|
The Redding Education Foundation is pleased to award five
grants to teachers at Redding Public Schools in the 2004-2005 Grants for the
Enhancement of Educational Practice program which will fund projects to be
carried out during the 2005-2006 school year. Click here for information on how to
apply for a grant under this program.
Interactive Classroom through Distance
Learning
Judith Garamella and
Jennifer Desmarais, Joel Barlow High School
This grant funds a subscription to "The Columbia American History On-Line (CAHO)
Project" which will provide a variety of resources for the high school
history teacher. This aligns with a New England Association of Schools and
Colleges recommendation, coming out of the recent accreditation process,
that JBHS increase the diversity of teaching strategies within the building. It
is hoped that the CAHO program will help foster a more student-centered learning
environment and will facilitate differentiation in the classroom.
SMART Boards
Lisa Welp and Elise
Glynn, Redding Elementary School
The goal of this
grant is to use SMART Board technology to adapt instruction to students' various
learning styles and comes out of an exploration of student learning styles
recently undertaken by Mrs. Welp. (See
http://www.smarttech.com/education/impact.asp for a
description of this technology's impact on learning). The grant funds the
purchase of SMART Boards and related equipment in both Mrs. Welp's classroom and
the Computer Lab. The project includes a professional development component,
through which all RES teachers will be trained in the use and application of
this technology. The SMART Board in the Computer Lab will be available for use
by all RES staff throughout the school year.
USA Playground Map for the Children of RES
Karen Feld, Redding
Elementary School
The purpose of this
grant is to provide a venue for interactive learning related to the USA map by
painting a map of the United States on the asphalt portion of the student
playground. Mrs. Feld hopes to paint the map while school is in session so that
students can feel a part of the process right from the start. She is compiling a
list of lessons that will utilize the map and will align with elementary school
curriculum. She will share those lessons with RES classroom teachers though a
professional development component.
Smart Boards
Judy Boyle, Rebecca
Richards and Francine Lamonica, Redding Elementary School
The goal of this
grant is to utilize SMART Board technology in various settings, including small-
and large-group teacher presentations and student presentations, to engage
students in active learning and support different learning styles. The project
calls for the use of the technology across various disciplines, envisioning
applications in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Geography and
multi-disciplinary lessons. The grant applicants expect to see an increase in
participation, on-task behavior and students demonstrating higher order thinking
skills.
Art History Elective Course
Randall Smith, Joel Barlow High School
This grant, awarded to encourage the development of new elective
courses at Joel Barlow High School, funded the purchase of a projector for use
in the newly created elective Art History course. In the teaching of art
history the presentation of images in as dramatic a manner as possible is
essential to the promotion of an immersion of the student in the subject. Mere
words are not an adequate conveyance of knowledge and understanding of the
subject and its times. The image of the work of art and the visual metaphor must
be present for interactive discussion and debate. A high quality projector
constantly available makes this expansion of the course exposition realizable.
Eight grants were awarded to teachers at Redding Public
Schools in the 2003-2004 Grants for the Enhancement of Educational Practice
program which funded projects carried out during the 2004-2005 school year.
Project results will be posted soon.
Project Summaries:
Film Study to Explore Conflict Resolution
Joanie Cone, Redding Elementary
School
The purpose of this grant is to encourage students
in the upper elementary grades to recognize and approach conflicts from a number
of perspectives via short films and discussion. This project targets both
Special Education and typical children and encourages participants to explore
alternative ways to resolve conflict.
An Inter-district Exploration of Children's Literature
Jonathan S. Budd, Joel
Barlow High School
The purpose of this grant is to allow Children's
Literature students to further their language arts skills and their content
knowledge by engaging in experiential reading and writing activities with urban
elementary school students at a variety of grade levels. This program benefits
approximately 120 JBHS junior and senior students as well as the elementary
school students with whom they interact.
Roots and Shoots
Nancy Webber, Laura Beattie and
Mary Autouri, John Read Middle School
This grant will help defray the costs of
establishing a new club which is based on the Jane Goodall Institute's
environmental and humanitarian program for youth. The mission is to foster
respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all
cultures and beliefs and to inspire each individual to take action to make the
world a better place for animals, the environment and the human community.
Child Centered Water Garden
Carrie Wessman, Redding
Elementary School
The purpose of this grant is to teach children
about pond habitats while creating a peaceful place to respect nature.
This project will provide students with an opportunity to learn about real world
mathematics and science using a habitat that is not currently available at the
school. The target beneficiaries include the entire school population,
from Pre-school to Grade 4.
French Interactive Conversation Software
Vance Tiede, John Read Middle
School
The purpose of this grant is to permit students to
practice speaking and listening to French with interactive conversation software
not currently available at JRMS. The grant funds the purchase of 30 CD-ROMs
developed by the publisher of the current textbook.
Moving Beyond the Textbook
Jennifer Desmarais, Joel
Barlow High School
The purpose of this grant is to move away from
traditional textbooks in the classroom and use primary documents and other
secondary sources to enhance student learning. In the long term, the program
initiator hopes not only to improve student learning, but also to reduce the
amount of budgeted funds designated for textbooks.
Redesigning American High Schools
Jennifer Desmarais, Thomas
L. Kilbourn, Scott Reimold, Joel Barlow High School
The purpose of this professional development grant
is to fund JBHS faculty attendance at "Redesigning American High Schools," a
week-long professional development institute at the Harvard Graduate School of
Education.
Project D.R.E.A.M. - Danbury and Redding Educational Adventures in
Multiculturalism
Nancy Bowen, John Read
Middle School
The purpose of this grant is to help subsidize the
costs associated with Project D.R.E.A.M., an experiential, multicultural program
which seeks to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of our diverse
society. Selected Danbury and Redding fifth-graders will be brought together
for two days of Fine and Practical Arts activities, including Project Adventure,
music, art, woodworking and health education. The objective is for students to
exhibit an understanding of and respect for differences, in both physical and
artistic activity settings.
| 
