Classroom Rewards of $400 for 9th-12th grade teachers in California who complete a lesson about Journaling and Mental Health Support for Teens’ Well-Being or Healthy Digital Habits How does it work?

Updated March 4th at 1:17pm ET: We fixed an error that incorrectly gave some teachers an error message. This should be resolved so please try again! 

Starting March 3rd, 2025, while funds last, teach your class about Journaling and Mental Health Support for Teens’ Well-Being or Healthy Digital Habits, then provide feedback in a survey, and you’ll receive a $400 DonorsChoose gift code.

To be eligible for the Journaling and Mental Health Support for Teens’ Well-Being award, you need to:

1. Teach 9th, 10th, 11th, and/or 12th grade in California.
2. Use this 20-minute lesson plan. Students must complete the following activities:
   • Conduct a pre-lesson poll. Students will answer questions to assess their current knowledge of mental health resources and support services.
   • Show videos about journaling and mental health resources to your class. Students will watch two engaging videos that explain mental health support services and demonstrate how journaling can improve emotional wellbeing.
     1. Your Mental Health Toolkit Video
     2. About Mirror Journaling App
   • Lead a journaling exercise with this student worksheet in class. Guide students through reflective writing prompts designed to explore emotions and develop self-awareness skills.
   • Conduct a post-lesson poll.  Students will complete a brief survey to show what they've learned about mental health resources and journaling techniques.
3. Tell us how it went by completing a feedback form. Your responses will be shared with the Child Mind Institute.

Fill out the Classroom Rewards form

To be eligible for the Healthy Digital Habits award, you need to:

1. Teach 9th, 10th, 11th, and/or 12th grade in California.
2. Deliver the following lesson to your class using our provided materials:
   • Conduct pre and post-lesson polls
     1. Class polls 
   • Show two educational videos 
     1. Link video 1
     2. Link video 2
   • Guided discussions and activities
3. Use the Teacher Toolkit to make it easy. The lesson comes with:
   • A lesson plan 
   • Student worksheets, including an individualized digital blueprint, word/phrase bank, and FAQ. 
   • Prompts for group or pair discussions
4. Tell us how it went by completing the feedback form. Your responses will be shared with the Child Mind Institute.

Fill out the Classroom Rewards form

We will review your submitted form(s) within three weeks. If your response is approved, we will email your $400 DonorsChoose gift code(s).

*Teachers will only be able to earn and redeem 1 gift code from each activity. 

Please note, once you have submitted, our team is unable to make any direct changes or edits to your form. 

Per our Terms of Use, teachers are expected to submit Classroom Reward responses representative of their own classroom. A violation of this expectation is subject to action and review by DonorsChoose and may result in terminating your use of the site.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Can I complete both activities? 

Yes! As long as you meet the eligibility criteria, you may complete the activities for both Journaling and Mental Health Support for Teens’ Well-Being and Healthy Digital Habits and submit feedback forms. 

Q. If I do both activities, will I receive two gift codes? 

While funds last, yes! There are different sources of funding to provide the gift codes for each activity, so if funding runs out for one activity, then no additional gift codes will be distributed. A teacher can’t receive more than 2 gift codes.