Mom it Forward » School Supplies

Eco-Friendly: Six Tips for Going Green This School Year

Jen Tilley — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:00:23 +0000

For most families, long, lazy summer days are over and the school year is in full swing once again. The start of the school year brings many wonderful things that make us feel optimistic and energized, including the promise of a fresh start. This year, let’s pledge to incorporate more eco-friendly choices into our family’s school day activities and help build a more sustainable future for our children. Here are some tips for easy ways the whole family can go green this school year—and save some money along the way!

Six Tips for an Eco-friendly School Year

1. Pack a Waste-free Lunch

It’s estimated that Americans go through 100 billion plastic bags a year—this averages to 360 bags per person! Have your child pick out a fun reusable lunch box or bag to use throughout the school year. Rely on reusable containers and water bottles for packing food and drinks. If you do use plastic bags, recycle them. Clean and dry Ziploc® bags can be recycled at most local grocery stores where you drop off plastic shopping bags.

2. Choose Greener School Supplies

In the U.S. alone, approximately 11,600 incense-cedar trees are cut down to create the two billion pencils made each year. When hitting the school supply aisle this year, opt for supplies wrapped in limited packaging and recycle what you can. Consider purchasing eco-friendly supplies, like recycled fiber or reusable mechanical pencils, refillable pens and paper clips made from recycled steel.

3. “Upcycle” Last Year’s Supplies

Three-ring binders that are still in great working order can easily be refurbished at home, saving you the expense of buying new ones. Here’s a fun, crafty idea: cover the entire exterior of the binder with a sheet of contact paper, then trim to size for a clean, modern-look. I like using cork contact paper. Make it a fun after-school project, and even have your kids decorate the “new” notebook.

4. Encourage School Cafeterias to Buy Local

I think we can all agree with Jamie Oliver that most school cafeteria menus could use a healthy makeover. Urging your school to buy local ingredients will not only help waistlines, but also the planet too. At the next PTA meeting, discuss the topic with other parents and consider connecting with school administrators about bringing local food to the cafeteria for sustainable and healthy lunches. Contact the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service for resources and information on farm-to-school programs.

5. Green Your Head to Toe

To avoid sticker shock and find clothes with less of an environmental impact, shop at thrift stores and trendy second-hand stores. Another fun way to save money and help the planet is to arrange a clothing swap party with friends or relatives—your niece’s jeans from last season may be a perfect fit for your own daughter this year (thankfully, skinny jeans are still in!). If new clothes are a must, aim for more sustainable fabrics, like organic cotton or earth-friendly bamboo.

6. Recycle Old Electronics

If you’re upgrading your family’s electronics this year, be mindful of recycling old models. You can even earn rewards, or, cash in some cases, for doing so—visit www.recyclebank.com to check the value of your old electronics and for ways to earn points for your green deed. Don’t forget to recycle the batteries, too. You can drop them off at most business supply stores.

If we all pledge to make greener decisions this school year, imagine the collective impact we would have on the planet. Involving your kids in the fun, too, will set them up for adopting eco-friendly habits over the years and make the world a greener place for generations to come.

What are ways that you and your family plan to go green this school year? What tips and tricks help you and your family live greener lives?

Ali Kalis is the director of digital marketing at Recyclebank, the company that rewards people for taking everyday green actions. Ali has always had a personal interest in social entrepreneurship, sustainability and healthy living, and holds a certificate in integrated nutrition as well as an MBA. She and her photographer husband, Amani, live in Brooklyn with their young son, Satchel, and miniature pincher, Jinx.

Microsoft Bing and DonorsChoose.org’s Partnership to Better Education

Jamie Moesser — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 17:00:41 +0000

Bing.com is a search engine; you’ve probably heard of it. What you probably haven’t heard is that they are really into helping education. Big time. And you’d probably be impressed at the innovative methods they’re using to raise awareness of many schools’ need. We at Mom It Forward have facilitated their generosity, in partnership with TodaysMama, by featuring giveaways and education-related content through advertising, eNewsletters, dedicated eBlasts, and other campaigns. Bing has also connected with our communities by sponsoring six #gno Twitter parties to raise awareness of and appreciation for teachers, education, and volunteerism in schools since June. Bing even brought Josh Groban into a school in New York City to inspire students!

