engaging and relatable to potential AdoptAClassroom.org teacher viewers? |
| Creativity (2 points) | Features materials bought with AdoptAClassroom.org funds/available on the AAC Marketplace Additional point possible for unique and engaging presentation | Features materials bought with AdoptAClassroom.org funds/available on the AAC Marketplace Additional point possible for unique and engaging content |
Each application will be evaluated by at least two AdoptAClassroom.org staff and scored out of a total of 10 points.
Submit your application by November 3, 2023 here.
Winner Notification
Winners will be notified on or before December 1, 2023.
Eligibility Requirements
- Only licensed PreK-12 educators or certified staff members, employed at an accredited K-12 public, private, or charter school in the United States are eligible for this grant.
- Educators who apply for funds give consent for their application content, name, photo, biography, and the name of the school where they teach to be published in communications by AdoptAClassroom.org and/or their partners in order to promote our mission and/or partnership.
- Educators must agree to and follow AdoptAClassroom.org’s Terms of Use to apply and receive funds.
- Educators must have an active AdoptAClassroom.org classroom page by the application deadline. Log in or register to create your classroom page.
- Educators who have had $50 or more of AdoptAClassroom.org funds expire from their account due to a failure to spend funds prior to the 12-month expiration date of donations may be deemed ineligible for Teacher Leader grants.
- Educators must submit materials and activities that they have created and own. Any submissions that include copyrighted materials will not be considered for the grant. If submissions are found to include copyrighted materials after the grant has been awarded, AdoptAClassroom.org may remove the remaining grant funds from the educator’s account.
- AdoptAClassroom.org reserves the right to revise application materials for clarity or communication purposes.
Questions? You can contact us for more information at [email protected].