Innovative Teaching Grant Recipients • Spring 2004

An Expressly “Colonial American” Experience - $999.38
Gayle Kidd • Doris Cullins-Lake Pointe Elementary School
Fifth grade students researched, built, named and brought to life their very own Colonial colony. Students became shop owners, skilled tradesmen, and townspeople of the colonial period by developing presentations in the first person about their role in the colony and different aspects of colonial life.

Balance and Motion Full Option Science System - $779.53
Patricia Smith • Nebbie Williams Elementary School
Second grade students embarked on a six week long study of science utilizing FOSS modules. Students freely investigated and explored materials while observing and comparing systems, developing strategies to solve problems, and discovered and constructed patterns in motion. As a result of this hands-on approach to science, students gained scientific literacy as well as improved attitudes and confidence in science.

Civil War Reenactment
Katherine Krikorian • Maurine Cain Middle School - $1,000.00
Eighth grade students researched and dramatized an authentic reenactment of the Civil War. Utilizing active learning and critical-thinking, students participated in realistic battle scenes with field hospitals, military parades and other depictions of civilian life.

Classroom Jeopardy
Katherine Krikorian • Maurine Cain Middle School - $1,000.00
Eighth grade students researched and dramatized an authentic reenactment of the Civil War. Utilizing active learning and critical thinking, students participated in realistic battle scenes with field hospitals, military parades and other depictions of civilian life.

Closing the Gap - $1,000.00
Bonnie Callahan • Amanda Rochell Elementary School
Third grade students, according to the guidelines of the Texas Reading Initiative-No Child Left Behind, were given specially designed readers that embedded vocabulary, concepts, strategies and skills being taught in the regular classroom and were allowed to take the books home each night to enjoy with their families. The leveled readers boosted self-esteem of students and fostered an environment where reading became an enjoyable, exciting and safe activity for every student.

Dual Language: Moving Forward With Phonics - $874.06
Annette Fields • Dorris A. Jones Elementary
Bilingual kindergarten students were able to incorporate music and movement along with visual and tactile learning activities in order to better reach their goal of becoming fluent readers of both Spanish and English tests. Through being totally immersed in a rich environment, these students were able to better identify letters and make sound and symbol connections.

Full Option Science System Kits - $974.16
Becki Hensel • Dorothy Smith Pullen Elementary School
Second graders were able to utilize two Full Option Science System Kits, one for air and weather and one for balance and motion, to provide inquiry-based, hands-on, active, multi-sensory experiences in science. Working with the science system kits allowed students to develop their student-to-student interaction, reflective thinking, reading and research skills as well as gain a stronger understanding of science concepts.

Learning to Read is Learning for Life - $982.09
Katherine Krikorian • Maurine Cain Middle School
First and second grade students were provided the opportunity through books to increase their reading comprehension and oral reading fluency along with increased exposure to a wide range of genres in reading. Students became successful in raising their reading level to "on or above" grade level through this project.

Native American Ceramic Tiles - $937.94
Elizabeth O'Neil • Dorris A. Jones Elementary School
Second through sixth graders studied the artwork, history and artifacts of various Native American tribes that settled in the state of Texas. After studying the Native Americans, students created their own ceramic tiles by hand which were glued to plywood, grouted, and named to create a permanent piece of artwork for their campus.

No Child Left Behind - $890.50
Nancy Spradling • Amanda Rochell Elementary School
Kindergarten students were sent home with activities and materials to help them become successful in mastering the TEKS skills for promotion to the first grade. Activities and materials sent home with students included read-along books with tape players and electronic learning games that proved very successful in facilitating the students' language and math skills while encouraging interaction between students and their guardians, caregivers and families.

Positive Practice - $835.75
Karen Guzan • Amanda Rochell Elementary School
Students were provided with sets of multi-level learning games for use in the classroom and at home which helped to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. The Frog Reading and math Family Fun-Pack Game Sets provided an enjoyable, motivating and easy to use format which reinforced weekly classroom lessons.

Probeware Partners - $988.00
Claudia Coburn • Dorris A. Jones Elementary School
Sixth grade science students were able to purchase a remote datalogger called an Xplorer. The Xplorer was used by students to measure temperature, pH, pressure of force and motion and display the collected data on an interactive graph allowing students to analyze, review and critique scientific explanations, including hypotheses and theories, using scientific evidence and information.

Project A.B.C - $999.98
Lindi Kelly • Dorris A. Jones Elementary School
Project A.B.C. (Audiobooks to Build Reading Comprehension in Children) was developed to help students struggling with comprehension of printed word. Students were able to check out audio books and personal cassette players for use at school and at home in order to promote improved reading habits and a lifelong love for reading.

Quarter Mile - Computation and Number Sense - $847.50
Cynthia DeFreeze • J.W. Williams Middle School
The Quarter Mile program was developed to improve and monitor students' basic math skills, including computation and number sense and to improve students' TAKS scores. Throughout the program students were able to be constantly evaluated and challenged accordingly while in a non-competitive environment.

The Kinder Kitchen - Cooking with Children's Literature - $817.95
Rebecca Kennedy • Amanda Rochell Elementary School
By exposing young children to cooking, The Kinder Kitchen helped kindergarteners to develop healthy eating habits, develop literacy skills, math skills, appropriate table manners and help students learn about a variety of cultures as well as a joy for creative enrichment.

The Science Experiment - $988.40
Paige White • Amanda Rochell Elementary School
Fourth grade students with limited-English proficiency were provided with hands-on, life based experiences in and out of the classroom that encouraged greater insight and understanding of the basic scientific processes and mastery of grade level objectives.

Rocket Scientist - $921.78
Faith Newhouse • Doris Cullins-Lake Pointe Elementary School
Sixth grade students not only studied the development of rocket science and the worldwide influence on its development, but also became equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to construct a model rocket. Parent and teacher volunteers participated in the rocket launches, which were observed by students from all grade levels.

You Can Bet on Math! - $964.68
Jennifer Carroll Holton • Dorris A. Jones Elementary School
You Can Bet on Math! allowed students to engage in active learning and reinforce key mathematical skills in a fun and creative way. Students worked with partners, small groups, and as whole-classes in activities allowing them to "see" and "feel" their math take place.