What’s most interesting is their current campaign with DonorsChoose.org to raise $100,000 for one lucky school, using the internet and a unique voting methodology that involves you. Over 700 schools compiled their list of needs, made videos of their schools and themselves, and submitted them to http://ourschoolneeds.discoverbing.com. Over two days, October 25th and 26th, their entries were available for anyone to rate. The 15 top-rated videos (5 in each category: K-6, 7-9, 10-12), together with an additional 15 entries selected by the Bing editorial committee, will automatically advance to the judges’ panel. The judges will review the entries and select 15 finalists, which will be announced on October 29. Those 15 schools’ entries will then be open for voting again, and the entry that receives the most overall votes will win $100,000. The three schools that receive the most votes in their categories (K-6, 7-9, 10-12) will each receive $50,000. The voting period is open from October 29 until November 7 (Yes! That’s tomorrow! Hurry and vote today.). The winners will be announced on November 9. It’s American Idol with a mission!
Many corporations pick causes; not many use their might and the unique paths that social media offers to actually accomplish goals for their causes. Bing has a platform, a position of prominence that provides a good opportunity for doing something. And they’re doing something big. Imagine what a school could do with $100,000! Imagine the children that emerge from such a school, edified not only by the gift of a generous organization, but also by the knowledge that people they didn’t know took the time to be involved in the process. Imagine what children who have learned well and received much might do as they grow up and join the ranks we adults now inhabit. Bing is a corporation that not only makes money by facilitating organized access to information, but also gives money by facilitating the meeting of schools and everyday people in the unique space of social media. This is the kind of innovation that moves the world forward—one school at a time.

RSVP for Bing’s Thursday Twitter Party on Education

Jyl Johnson Pattee — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 04:41:45 +0000

Fill in the Blank: Our School Needs _____________. Nowadays, schools must make do with less due to shrinking budgets and impacts their ability to provide programs, equipment and supplies. So it’s more important than ever to have creative solutions on how we can support our local schools.

Join Bing and our panel of experts on Tweetgrid as we discuss classroom needs and ways in which you, as a parent or supporter of education, can help. The party takes place this Thursday (note the change in day) from 9-11 ET (8CT, 7MT, 6PT). See the details below about this week’s giveaway to enter.

What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
When: Thursday, September 30, 9-11 p.m. EST (8CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! (Use hashtags #gno and #BingLearn.)
Topic: School Needs and Ways to Help!
Who: Brand Panelist: @Barb_Bing @loriwildrick @Liz_Bing @Nick_Bing @SPGI10003 @timetocamp Community Panelists: @highimpactmom @jennyonthespot @noflashcards @parentella @teacherwthsoul @teachermomoftwo @tipjunkie Moderators: @jylmomIF @Dadventurous @troypattee and @momitforward
Party Favors: Click here to enter for a chance to win one of two $100 Amex gift cards. (Deadline: Monday, October 4 at midnight ET)
RSVP: Use Mr. Linky below (enter the twitter URL and your twitter ID (e.g., http://twitter.com/jylmomIF).

Note: Mom It Forward accepts paid sponsorships for most #gno Twitter parties. During the parties, brand sponsors provide tips, techniques, expert advice, and information on party topics. Mom It Forward is grateful for the giveaway prizes, coupons, and discounts that sponsors also provide to the Mom It Forward community in conjunction with #gno Twitter parties.

Photo used with courtesy from Flickr.

OfficeMax and Mom Bloggers Partner to Erase Teacher-Funded Classrooms

Jyl Johnson Pattee — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:16:17 +0000

What do you get when you combine a giving organization like OfficeMax with a group of charitable bloggers? A positive difference for education and a big step toward erasing teacher-funded classrooms.

In September 2009, OfficeMax partnered with Mom It Forward and 32 women in different locations across the US to raise awareness about its A Day Made Better program in partnership with Adopt-a-Classroom. Each blogger hosted an event in her area with unique themes from play dates and cocktail parties to book clubs and the one we hosted in Salt Lake City—a Girls’ Game Night Out. The cost of entrance? A donation of school supplies to benefit one teacher in the local area.

The parties were put on in conjunction with OfficeMax’s overarching A Day Made Better campaign where it provided $1,000 in school supplies to 1,000 teachers across the US.

