Donate Your Space-Consuming Modern Cards to an Elementary School

npa589 · #1 05-13-2013, 04:32 PM

Depends on the age for girls in the school, typically. 4th and 5th grade girls don't care as much, but K-3 (especially K-2) are ecstatic that they were given a reward. The situations for many of these kids is far below ideal (a completely different topic), so anything that they receive (or anything they earn, which is what I stress) is like a small treasure. A very high percentage of the behavioral challenges, however, are with the boys --- which is what prompted me to bring in cards in the first place. All the kids I "mentor" are boys, and even though I'm the music teacher, I played baseball and basketball extensively through high-school --- so, when able, I'll go out to P.E. and chuck the football around and school them in basketball. The ability to connect with kids that are in need of positive influence via both music and sports is definitely a benefit. I love Brahms, Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart as much as anyone, yet listened to some Eminem as well before basketball games. The cards are an added vehicle of the connection with interest in sports, as they are aware that the cards were mine.

peterose4hof · #2 05-13-2013, 07:17 PM

PM coming your way. I will dig some cards out as soon as I can and send them your way. I have tons of modern base cards (stars included) just laying around.

Excellent question by "cubsfan-budman" I never would have thought to ask what the girls in you class would like. I have some oddball non sports stuff; I will see if some of that might be appealing to them.

brookdodger55 · #3 05-14-2013, 09:03 AM

Email sent
Mike Wrenn

npa589 · #4 05-21-2013, 06:53 PM

Now, my guess is that he won't want me to post this --- but I just want people to be aware of a relatively new member who gave privately.

KCRfan1 sent a great group of cards, including a '52 Topps Card and a signed Andruw Jones card.

I'm a music teacher, and am consequentially rather creative --- so I can hype up just about anything. Remember those 25 cent stars (The blue, green, silver, gold, and red ones)? My first year of teaching, I didn't want to waste anything --- so after using all the stars on a certain sheet, i'd tear up the remaining outlining-stickers and tell the students they were sticker rings, and sticker bracelets. Again, this area is impoverished, so this was gold. They'd wear them proudly for 3 days sometimes. About the cards given by Lou, there are certain kids who have shown marked improvement over this year and past years, and have literally changed their futures, and I will absolutely make sure that these cards are described as though they are gold, and they will know exactly why they have earned these amazing cards over the course of a few years. I won't describe them as gold because of any type of monetary worth, but in what they represent. The kids will know that someone in a completely different state SENT these across the country because they care about their future. I'm sure that it will stay with them just like any certificate of achievement, or 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th place ribbon does as well.

KCRfan1/Lou S.: If I had an emoticon that applauded, it would go here. Thank you sir.

Many more thanks to come. The great thing is that most of you couldn't care less about being publicly thanked --- which in and of itself is awesome, and is why I want to publicly thank you!

Zach Wheat · #5 05-23-2013, 05:01 AM

Wow, interesting idea. Emil sent.

EvilKing00 · #6 05-23-2013, 05:17 AM

nice job KCRfan1!

larrie804 · #7 05-23-2013, 06:13 AM

My wife taught elrmrntary school children for 40 years! K-5 teachers have what they call "treasure boxes" for the children when they finish a project, etc. I have been putting my $1.00 and under cards in team bags----25 cards a bag with at least 4 or 5 star cards in each and giving these team bags to the teachers at two schools for the past five years. I am told the cards are among the most popular treasures!

bwbc917 · #8 08-19-2015, 08:07 AM

I'm retired teacher and my wife is still teaching 4th grade. We do a baseball unit in the spring and the girls get as excited as the boys. Even had one girl look up a player with her same last name. She went home with the Giants Chris Heston rookie card.

Great idea for motivation, it's great the kids buy into it. The baseball cards themselves show diversity in geography and race and can be used for math.
Heck, who needs books, let's use baseball cards. Those 1960 Topps and their Heritage counterpart even have some good reading on the back.

npa589 · #9 08-19-2015, 08:36 AM

I'm not sure if I mentioned this in my original post, but I also started utilizing this to stop bullying. Already in my class, students know that it isn't accepted at all, not even the slightest comment. Whenever a student says anything negative or discouraging towards a student or about a student, I will allow the targeted student to choose any card. If the bully says "I don't care", the other student gets another one. If they continue to say anything at all, the student gets a card every time the other student says something about them. Any student that politely stands up for another student will also receive a card. This has probably happened 20-25 times in 3 years, and usually it is the bully only saying "I don't care, give him/her a card." - and they will repeat it multiple times to try and prove that they don't care. Even if they shrug their shoulders, the targeted student gets another card. Every single time this has happened, it always has resulted in the bully completely stopping making fun of the person or even saying that they don't care, and every other student making sure it is known they are on the team of the targeted student. I've also done the same thing for students in other classes or elsewhere on campus who decided not to engage in a fight with another student.

Keep any other ideas you have coming as well, I know there are a lot of teachers and teacher's spouses on here.

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