SERF Grants Spring 2005
A Summary of Recent Grants Awarded
SERF awarded over $38,800 in enrichment and mini grants during its Spring 2005 grant cycle. Enrichment grants are over $750, and mini grants are less than $750.
Enrichment Grants – Spring 2005
Development of Cognitive Skills for Improved Literacy – Loring
Through this grant, two workstations at one elementary school will be equipped for a one-year period with software developed specifically to assist students who have difficulty reading. The patented software will provide students with a series of neuro-based exercises designed to build the cognitive skills required to both learn to read and become better readers. (R. Milley, D. Dixson, K. Donald, R. Eckel)
Search Tools for Identifying Educational Funding Opportunities – District-wide
Funds from this grant will be used to purchase two-year subscriptions to the “BigOnline” website and the “Foundation Search” online database. Through these resources, the Sudbury K-8 school district office, as well as individual schools, will have searchable access to information about educational funding resources, allowing educators to learn about and secure outside grant monies for the school system. (R. Milley, D. Criswell, J. Cooke, J. Binus)
Electric Piano for ECMS Music Classroom – ECMS
The music department at ECMS will use this grant to purchase an electric piano for the music classroom. Unlike the department’s current piano, which is in disrepair, requires frequent tuning, and is large and difficult to move, the electric piano will require no seasonal maintenance and will be smaller and easier to use for music instruction. (R. Hartt)
Comprehensive Consistent Spelling Program – Nixon
This grant will fund the creation of a multi-component spelling program for second and third graders at one elementary school. Through the use of tiered spelling lists and defined spelling activities, the program will provide consistent instruction of district-wide essential word lists and frequently used words. Results will be comprehensively and periodically assessed to check for word retention and areas requiring additional practice. Program materials will be shared with literacy specialists at the other elementary schools. (K Zito, R. Hill, A. Stow, M. Morabito, L. Jones, J. Hutchinson)
Discovery Channel/UnitedStreaming’s Video-On-Demand Service – District-wide
Through this grant, the Sudbury K-8 school district will purchase a three-year subscription to Discovery Channel/UnitedStreaming’s Video-On-Demand Service for use by teachers. The service will provide downloadable access to over 4,000 full-length videos and over 40,000 video clips, as well as teacher’s guides, lesson plans, and unit plans, on a wide variety of topics and subject matter. Teachers will be trained on the use of this resource and on incorporating video technology into teaching and learning. (D. Criswell)
Primary Source Partnership – District-wide and LSRHS
Funds from this grant will allow the Sudbury K-8 school district and LSRHS to become partner-level members of Primary Source, a local professional development organization that promotes history and humanities education by connecting educators to people and cultures throughout the world. Primary Source offers summer institutes, seminars, conferences, field study tours, library access, and in-district programs to educators and supports them in the development of lessons and curriculum materials for classroom use. In conjunction with the Sudbury K-8 schools and LSRHS, the Lincoln Public Schools will be contributing funds to participate in the Primary Source partnership. (J. Hundley, P. James)
Units of Study for Writing in First and Second Grades – Nixon
This grant will be used to purchase the resource, “Units of Study for Primary Writing: A Year Long Curriculum,” for all first and second grade classrooms at one elementary school. This resource will guide teaching practices for grade-level writing workshops, assist teachers in the assessment of student writing, enable teachers to focus on specific writing crafts, and expose students to various writing genres. (J. Hutchinson, K. Zito, D. Warner, S. Choquette, A. Manuel, A. Parker)
Using a Multimedia Projector to Promote Math Instruction – ECMS
This grant will fund the purchase of a multi-media projector with a built-in document camera for use by one team at ECMS. This technology will allow students to efficiently and effectively demonstrate their thinking to classmates as they present solutions to math problems. In addition, the projector will be used to present full-screen images of documents and pages in all subject areas. (E. Good)
Underwater Photography – LSRHS
Educators at LSRHS will use this grant to purchase an underwater camera system to enhance several science-related activities. The L-S Ocean Bowl Science Team will use the camera as a training resource. Students traveling on school-sponsored science field trips, such as the trip to a Belize coral reef, will use the camera to photograph unique underwater species. Science teachers will use the camera to enhance such courses as Aquatic Biology. (R. Alwan, D. Grant, B. Bernasconi)
Mini Grants – Spring 2005
Naturalist from Mass Audubon Outreach Program – ECMS
This grant will allow one team at ECMS to bring in a naturalist from Mass Audubon to make a presentation using live organisms, providing students with an engaging, hands-on science experience. (S. Greenaway)
Review of Singapore Math Materials – District-wide
This grant funds the purchase of “Singapore Math” materials as part of the Sudbury K-8 school system review of the mathematics curriculum and instruction methods. The materials will be examined and compared to current and alternative resources and methods. (J. Cooke)
Using Mentor Texts to Improve Comprehension Instruction – Nixon
Using this grant, one elementary school will purchase the resource, “Making Meaning: Strategies That Build Comprehension and Community,” for all third grade classrooms. The materials will help improve instruction of specific reading comprehension strategies using mentor texts. The effectiveness of the lessons will be assessed throughout the year in meetings between teachers and the literacy specialist. (C. Kuo, A. Stow, M. Morabito, L. Jones, K. Zito)
Kindergarten Library Curriculum – Loring
This grant will enable the kindergarten assistants at one elementary school to revise and develop new curriculum, lessons, and materials for weekly kindergarten library sessions. (S. Hussain, L. Nee, G. Keene, J. Hammonds)
Sudbury Public Schools Math Curriculum Website – District-wide
This grant will fund the research for and initial design of a website describing the Sudbury K-8 mathematics curriculum. The website will provide parents with information about the math curriculum at all grade levels and will provide strategies and suggestions for helping students with math homework. (L. Migliozzi, S. Richman)
Teaching the Big Ideas Using Big Books – Haynes
Through this grant, a collection of big books will be purchased for the first grade classrooms at one elementary school. The books will facilitate the teaching of essential decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills during the shared reading component of reading workshop. (K. Swain, J. Baumer, M. Papetti, B. Stone)
Explore Learning – ECMS
This grant will fund a one-year subscription to a web-based math and science “catalog” of interactive lessons for use by one team at ECMS. The subscription will serve as a pilot, providing the data and experience necessary to determine if this resource should be made available to all math and science staff at ECMS. (E. Good)
Advanced Placement Teacher Training in Economics – LSRHS
This grant will allow one high school teacher to attend an Advanced Placement training seminar at a local college. Using the training, the teacher will then expand the current LSRHS economics class to include an out-of-class seminar that will prepare students for the AP Economics exam. (L. Olsson)
Winter Grant Application Deadline January 23, 2006
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