Even though our event took place in October, it took 5 months to get the donations in the hands of the recipient—Krystal, a blogger and 2nd-grade teacher extraordinaire. I wish I could be in her classroom when she shows the amazing goodies to her students. If their excitement at all matches her enthusiasm (see pic above and video below), it’ll be a memorable day for all!

Thanks to OfficeMax for providing the opportunity to partner in this amazing outreach for education. Thanks to Kristina and Stephanie for hosting yesterday’s blogger luncheon. To learn more about how you can help in your area, visit http://adaymadebetter.com.

REVISED: Nominate a Teacher to Win $1000 in OfficeMax Classroom Supplies!—Deadline Extended!

Jyl Johnson Pattee — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:06:56 +0000

Teachers are amazing! They inspire our children, build their confidence, encourage them to dream big, and make learning exciting. My boys spend 7 hours a day in school. Recently, my 6YO came home with a “superb” sticker from his teacher for advancing a reading level, and five days later, it’s still on his forehead, which he claims will stay there until 8th grade. Such a small validation has inspired my son to keep reading and advancing while building confidence in his abilities.

Teachers make such an impact on our children’s lives from an early age. And it kills me to know that his teacher, along with millions of others, is struggling to secure the essential supplies she needs to make ends meet in the classroom. Did you know teachers spend an average of $1200 of their own money on classroom supplies each year? Together, that’s $4 billion annually! I know—$4 billion!!! For most, they’re just trying to help kids get the basics!

That’s why OfficeMax teamed up with Adopt-A-Classroom to create “A Day Made Better“—a national cause event founded to erase teacher-funded classrooms. This year, “A Day Made Better” will take place on October 6 where 1,000 teachers will be surprised in their classrooms each with $1,000 worth of essential supplies from OfficeMax. That’s more than one million dollars donated to help teachers! Principals at needy schools nominated the teachers for demonstrating dedication, innovation and passion.

How Can You Get Involved?

To pay-it-forward, OfficeMax and Mom It Forward have teamed up to create awareness about the issue of teacher-funded classrooms and to give you the opportunity to get involved and help a teacher in your community on behalf of the “A Day Made Better.” Here’s how…

Simply nominate a teacher of your choice to win this giveaway following the entry requirements. Be sure to check out the prize and criteria!

Prizes

One exceptional teacher will receive over ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in OfficeMax classroom supplies. Now that’s a lot of boxes of crayons! LOL!

And, four other amazing teachers will each receive a digital camera for their classrooms.

Criteria

This is a giveaway that is meant to be given away. What does that mean? You get to nominate a teacher by sharing why this person is exceptional and deserving of this giveaway. The winning teacher will be chosen based on the following criteria, so be sure to tell us why your teacher is most deserving:

Dedication: does everything in his/her power to deliver the best possible education for his/her students.
Innovation: thinks outside the box and engages his/her students through creative learning activities & programs.
Passion: expresses a genuine passion for education and shares this enthusiasm in the classroom.
Need: demonstrates a need for essential classroom supplies.

Entry Requirements

To enter your teacher and help spread the word about A Day Made Better, you are required to do three things.

(Note: post a separate comment for each entry.)

1. Nominate them through a comment.

Leave a comment on this post with the name of the teacher, the school and city he or she works in, and the reasons why you feel he or she meets the above-listed criteria and deserves to win this giveaway. Please keep comments to 150 words or less.

2. Post these messages on Facebook and/or Twitter.

(Note: Be sure to leave comments here with links to your messages.)

Teachers spend avg $1200 of own $$ on school supplies annually! Help erase teacher-funded classrooms. http://bit.ly/3VUNvC PLS RT #omx
Nominate a teacher 2 win $1000+ in @OfficeMax classroom supplies. http://bit.ly/1337uy PLS RT #omx
Join the “A Day Made Better” movement to end teacher-funded classrooms at http://bit.ly/UJ3LF #omx

3. Join the A Day Made Better Facebook Cause and leave a comment on the cause page about a teacher that has made a positive difference in your life.

Thanks so much for helping pay-it-forward to teachers in your community! Please join us on Tuesdays, September 22, September 29, and October 6 from 9 to 11 pm ET for Girls Night Out (#gno) on Twitter if you’d like to meet the team behind the cause: @officemax, @adaymadebetter and @Adopt_Classroom. Hope to see you there!

