Innovative Teaching Grant Recipients • Spring 2007

Amazing Authors Publishing Center - $1,292.00
Kristi Arenas, Lana Edwards • Nebbie Williams Elementary School
This innovative publishing center allowed all students in grades K-1 to write, explore, illustrate and design. Children took original writing and illustrations from the classroom and turned them into treasured books that were shared with classmates, family and community. With the help of parent volunteers, bookmaking materials and software, the children’s creations came to life. Students worked with “Book Buddies” (students
in upper grades) who mentored and encouraged. “Amazing Authors” concluded in May with a “Book Club
Celebration” where students proudly shared books with family, friends, and teachers.

CSI – Crime Stoppers…Investigations - $1,597.59
Paula McClendon, Cheryl Kelly • Virginia Reinhardt Elementary School, Grace Hartman Elementary School
Excitement filled the air as students engaged in a simulated crime scene investigation. The unit created enthusiasm of C.S.I. and applied basic, forensic science techniques to analyze and solve crimes such as dognapping, vandalism, and theft. Students worked at hands-on activity stations and used critical thinking skills to identify the “true” criminal from a suspect lineup. Anticipation grew as students experienced the thrill of weighing the evidence as they gained a new understanding of the importance of examining all the clues and not relying on false assumptions. With a “minds-on” approach for scientific inquiry, this real world application helped students become active researchers, confident team builders, and engaged learners.

Giving Thanks for the Art of Learning -  $176.40
Dana Johnston, Jill Bales, Susan McCartney, Janelle Graham, Carol Hoye • Amy Parks-Heath Elementary School Second graders explored the arts with student selected artistic expression, and shared their newfound knowledge of Thanksgiving. Students chose between sculpting clay figures, painting murals, writing a newspaper, creating a photo story, or presenting a drama about the history of Thanksgiving and the important role it played in our country.

Kids, Coins and Capitalism -  $2,926.65
Angie Alders, Tracy Childers, Kristina Cooper, Kam Harrington, Karen Hesch, Raylene Myers • Doris Cullins-Lake Pointe Elementary School
First graders were engaged in the process of learning how to count money. Students were given opportunities to earn money which was connected to attendance, conduct, work habits and nightly reading. At the end of nine-weeks, students could either save or spend their money during the First Grade Shopping Day, shopping at a bookstore, school supply/craft store, exercise and nutrition store (which supported our state and district health and fitness goals), a school specialty store and a kids’ design store. The school specialty store was popular as students were able to purchase time with teachers and administrators for such things as lunch, art lessons, yoga and juggling lessons. The Kids Design store was introduced later in the year and involved students making a craft and selling it to other students in first grade. This introduced students to the concept of capitalism. Because students were able to work with money daily and made connections to real-life situations, they were able to grasp the concept of money in a more meaningful and engaging way.

Learning the Shuffle…The Dance of the Future! -  $2,546.74
Ruth Johnson, Amy Perez, Diana Firley Ouida • Springer Elementary School
“Guess who is coming home with me today? My teacher, my classmates, celebrity reader, and they all fit in my pocket.” With the iShuffle this became a reality for Kindergarten and First Grade bilingual students. Using a microphone and computer, teachers can record all the sounds of the classroom – their own voices, those of students and celebrity readers on this small MP3 iPod called the iShuffle. Stories, poems, vocabulary, spelling words, songs, math facts, Pledge of Allegiance, and actual lessons recorded in both Spanish and English are a reality due to the use of the iShuffle. Parents and students listen to the content in the iShuffle in homes, thereby extending the learning day while bridging cultural and socio-economic barriers to the learning process.

My Problem / Your Robot: Building Problem Solving Skills Using Robotics -  $787.50
Kay L. Orr, Ph.D. • Nebbie Williams Elementary School
Using the scientific method, groups of fourth grade students worked cooperatively to design, build, and test robots to “deliver a letter to the post office.” This project required students to use their mathematical problem solving skills to develop a robot using the Lego Mindstorms NXT robotics system.

Tremors to Learn -  $2,248.55
Ann Knostman, Susan Cox • Grace Hartman Elementary School
This project allowed first and sixth grade students to become immersed in earth science, specifically the engineering of earthquake proof skyscrapers. Students discovered how different materials react to the forces that shape the earth. The project began by equipping the students with the basic knowledge of parts of the earth, plate tectonics, and facts on how the plate movement affects the process of creating skyscrapers. Prior to experimenting with plate movement, the students learned the parts of the earth (core, mantle and crust). Students then experimented with diagrams of the earth’s plates and how the mantle of the earth changes the positions of the plates. Finally, each student built a skyscraper and shook it on the “shake table” to test what magnitude of earthquake it could withstand.

Tropical Book Tour -  $3,794.84
Lacy Packard, Jennifer Gillaspie, Lisa Copeland, Lisa Costello, Casi Cothran, Susan Cox, Katy Hill, Janis Matthys, Linda Nash, Christy Wendt • Grace Hartman Elementary School
“The Tropical Book Tour” was designed to immerse every student, parent and staff member in an exciting reading adventure. This tour created a climate of reading achievement on the campus as students, parents and staff members participated in the “reading journey” to various islands around the world. Funding for this project provided materials to set the stage for a tropical island adventure. “The Tropical Book Tour” exposed students to challenges that will encourage them to develop a lifelong love of reading. Recognition was given for individual achievements, class achievements, and school-wide achievements based on the number of minutes read each week.