Winnetka Public Schools Foundation
Teacher Initiative Grants Awarded Spring 2006
Crow Island
Problem of the Day (POD) Booklets for 3rd and 4th Graders- Betsy Steele
Mrs. Steele will create 2 booklets per grade level each containing approximately 80 math problems to be used by teachers in classrooms. The problems will follow the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ standards and will be aligned to our district curriculum. The booklets will be shared with 3rd and 4th grade teachers throughout the district.
Crow Island Math Club- Grade 4- Betsy Steele
Mrs. Steele would like to create a curriculum and facilitate a math club at Crow Island School for 4th graders during lunchtime. The weekly lessons would be designed to reinforce and enrich concepts currently covered in the 4th grade curriculum and would be open to all students. The club would be similar to the existing 3rd grade math club.
Supporting Teachers to Integrate Drama into 4th Grade Studies-Fourth Grade Team
Building on past experiences, the 4th grade teachers at Crow Island will participate in a summer workshop with a drama specialist and learn how to integrate drama experiences throughout the curriculum. The teachers will write curriculum that supports this goal and build a small reference library of drama resources for teachers.
Traveling Insectorium, Part II (with HW) – Jean Bierner
Second graders study the life cycles of plants and animals. They investigate insect characteristics and life cycles in general. The insectorium purchased last year with Teacher Initiative Grant Funds has offered an ideal way for students to observe and explore the world of insects. Careful observations are easy because the insects are encased in clear acrylic or in museum quality display mounts. The second part of this grant provides funds to enlarge the collection and provide a more professional storage solution to keep the specimens safe.
Hubbard Woods
Traveling Insectorium, Part II (with CI) – Jean Bierner
Second graders study the life cycles of plants and animals. They investigate insect characteristics and life cycles in general. The insectorium purchased last year with Teacher Initiative Grant Funds has offered an ideal way for students to observe and explore the world of insects. Careful observations are easy because the insects are encased in clear acrylic or in museum quality display mounts. The second part of this grant provides funds to enlarge the collection and provide a more professional storage solution to keep the specimens safe.
Classroom Libraries That Work: Creating a More Productive Reading Environment- Jay Dillon and Elizabeth Seiffer
Research shows that children make more prominent reading gains when they are reading material that is matched to their reading levels. In addition, varied levels of texts help teachers differentiate instruction within a classroom. Mr. Dillon and Mrs. Seiffer plan to use the work of Fountas and Pinnell to create such libraries in their classrooms. In addition, they plan to share their experience and observations gained from the process with teachers throughout the district.
Greeley
The Greeley School Froebel Block Project- Stacey Wellman
Froebel Blocks are special blocks that offer opportunities for children to engage in problem solving and mathematical thinking in a spatial way. Funds will be used to purchase blocks and provide professional in-service to teachers, classroom in-service experiences and a Froebel Block night for parents. Curriculum will be written and shared across the district and blocks will be purchased for Crow Island and Hubbard Woods to enrich and extend learning in all three elementary schools.
Becoming a True Word Scientist, Year 2- Ginny Hiltz
Word Science is the study and understanding of how words are formed. Reading and writing focus on creativity and comprehension. The goal of this project is to bridge the two and support the writing development of students. Teachers have created a targeted scope of writing fundamentals based in current research. Last year, teachers created lessons to integrate the proper use of grammar into creative environments, such as writer’s workshops in order to create well-rounded writers. After a year of teaching, the second grade team and the special education team have identified areas in need of revision and enhancement. Funds will be provided for Ms. Hiltz to adapt the curriculum to meet the identified needs.
Skokie
Art + Writing = Creative Book Making- Lea Lazarus
Mrs. Lazarus will work with Mrs. Gundlach to accomplish the following goals with all 6th grade art students: to integrate the fine arts of writing and 2-dimensional art, to use one theme to create a body of work that includes many different art forms, to teach children to problem solve in a creative and structural way, and to inspire students to do their best and create a sense of pride in a body of work. After studying various authors, poets and artists, students will create a handmade book and will share it at a presentation at the end of each quarter.
BOSU Balance Trainers- Skokie School Kinetic Wellness Department
The KW Department at Skokie School will purchase 24 BOSU Balance Trainers and integrate them into their curriculum in various ways. Some examples include using them as a stand-alone teaching station, as strength stations in the fitness room or as part of a circuit. The BOSU allows students to engage in strength, cardio-vascular, and plyometric workouts without impact. It encourages joint stability for reduction of injuries. The BOSU trainer provides limitless opportunity for challenging athletes and students of every level.