Fine Print

Entries are due Sunday, October 11 by midnight PDT. No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected by me based on the entry that in my opinion meets the above criteria. OfficeMax, Adopt-A-Classroom and Mom It Forward play no part in choosing the winner of this giveaway. OfficeMax, Adopt-A-Classroom, and Mom It Forward employees are ineligible to enter. In a spirit of fairness, my personal friends and family members are also ineligible. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered. The winner will be notified and have 24 hours to confirm receipt of the email. If no response is received within 24 hours, another winner will be selected. Open to participants in the U.S. 18 years and older. You are welcome to enter all giveaways associated with this campaign, but you may only win once.

Share Tips for Helping Kids Succeed at School Tuesday During the #gno Twitter Party

Jyl Johnson Pattee — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:44:15 +0000

Now that vacation is over and our kids are back at school, it’s time to return to the basics and help our kids be the best students they can be at home and in the classroom. How do you help your kids do their best in school? Any solutions for creating a conducive learning environment at home? What school supplies are “must-haves” for every kid or parent? How do you accommodate your childrens’ different learning styles?

These are just a few of the topics we’ll cover in an A+ #gno party on Tuesday night where you’ll get to meet the great folks at OfficeMax and learn directly from them about ways to support your kids in school!

Don’t forget to nominate a teacher to win OfficeMax’s amazing giveaway this week on behalf of their “A Day Made Better” cause, founded to erase teacher-funded classrooms. Click here to check out the details.

What: OfficeMax is sponsoring this week’s #gno Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)

When: Tuesday, September 22, 9-11 p.m. EST

Where: Click here to party with us on our custom Tweetgrid. (Use hashtag #gno.)

Topic: Helping kids succeed at school

Who: @adaymadebetter, @chaotic_barb, @highimpactmom, @jjroo, @mommyniri, @officemax, @texasholly, @The_Jerri_Ann, @TipJunkie

Party Favors: Click here to check out this week’s giveaway sponsored by OfficeMax. And check out a list of other participating sites and more fabulous giveaways by clicking here.

RSVP: Please leave your Twitter ID in the comments to follow and be followed (on Twitter, of course!) by other #gno gals. The best format is as follows: http://twitter.com/jylmomIF.

Nominate a Teacher to Win $100 in Classroom Supplies on Participating Websites

Jyl Johnson Pattee — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:13:53 +0000

OfficeMax recently kicked off a campaign called A Day Made Better to help erase teacher-funded classrooms. As part of this initiative, OfficeMax is involving more than 30 “Max Moms” to help spread the word about erasing teacher-funded classrooms through giveaways on their websites and events in their hometowns.

Click on any or all of the following links to nominate a teacher of your choice to win $100 in OfficeMax classroom supplies. Entry requirements are simple: Share why you feel that person is deserving in either in the posts’ comment section, in a blog post on your site, or through a Whrrl story and help promote the A Day Made Better campaign via Twitter and/or Facebook.

Note: You may enter every contest, but you may only win once per nominated teacher.

Max Moms’ Giveaways

Allie from No Time for Flashcards and @noflashcards
Amanda from High Impact Mom and @highimpactmom
Amanda from Oh! Amanda and @oohamanda
Amy from Mom Spark and @momspark
Andrea from Mommy Snacks and @mommysnacks
Angie from Angie’s 7 Clown Circus and @angiescircus
Barb from Elementary Spirits and @chaotic_barb
Beth from The Plus Size Mommy and @plussizemommy
Carissa from Good and Crazy People and @carissarogers
Cindy from Skip to My Lou and @cindyhopper
Courtney from Detroit Mommies and @TheAppleofMyEye
Danielle from Extraordinary Mommy and @extraordmommy
Holly from June Cleaver Nirvana and @texasholly
Janine from Twofer Mom and @twincident
Jen from JenHinton.com and @keepitclassyjen
Jen from Savor the Thyme and @savorthethyme
Jenny from Jenny on the Spot and @jennyonthespot
Jerri Ann from Mom E Centric and @the_jerri_ann
Katja from Skimbaco Lifestyle and @katjapresnal
Kelly from Childhood Clothing and @childhood
Kim from Crafty Mama of 4 and @craftymamaof4
Laurie from Tip Junkie and @tipjunkie
Leighann from Multi-Minding Mom and @LeighannMMM
Lori from A Cowboy’s Wife and @acowboyswife
Maya from Think Maya and @thinkmaya
Michele from Scraps of My Geek Life and @scrappinmichele
Lori from MissLori.tv and @misslori
Niri from Mommy Niri and @mommyniri
Rachael From Todays Mama and @todaysmama
Rachel from Mamarucci and @rachelferrucci
Sugar from SugarJones.tv and @sugarjones
Tanya from Mommy Goggles and @mommygoggles

