Education Foundation Grants in Action
Students benefit from projects that emphasize new approaches to teaching and innovative programs that stimulate thought and expand the existing curriculum. Teachers benefit because funding is available to subsidize their creative ideas. Our community benefits by having a top-quality educational system that impacts not only the quality of life but also economic development.
Can We Talk
| School: |
Dulles Elementary |
| Teachers: |
Leslie Norra
Rose Ledesma |
Many recent immigrants have a difficult time when learning a new language. Sometimes they feel too self-conscious or too embarrassed to take risks during communicative exchanges. This can place a road block on their language acquisition.
“Can we talk?” was designed to create a fun, risk-free environment to practice newly acquired vocabulary and language skills. This grant utilizes games and “play-like” activities to lower anxiety levels and increase communicative exchanges. The students are having too much fun to feel self-conscious or embarrassed. Can they talk....Wow! They sure can!
Making Math More Enjoyable with Hands-On Learning
| School: |
Garcia Middle School |
| Teachers: |
Sara Steinkamp
|
VersaTiles will help students in my classroom because they give students control over their own learning. The format of VersaTiles allows students to direct their own learning. Using VersaTiles empowers my students to take risks and feel comfortable answering questions. VersaTiles provide the opportunity for students to self correct without the fear of embarrassment. The middle school student is very self conscious and often is embarrassed to take a risk and answer a question in front of their classmates. Since VersaTiles allow students to correct their own answers, students are able to feel the success that comes along with getting correct answers without the fear of embarrassment in front of their classmates.
Social Studies Alive in 3rd Grade
| School: |
Scanlan Oaks ES |
| Teachers: |
Kurt Pepper
|
The "magic board" is a simple, yet effective technique to help students analyze historical pictures in detail. This technique was pioneered by Social Studies Alive, which was purchased by grant money. The picture is displayed on an overhead transparency. A student holds a white piece of paper or a dry erase board in front of the projection to highlight a certain part of the picture. The other students comment about details in the picture they might not have otherwise noticed.
Lab Experience + Technology = Learning
| School: |
Dulles High School |
| Teachers: |
Anissa Herra
Nancy Malone
|
The "Lab Experience + Technology = Learning" grant provided Vernier "Go-Links" and probes temperature, pH, salinity, and conductivity to allow students to collect data via the computers in the laboratory. This has allowed students to see data in "real-time", connect the graphical analysis to what they are seeing, and manipulate data much easier. This has been a valuable addition to the chemistry laboratory component and it has shown positive results in terms of conceptual understanding.
Writing Camp
| School: |
Cornerstone Elementary School |
| Teachers: |
Erika Tinnin
|
Camp Write-Along is a motivating camp-like experience where students learn/review a variety of writing techniques with the highest level of motivation you’ll ever see. Students sing writing songs, play educational writing games, make crafts that are linked to ELA TEK objectives, and listen to quality picture books around the campfire. Students practice writing and grammar skills in an interactive, fun manner. Hi-Ho! Hi-Ho! It’s Off to Writing Camp We Go! |