Reflecting and Writing Through Picture Books- Sharon Gernady
Ms. Gernady plans to purchase 50 picture books to enhance the Language Arts curriculum for 5th grade students. The goal of the project is to provide students with a venue for extended classroom discussion and writing during Language Arts time through use of picture books. Active reading strategies such as inferences, connections, and predictions are a major part of the 5th grade curriculum. Carrying these strategies into oral and written pieces can be challenging for many students. However, when reflecting on a story shared through a picture book, students are more apt to write a lengthier response, which in turn generates an increase of in-depth classroom discussions. The picture books would be available to all classroom teachers and support staff for use with all students.
Skokie/Washburne Drama Club Pilot Program- Susan Antman, Kirsty Collins, Amy Markos
In response to demonstrated interest of parents and students and in line with their own professional interests, the drama teachers at Skokie and Washburne will create a 3-month, tuition-free pilot program for a 5th-8th grade Drama Club. The funds will be used to compensate teachers for writing and delivering the curriculum, as well as to provide materials for the culminating production event. It is their hope that the pilot program will “set the stage” and give them important data needed to organize a popular tuition-based program in the years to follow.
Washburne
Skokie/Washburne Drama Club Pilot Program- Susan Antman, Kirsty Collins, Amy Markos
In response to demonstrated interest of parents and students and in line with their own professional interests, the drama teachers at Skokie and Washburne will create a 3-month, tuition-free pilot program for a 5th-8th grade Drama Club. The funds will be used to compensate teachers for writing and delivering the curriculum, as well as to provide materials for the culminating production event. It is their hope that the pilot program will “set the stage” and give them important data needed to organize a popular tuition-based program in the years to follow.
Renew Froguts.Com Subscription- Linda Bachta
The seventh grade science curriculum covers anatomy and physiology. During the year, students dissect frogs, squid and cow eyes. These experiences can be supported and supplemented with computer software. Continued access to this website will allow for high quality reinforcement and review.
Teaching Middle School Students About Electronic Circuits- Tim Hall
Mr. Hall would like his 7th and 8th grade industrial arts students to be able to successfully put together a variety of simple electronic parts to create a circuit that will perform a specific task. Students will be able to identify the various parts that make up the circuit and be able to explain what each part does. Funds will be used to purchase Electronic Educational Kits and related materials.
Visual Learning Enhances the English Curriculum- The Washburne English Department
As students develop their skills throughout the writing process, it is very helpful for them to see examples of effective introductions, smooth transition from topic to topic, successful use of quotations, and interesting sentence variation. Funds from this grant will be used to purchase a portable and lightweight document camera and projector for each English classroom thereby benefiting all the students at Washburne. This equipment will allow teachers to share student work with the entire class.
New Interactive Washburne Website- Lynne Versen
Ms. Versen plans to rebuild the Washburne website enabling it to be used by students teachers and parents as a tool for both information about the school and the curriculum. The new website will also be a common portal to navigate the Internet with links to valuable educational resources. Funds will be used to compensate Ms. Versen for her time and to purchase materials that will make the creation of the website possible.
Author Visit- James Howe- Julie Halpern-Cordell
James Howe has written several children’s books that realistically and humorously deal with life in middle school. The Misfits and Totally Joe focus on bullying, self-identity and friendship. Students will read The Misfits before Howe’s visit and will be invited to write letters to him about their own experiences with bullying. The day of the visit, Howe will meet with the whole school in 2 morning sessions and then will meet with two groups of students who wrote to him during afternoon sessions, as well as a lunch session with teachers.
Bored? Play Board Games- Julie Halpern-Cordell
Funds from this grant will be used to acquire a new selection of board games to keep in the Resource Center throughout the school year. Ms. Halpern- Codell feels that if students enjoy being in the RC for social activities, they will come back when they are in need of academic assistance or when they need a book suggestion. Board games also provide a wonderful venue for socializing, fun and an avenue to practice math, logic, spelling, and other skills.
Audio Books for Grown Ups- Julie Halpern Cordell
Ms. Halpern-Cordell will purchase a collection of audiobooks for teachers. The collection will contain books that deal with the curriculum, as well as those that teachers would like to discuss with their students. Teachers will help in the selection of titles that are of interest and are tied to the curriculum. Books will be available to all teachers.
Funding for Equipment and Technological Support Materials for Fitness Assessments and Student Portfolios- Washburne Kinetic Wellness Department
The KW department at Washburne will purchase equipment and software that will enable them to better record and share student’s state of health and fitness. Changes in methodology of collecting and communicating fitness data will enhance the hands-on experience of the KW curriculum and will benefit every student at Washburne. All students will have access to the tools and progress reports will be readily available to all parents.
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