Denison Education Foundation 2011 Fall Grants

1.  Recipient:   Becky Russell

Project: “Learning Library of File Folder Math & Science Games”

Campus: All DISD Kindergarten Classrooms

Grant Amount:  $3,564.00

 Brief summary of project:  The desire is to provide the Kindergarten teachers at each elementary with a learning library of file folder games enhancing the math and science instruction.  Students respond to active learning.  Ready-to-use games come with everything students need.  Children simply grab a color-coded folder and corresponding pouch of game tiles…follow the simple, 3-step instructions to complete the activity…then check their own answers for instant reinforcement!  While planning with the teachers this summer to build solid science instruction, K teachers determined they would like to create an “Investigation Station” to further enhance K learning with hands-on activities and experiences.  The folder games will go one step farther to create an engaging learning environment for youngsters.

2. Recipient:   Wendy Jones & Glenda Watson

  Project:     “Moving Math Out of the Textbook & Into the Hands of Students”

  Campus:    All DISD 3^rd Grade Classrooms

  Grant Amount: $4,590.00 

Brief summary of project:  This project is for every third grade class throughout the district.  It allows teachers a method of introducing each concept at third grade with a “hands-on” tool which addresses the various learning styles of all their students.  Connecting Cuisenaire Rods spark students’ interest in mathematics and helps them understand important math concepts as they progress from concrete representation to abstract thinking. This manipulative can be used with all mathematical concepts taught, thereby being a consistent and familiar tool for every student.

 3.  Recipient:   Scotty Voight

Project:   “P.E. on Wheels”

Campus: All DISD Elementary P.E. Students

Grant Amount:   $2,000.00 (Partial funding)

 Brief summary of project: The goal of the grant for the elementary physical education program in Denison is to provide all students the proper P.E. equipment for the lessons being taught.  With the budgets of the P.E. programs being small, it is difficult to provide each child a piece of equipment.  The grant would enable P.E. programs for the district to purchase seven different skill units to place at each elementary school.  Each P.E. program would participate in that specific unit for two weeks.  Once the unit is over, the equipment would be shipped via district mail to the next campus.  With the equipment already in their inventory, and the additional equipment purchased through the grant, each student would have a piece of equipment specific to that skill unit.

4.  Recipient:   Kenna Brandt

Project: “Wordiac”

Campus:            Lamar Elementary School

Grant Amount:  $2,018.00

 Brief summary of project:  The Wordiac is a fun way for students to learn the important words they encounter in their textbooks and on standardized tests.  As kids play fun word games and take quick quizzes on the handheld game station, they learn over 1,000 important subject-specific and vocabulary-expanding words. As a 4^th grade teacher, my students begin the year on many different levels.  The Wordiac will serve grades 2 and up, with beginner and advanced levels. Quizzes cover two levels (2-3 and 4-5). It features large six-line LCD screen that presents questions in the standardized test format.  Red and green LED lights provide correct and incorrect answer reinforcement.  Tones and tunes reinforce and guide game play.  Students will be able to master vocabulary the fun way.

 5. Recipient:   Elaine Huffenberger

  Project:            Grade 1 “Fountas & Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention”

  Campus:            Lamar Elementary School

  Grant Amount:  $2,200.00 (Partial funding)

 Brief summary of project:  Leveled Literacy Intervention is a powerful small group supplementary intervention to bring struggling readers to grade-level competency in 12-18 weeks.  “Students who participate in LLI make significant progress.  These effects were particularly strong for various subgroups (e.g. ethnicity, special education or ELL status) within each grade level.” (from Center for Researchin Educational Policy)  Leveled Literacy Intervention is designed to assist teachers in providing concentrated, daily instruction for small groups of low-performing students.  This program will benefit the learning of struggling readers in grades K-2.  It will also serve those who will rotate into the intervention classes as the year progresses.

Total Grants:  $14, 372.00