Innovative Teaching Grant Recipients • Fall 2007

A Lasting Impression; Journey into the Digital Age of Electronic Portfolios - $1,324.17
Melissa Crouch and Cheryl Kelly • Amanda Rochell Elementary School
This project allowed students the ability to create an electronic portfolio of their artwork. Students learned the uses and importance of electronic portfolios and how to create them; as well as methods of selecting the best products to be part of their electronic portfolio. Each selected piece was photographed by the student and uploaded into the electronic portfolio format. The electronic portfolios were stored on a CD-ROM that will be taken with the student to showcase artistic growth and development for a “Lasting Impression”. This experience was not only rewarding for the students, but is proof of accomplishments to carry into the future.

A Renaissance Banquet - $988.76
Susan Boyd • Grace Hartman Elementary School
Fourth and Fifth grade students learned about the history of the Renaissance period and the importance of music and dance during that time. Students learned to play recorder instruments that were used during the Renaissance, including the very smallest, Garklein recorder, and the largest, Bass recorder. Students also learned various dances of the Renaissance period such as the snail, branle, Morris dances, sword dances and the maypole dance. In May, there was a school-wide celebration where students dressed in costume and performed the Renaissance dances and musical selections that they had learned.

Celebrating Cultures - $2,202.95
Cynthia Johnson and Rhonda Salinas • Doris Cullins – Lake Pointe Elementary School
English as a Second Language students developed English language skills by sharing cultures with other students. Students developed listening speaking, reading, and writing skills by completing various projects, such as publishing a book about customs and traditions, using technology to inform others about the culture, and presenting information at the culminating Celebrating Cultures Festival. This project allowed students to develop English skills, to meet affective needs, and to improve self-esteem and self worth.

From Reel to Real - $3,295.00
Brenda Kraft and Liz White • Rockwall High School
The eleventh grade English GT classes wrote, filmed, and edited their own movies that were successfully adapted from a famous American film to reflect today’s societal trends, values, and interpretations of history. The eleventh grade AP English class that is combined with the AP U.S. History class scripted, filmed, and edited documentary films. The documentaries incorporated a societal issue with historical ties with a present-day premise. Another AP English class scripted, filmed, and edited Public Service Announcements. The PSAs covered issues directly related to Rockwall High School and the Rockwall community. During the semester-long projects, the students learned about storyboarding, planning, script writing, filming, shot techniques, video editing, lighting and sound editing.

GPS Goes to School - $3,236.00
Joann Dickerson • Doris Cullins-Lake Pointe Elementary School
Jaci Almon and Ruth Johnson • Ouida Springer Elementary School
What makes each school different? What makes them alike? Does each school place the flag pole in the same spot? Are the classrooms the same size? Where is the rock wall? How far is it to the courthouse? These questions and others can be answered using handheld GPS devices. Third Grade students from Doris Cullins-Lake Pointe Elementary and Ouida Springer Elementary worked together to find answers to these questions. Each class formed explorer teams, selected landmarks in Rockwall County, and set out to discover the worlds that exist in their own backyards. Learning about geographic locations, plotting latitude and longitude, marking points in and around the school and historic locations in Rockwall County, computing distances, and even weather forecasting are just a few of the adventures experienced. Activities included research, writing, mapping, blogging, and public speaking. The project ended with a “Geocaching Event,” a scavenger hunt using clues and exact locations.

Second Generation of Snapshot Writing - $600
Sherry Harton and Carolyn Hoyle • Rockwall High School
Freshmen and Sophomores received disposable cameras, and went on a picture hunt around the school to capture important faces and places, providing them the chance to become familiar with the building, find counselors, assistant principals, meet the nurse and secretaries, as well as introduce themselves to Dr. LeMaster. Once the film was developed, the writing began and the editing became part of the plan – using technology to turn the writing into a finished piece. Then each student compiled the Snapshot Writings into a scrapbook. At the end of the senior year, each student will have a treasure of memories from writing about the years at Rockwall High School. All the kids want to say “Thank you, Foundation angels, for allowing us to learn to write with a fun and creative approach.”

We’ve Got to Move It - $946.90
Ann Knostman • Grace Hartman Elementary School
This project was designed for sixth grade students to become immersed in alternative energy sources, specifically solar energy versus hydrogen energy, and to use engineering design teams. Students discovered how choices of energy usage affect everyday life and the environment by identifying renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, and determining the benefits and drawbacks related to each. A team of students designed and created a solar race car to demonstrate the power of the sun’s energy. A second team created a hydrogen fuel cell race car. The project culminated in a race.

What’s Cooking in History - $2,453.47
Robyn Gunderson, Deborah Lee, Melissa Padilla and Alissa Pettit • Howard Dobbs Elementary School
Second graders compared and contrasted the events and circumstances of their own daily lives to events in history. The students cooked and sampled foods from different social eras and experienced how physical exercise fits into the daily routine of that era.

Who Wears the Mask? - $865.16
Jennifer Doss • Virginia Reinhardt Elementary School
Fifth grade students created masks and backdrops based on the novel, “The House of Dies Drear.” Using these items, as well as student-developed scripts, individual student groups made movies showing a specific scene from the novel. This project provided an engaging, motivational way to improve necessary reading and critical thinking skills.