Winnetka Public Schools Foundation

These “blocks” were developed by a famous German educator who coined the term Kindergarten or “garden of children” and were first brought into the District through a Foundation grant in 2004. Froebel Gifts are special blocks that offer opportunities for children to engage in problem-solving and mathematical thinking in a spatial way. They are also used to enhance language development, language arts, math, science and more. Funds have enabled the District to purchase blocks and provide professional in-service to teachers, classroom in-service experiences and a Froebel Block night for parents. As one Hubbard Woods teacher explained, “Froebel Blocks have literally changed the way we teach” and children District-wide have benefited from the enriching experience they provide.

The KW Department at Skokie School purchased 24 BOSU Balance Trainers and integrated them into their curriculum with great results. 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 also encourages joint stability for reduction of injuries. The BOSU trainer provides limitless opportunities for challenging athletes and students at every level.

Marcy Cook Math Cards were first purchased through a Teacher Initiative Grant to enrich the math curriculum at Hubbard Woods School. Building on the program’s success, the cards soon were integrated into the math curriculum at all five schools. Ms. Cook, a nationally recognized mathematics specialist, designed the cards to cover a variety of strands with an emphasis on operations, place value, measurement and number sense. The cards also help increase a student’s ability to think flexibly about numbers and provide teachers with a tool for differentiation. Students benefit from the common experience in math; the cards also provide common ground for teacher articulation. In addition, several staff members attended a Marcy Cook conference.

A teacher initiative grant was awarded in 1999 to first grade teachers across the district to enrich the first grade Social Studies Farm Unit. To this day, every student District-wide delights in the First Grade Farm Unit, which literally brings the farm to life. Numerous sets of farm animals and machinery have been purchased, providing a hands-on experience. The unit culminates with a visit to a real-life working farm where children see the animals and machinery and also capture an understanding of the business of farming and its impact on our daily lives.

Second Grade is the year in which every child in the District needs to master a set of fundamental addition and subtraction math facts. Math Games allow students an opportunity to practice these facts in order to aid in the acquisition of computational fluency (automaticity and accuracy). The Foundation has funded the purchase and organization of games to make the task easier for students and teachers alike. Specifically, funds were used for teachers to research, collect and create binders and kits of games for every teacher across the district to use with his /her students. Many games were designed, developed or incorporated into the curriculum by a longtime District teacher, Lola May, whose work remains invaluable today.

Part of the Third Grade math curriculum focuses on multiplication math facts. A Foundation grant enabled teachers to create a new, comprehensive collection of math games for third grade students to aid in the acquisition of computational fluency (automaticity and accuracy). Games were collected from multiple sources including the work of renowned District 36 teacher Lola May. All of the games selected align with the District’s math curriculum guide. The collection was shared with teachers at all elementary buildings.

A Fourth Grade unit on Mayan civilizations was enriched as teachers use funding from the Foundation to purchase artifacts, resources and materials to further engage students in this fascinating study.

Having learned about Martin Luther King and Civil Rights in first grade, the Fourth Grades then tackle the amazing Underground Railroad operation, following in the footsteps of slaves who were hidden along the way by people who risked their lives for the slaves’ freedom. Films, books, plays, quilts and other memorabilia underwritten by the Foundation have helped bring this chapter in our nation’s history to life for students.

First started as a simple grant for a Wellness Booth, Skokie Wellness Day has become integral to the KW curriculum. Later, Wellness Day provided a vast amount of information on health and wellness to Skokie students in an interactive, fun and memorable manner. The content of the Wellness Day has now been integrated into units within the daily KW curriculum.

Started with a grant from the Foundation, Create a Museum has met with such popularity and success that it has become an exploratory class offering for Sixth Graders. The twelve-week daily class allows students to pursue issues of personal importance and addresses research skills, oral, visual, and computer skills as well as important inter/intrapersonal skills. This authentic inquiry experience culminates with the communication of their findings through an interactive museum experience.

Book Clubs came to Skokie in 2002 through a grant written by the Skokie School Resource Center Director. Indeed, book clubs still exist at Skokie today. Most noteworthy, students participate in the Caudill Book Club, which affords them the opportunity to read books on the Caudill list. The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book is an Illinois Book Award developed to encourage children and young adults to read for personal satisfaction. After participating in club, students can vote in the state election. This club has seen remarkable participation and excitement over the years.

What began as a Foundation teacher initiative grant has become part of the core curriculum for Fifth graders, as students focus on learning the skills and strategies necessary to read, comprehend and apply what they learn in non-fiction reading material. Initial funds were used to purchase non-fiction reading material (age appropriate magazine subscriptions and short books) for all classrooms.

In response to demonstrated interest of parents and students and in line with their own professional interests, the drama teachers at Skokie and Washburne created a three-month, tuition-free pilot program for a 5th-8th grade Drama Club. This extracurricular club provides a variety of fun theater activities, including playing theater games and creating performing scenes. Initial funds were used to compensate teachers for writing the curriculum and for materials for the culminating production. The Drama Club continues to attract students and provide an important outlet for expression to this day.

Funds provided by the Foundation were used to purchase duplication equipment so teachers could provide beginning band students CDs to use to practice at home. This grant also allows rehearsals and concerts to be recorded and shared with the students for analyzing skills as well as tracking growth.

Every 7th Grade student – rain or shine – participates in the Civil War Reenactment, a culmination of the major study of our nation’s unforgettable war. The Reenactment was made possible through a Foundation grant in 1996; the program has become fully integrated into the core curriculum today.

The 7th Grade science curriculum covers anatomy and physiology. During the year, students dissect frogs, squid and cow eyes. These experiences are supported and supplemented with computer software provided by a Foundation grant. Continued access to this website allows for high quality reinforcement and review. It also provides a “virtual experience” for students needing extra help or for those struggling with the dissection process.

The fast and furious growth of technology bullying has presented challenges for parents, teachers and social workers alike. Through this grant, social workers are working collaboratively with technology specialists, administrators and community specialists to develop a series of educational opportunities related to technology and safety. Aspects of the program include sharing of new laws, demonstrating the responsible uses of technology, and illustrating its dangers and abuses. Educating faculty through professional development opportunities, speakers and written materials and programming for parents also is covered in this grant.