This grant connects students to literature on a personal level by involving them in a study group focused on a social issue. The novels are read and discussed and each focus group then prepares a public awareness campaign on the social issue including brochures, commercials, and posters. The group then shares their campaign with the school population as well as parents and administrators at an evening presentation.
Grants - 2009-2010 (fall)
Teen Issues: Getting Help
Heather Rice, California Trail Junior High School, $831
Climate of Literacy
Leigh Anne Rogers, Forest View Elementary School, $856
Teachers learn and share this innovative program which encompasses goal setting by students in the areas of comprehension, accuracy, fluency and expanded vocabulary with their students and colleagues. Students are surrounded by tools, visual aids, a reading rug and personal cassette players which promote a climate of literacy in the classroom. They regularly participate in individual conferences with their teachers about their progress.
Graphic Novels
Tina Sollars, CHOICES Specialty School, $1,000
Teaching classic literature to reluctant high school readers is the goal of this program. Graphic novels use pictures to capture the interest of these below-grade level high school students and help them to understand the story line without being overwhelmed with large amounts of difficult text. Used in conjunction with the traditional text literature, these students are able to visualize the text they are reading, get excited about what they are reading instead of dreading the formidable task that grade-level reading presents to this population.
AnatoME AcadaME!
Deena Shipley, Olathe North High School, $2,500
Eight human body investigation stations will be designed for daily usage by Anatomy and Physiology students as well as visiting elementary students. Those who visit will experience hands-on activities such as suturing and be able to participate in a life-size Operation game.
La Biblioteca
Annie Winkler, Olathe Northwest High School, $500, Carmen Smull, Olathe East High School, $500
Olathe East and Northwest international language departments created a library of authentic Spanish books, magazines, music and movies. All students will use these up-to-date materials to increase their reading and listening comprehension with popular, classic and current materials from Spanish culture.
Sensory Integration
Melissa Thomas & Shelle Ellis, Walnut Grove Elementary School, $1,000
Dizzy disks, rolling pins, ball tunnels, cuddle loops and wiggle seats are sensory input tools which are important to the overall behavioral, social, motor, and cognitive development of these early childhood disability students. Special Education teachers and occupational therapists will work together to incorporate kinesthetic learning into the everyday environment, increasing the ability to attend to task, learn new information and control behaviors.