This new after-school program uses the 63-year-old game of Scrabble to help students with not only spelling and vocabulary skills, but also problem-solving and social skills as well. By purchasing 100 game boards, dictionaries and timers for this school, this program will allow students prepare for competitions and join the over one million students who have participated in the National School Scrabble program.
Grants - all (all)
Blue Jay Wordlers
Jan Hodgson, Bentwood Elementary School, $1,000
Sensory Behaviors, & Data, Oh My!
Laurie Diaz, Rolling Ridge Elementary School, $2,000
Meeting the classroom needs of students who are not accustomed to structure or have sensory and behavior issues can be challenging. Students will now have tools to help them address their “extra” energy in a positive way. Items to help promote a sense of calm, provide small bodies with ways to help focus, or constructive items to help with sensory stimulation will give classroom teachers various interventions to meet individual needs.
Read 9 and Read 10
Keri Zimmerman, Olathe South High School, $1,145
Shakespeare Made Easy books will help students at a lower-reading level understand as they read side-by-side with the more traditional text of Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, and others. Newspaper subscriptions will help students with non-fiction text and learn to be life-long readers, transferring classroom skills to everyday life.
Celebrating Success
Steve Massey, Oregon Trail Middle School, $2,030
Fun tools like ping pong tables, Wii games, and karaoke machines will provide reward incentives for students who meet academic, behavioral and attendance goals. The activity opportunity will also help students with much-needed social skills and give them an opportunity to enjoy activities that their more affluent peers take for granted at home.
Dynamite Digitz
Katie Horner, Rolling Ridge Elementary School, $2,460
Almost 400 students in grades 3-5 will be impacted by this digital multiplication device. Students will not only be motivated but will be excited about learning and practicing their multiplication facts. Teachers will have a tool for students to use not only during lesson time but also while waiting for transitions between activities or other “down” time.
Accountivities
Britni Jarvis, Olathe South High School, $870
Accounting board games and simulation add variety to this typically very traditionally structured classroom bringing accounting principles to life helping students understand what accountants do on a daily basis.
Cover to Cover
Sherri Houfek, Countryside Elementary School, $960
During Title I reading instruction for grades 3-5, the majority of text is photocopied articles or other short text which is not age appropriate. Classroom books for this grade level are often too long for those who struggle at lower reading levels. This grant will purchase age-appropriate science and social studies content information at their lower reading level. They will also experience success reading real books that are age appropriate from cover to cover, without giving up due to frustration.
S.T.E.M. F.I.R.S.T. Robotics
Dr. Gwen Poss and ONW Students, Olathe Northwest High School, $3,400
Equipment such as Lego League starter kits will provide the high school robotics team with what they need to promote math, science and technology to the elementary age in a fun way. Students in the program teach what they've learned and inspire younger students to explore science and math through robotics.
Parents as Partners
Dr. Mark Heck, Forest View Elementary School, $3,000
Stephen Covey leadership materials will be purchased and added to the school library after being introduced at several all-school parent meetings promoting 7 Habits leadership skills to parents as well as students, incorporating the Parents as Partners theme.
Figuring Family Fun
Anna Sambitan, Fairview Elementary, $3,000
Parents without resources are asking for ways to help their students at home. Math board and electronic games will go home with students to practice with their families and will include instructions translated, where applicable, into their family's first language.