MEF Round 24 Awarded Grants – April, 2014

Round 24 Grants – April, 2014

  1. A Curriculum Using Inquiry Math Strategies
    The applicants were trained with the basic tools needed to begin incorporating a way of higher level thinking and deeper understanding into our classroom. We intend to be able to encourage higher level thinking strategies and bring a better awareness and understanding of the math processes and relationships using math manipulatives.
    Joshua Marsh, Iddings and Kathleen Sapyta, Fieler, 4th Grade, 60 students, $676.34.


  2. What the Hands Learn
    The purpose of the grant is to provide 100 upper level Anatomy and Physiology students per year with a long term tool that transitions the classroom from traditional teacher-centered to active and inquiry based. The Maniken model aids the kinesthetic, visual, and auditory learner. Students, for example, can locate the origination and insertion of muscles, calculate the depth and length of muscles, and determine the direction and angle of muscle fibers. Through evidence and argumentation students collaboratively solve health and injury-related problems. The Maniken is a non-consumable, reusable item.
    Patricia Robison, MHS, Science, 11th and 12th Graders, 120 students, $1,618.94.


  3. I’m a Rosie Reader
    One of the main goals at MHS is to increase literacy through school-wide activities. In the Media Centers, we encourage students to read for both educational and recreational reasons. We have created a contest to boost our participation in the Eliot Rosewater Award. This is a statewide award named after a character that appears in local Indiana author Kurt Vonnegut’s novels. We hope to increase our participation by creating a multi-leveled incentive program for students who participate in the contest by reading and voting. Prizes include pencils, lanyards, Candy Bars, paperback books, and T-shirts.
    Meghan Erickson, MHS, Grades 9-12, 2379 students, $500.00.


  4. Literacy Acquisition Grant
    John Wood received an Early Literacy Grant in March, 2014 which allows our school to purchase books and materials to improve our literacy program in the primary grades. We are requesting funds from the MEF grant to purchase materials for our intermediate grade classrooms. We believe book studies are valuable ways to begin conversations and to build a foundation of strong literacy instruction. We will be able to purchase high quality literature for the classroom libraries to be used by the students both in the classroom and at home.
    Teri Crussen, Wood, Grades 3 and 4, 112 students, $1,200.


  5. Reading Success is in the Bag
    The purpose of this project is to fund the purchase of books to create baggie book kits. Each first grader will take a baggie with two leveled books and bookmark with comprehension questions for homework. They will keep them for a week and then return for a new set of books. The goal is for students to increase fluency and comprehension at home. Many of our first graders do not have books at home or have books not at their reading level. The books will be reused each year. Success will be measured by weekly reading test scores and DIBLS ORF at the end of the year.
    Erin Decker, Miller, First Grade, 80 students, $410.93.


  6. Reading and ELA Board Games for the Classroom
    This project uses inconsequential competition while targeting essential academic content. Research demonstrates that content-driven games improve creativity, memory, academic performance, problem solving skills, social interaction, and concept transfer. The use of these board games in the ELA classroom will allow the teachers to be highly effective by adapting and creating new strategies for unique student needs and situations.  
    Gina Helton, MIS, 5th Grade, 500 students, $292.77.


  7. PBIS Purple Program: A Pierce Initiative to Celebrate Student Success.
    PBIS is a Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support Program that promotes positive behavior and choices. PURPLE is an acronym for “Pierce Understands Reaching Potential Leads to Excellence.” Awards will be given in areas such as Good Academics, Zero Referrals, Good Citizenship, Absent no more than two Days, Involvement in club or sports. PBIS enables students and adults to create a social-culture in schools that will encourage positive behavior and interactions while discouraging problem behaviors. Awards include gift bags, T-Shirts, Google Tablets, and school-related treats such as Mechanical Pencils, Pens, Notebooks, Markers, Gel Pens, Sharpies, and note cards.
    Sari Tuftedal, Pierce, Grades 7 and 8, 200-300 students, $2,500.


  8. Merrillville Alternative Program Positive Rewards Project.
    This program is designed to provide reinforcement for positive behaviors. Daily, students are required to fill out a short self-assessment that includes information on the time they arrived, their mood, the number of lessons they complete, and the number of points they earn. When students rank their mood as low or fail to consistently complete lessons, they are flagged for additional services. These services include meeting with a social worker or the behavioral consultant or making an action plan with their teacher. At the end of the week, students are eligible to cash in the points they have earned for making good choices. Rewards include food, notebooks, temporary tattoos, sports equipment, longer break, participation in fun day, and free attendance to school events.
    Katelyn Holsclaw, MHS, Grades 9-12, 500 students, $1,100.


  9. MHS PBIS and IPatch Reward Funds.
    This project provides quality rewards to students who demonstrate positive behavior. This program is in its 4th year. Teachers help provide instruction on certain rules of behavior in all content courses. A student committee is involved in selection of the rewards that are relevant to students. The PBIS committee solicited $900 in gift cards from local businesses.
    James Stamper, MHS, 9-12, 2400 students, $1,400.


  10. MIS Magnificent Mountain Math Climb
    Mountain Math will be used daily throughout the year. The Mountain Math Bulletin Board or Center will be on display in each math classroom. Each board will present new material on Mondays, and students will receive a new math sheet. The students will work on the material independently and develop time management skills as well as developing their math skills. Each Friday, the sheet will be discussed and reviewed.
    Joanne Casteel, MIS, 5th Grade, 500 students, $383.80.


 

TOTAL ROUND 24 GRANTS:  $10,082.78

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