http://momspark.net/a-day-made-better-contest-nominate-a-teacher/

Giveaway—Crayola Model Magic Gift Pack ($200 Retail Value)

Jyl Johnson Pattee — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:01:38 +0000

Creativity is a powerful element in our lives. It helps us have fun and makes life more enjoyable. But, it also helps us build and strengthen relationships, problem solve, and create unique solutions to all sorts of scenarios. Crayola knows how important creativity is and this week, is providing a gift pack giveaway to help enhance that (see product details below).

Prize

Coupon

Everyone’s a winner. Enjoy a discount toward Crayola products by downloading a Crayola coupon here (good through August 31).

Grand Prize

One grand-prize winner will receive the following products in a Crayola Model Magic gift pack for endless hours of hands on, build-your-own fun ($200 retail value)! (See entry requirements below.)

Model Magic Fusion
Model Magic Fusion (Cinderella’s Castle Kit)
Color-Fillz (SpongeBob Square Pants)
Color-Fillz (Disney Fairies)
Color-Fillz (Disney/Pixar Cars)
Model Magic (4 oz.) in the following colors: Black, Green, Red, Yellow, and Shocking Pink
Model Magic (1.5 oz.) in the following colors: Black (2), White (2), Radical Red (2), Laser Lemon (2), Brown (2), Blue, Purple and Yellow Green.
Color Wonder Glitter Paint Set (Disney Fairies)
Color Wonder Watercolor Paint Set
Create a Plate Kit
Crayon Town Kit
3-D Sidewalk Chalk
Color Switchers
10 ct. Classic Markers (broad line)
True to Life Markers
True to Life Colored Pencils
Heads ‘n Tails Colored Pencils
12 ct. Classic Colored Pencils
Twistables Colored Pencils
Window Mega Markers
Window Crayons
Poster Crayons
24 and 64 Ct. Classic Crayons
Twistables Slick Stix
16 ct. Pip-Squeaks Mix ‘Ems Markers
Pip-Squeaks Washable Glitter Glue
Pip-Squeaks Colored Pencils
Pip-Squeaks Washable Markers
2 Crayola sticker sheets
Embroidered Crayola apron

Entry Requirements

To enter for a chance to win, you are required to do four things (make sure you leave a separate comment for each of your entries).

Note: Entries that do not follow all of these requirements will not be considered.

Leave a comment on this post, including your e-mail address.
Join the new Crayola Facebook Page AND leave a comment on the wall, sharing your favorite Crayola memory.
Follow Crayola on Twitter.
Post these messages on Facebook and on Twitter and leave comments here, linking to your messages:

Join #gno Tues from 9-11 ET for a chat about creative connections w/#Crayola. RSVP: http://bit.ly/whba3 PLS RT

Enter for a chance to win @Crayola’s Model Magic giveaway. More than 30 #crayola products! @ http://bit.ly/17LkxP PLS RT

Extra Entries

You can earn up to five extra entries for this week’s giveaway. Leave an additional comment for each.

Subscribe to the Crayola site at http://crayola.com.
Post something you learned during #gno this week on the Crayola Facebook Page wall.
Post a picture of an arts & crafts project using Crayola products on the Mom It Forward Flickr group. (Note: This picture may show up on the Mom It Forward homepage.)
Join the Mom It Forward Friend Connect (in the righthand sidebar).
Join the Mom It Forward Facebook Page.

The Fine Print

No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Crayola and Mom It Forward employees are ineligible to participate. All entries received after Sunday, August 16 at midnight PDT will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered.