Wyandotte loves innovation. We want our teachers to think about how they would teach if they were given access to the most cutting edge technology in education and then figure out how to make those dreams become a reality. Thanks in part to some of the COVID monies that have been awarded to the school, the Wyandotte administration team in conjunction with the board of education has put together a classroom grant process that allows teachers to apply for a grant by describing in detail what they’re wanting to do in the classroom and how the money given would be applied.
Why? The Board of Education and administration believe we should listen to staff and invest in innovative programs in the classrooms or at a particular grade level. To do this, we set aside American Rescue Plan funding to create competitive grants for teachers with innovative ideas for classroom instruction. Grant requests can be made by individual teachers, teaching teams, or building teams. Applicants had to complete an application process that provided a project description, and the primary need the project addressed, how many students would be impacted, and a budget. Grants were evaluated based on the application information. Grant application criteria included new and innovative educational approaches that develop or supplement programs that stimulate thought, address learning loss, build upon the existing curriculum, and proven ideas but with a new approach to implementation or usage, or are proven and built on existing approaches. The grant review process was anonymous. Grant readers reviewed the narratives and scored them on a grant rubric.
There are three grant cycles; In February 2023, July 2023, and December 2023. Five grants were awarded in the first cycle: Jadra McGuire, Ashley Baldwin, Drenna Robertson, Samantha Young, and Hanna Young.
Jadra McGuire’s project, “Artificial Insemination in the Classroom” is for a Bovine Breeder Simulator developed by Realityworks to teach correct cervix manipulation. She says, “Northeast Oklahoma is a well-known area for cow-calf operations. With that said this is a valuable skill for students to learn and take back at their own operations or to give them more job opportunities in the future.
Ashley Baldwin’s project, “Hands to Mind” is for five Osmo Genius starter kits, five HD 10 Fire tablets, five storage cases, 1 Versatile Math Classroom Kit and 1 Versatile Literacy Classroom Kit. She says, “Hands to mind is all about students manipulating various tactile elements to make a connection to their mind. Qualitative data has proven that some students learn better when they are given the opportunity to manipulate various items related to the given topic.”
Drenna Robertson’s project “Ringing Up Sales” was for some heat presses and a “Square” that allows her students to take payment for the things they’ve produced in their business class. She says, “this project allows students to not only create using digital media, but to actually produce items to sell. Students will be in charge of their learning and teaching others what they’ve learned as well. Creating student ownership fosters pride in not only their products and pop up shop, but also in their school. Collaboration and communication will also be key to this project and addressed often through problem solving, pricing, marketing, and so much more.”
Samantha Young’s project, “Bringing Designs to Life” is for a Plotter Printer which allows the printing of everything from flyers to banners. She says, “it is so much easier to become an entrepreneur in today’s world. This project allows students to experience real life situations and in turn learn real world skills. They will also be able to work on marketing skills and strengthen their resumes.”
Hannah Young’s project, “Up and Atom!” is for a large, diverse, set of lab equipment and materials that will allow students to participate in labs in small groups to facilitate learning in a unique way that only science class provides. She says, “The primary needs that this project addresses are the visual and tactile learning styles of our students. In a learning style quiz recently given to the freshman class, over 80% scored with tactile learning as their primary style of learning. This project will allow for more lab materials so that students will be able to be more tactile in smaller groups.
WOW!
Wyandotte Public Schools Classroom Grants Announcement by Madison Betts