Impact

24-25 Elementary Teacher Direct Grant Awards

Title

Summary

Genre Book Challenge Program

The purpose of the program is to expose and introduce students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade to a variety of literary genres with the ultimate goal of strengthening literacy, encouraging literary enjoyment and versatility, and expanding students’ reading horizons.

Sensory-Rich STEAM Learning through Art and Culinary Exploration

This project aims at developing a learning environment that focuses on the STEAM educational model to support students with special education needs. Our goals include: 1. Enhancing students’ participation with STEAM subjects 2. Using art lessons to improve the general self-regulating skills 3. Teaching mainstream curriculum subjects by including practical life skills in science using cooking activities. 4. Improving the students’ academic performance, particularly in mathematics and science subjects 5. Developing of creativity as well as problem-solving abilities

Building a STRONG foundation for reading!

Our purpose is to provide our students with opportunities to engage a wide range of modalities to strengthen decoding and encoding skills.

The Magic of Music for Movement, Memory and Mental Health

Having new instruments will enable the teachers to develop music lessons in class that incorporate the Visual and Performing Arts standards more effectively.

There are many studies that show how music helps cognitive development and so besides using the instruments for making music for music sake and all its components, our secondary goal is to work on motor skills and control, memory function, communication, and mental health. The grasping of the instruments and hitting, shaking or twirling helps to strengthen the hand muscle as well as hand-eye coordination. Music also helps with memory recall when singing songs or reading the beats, and rhythm helps with body control. Music is the perfect platform for self expression and with that comes a better understanding of themselves and also of their mental health. Music is also one of the few activities that involves both sides of the brain simultaneously, which is an important part of brain development in younger children of this age because the two hemispheres have more opportunities to connect, communicate and enable more complex cognitive functions as they grow and learn.

Provide supplementary enrichment to core curriculum for SDC K-2 Math Curriculum

The purpose of this project is to begin to build a library for the school to help supplement the general education curriculum for our neurodiverse students at Arroyo Vista. . Often our students who have different learning styles require research based strategies with strength based modalities to learn basic skills which are built upon academically. My goal is to begin to build a curriculum resource area in which teachers in the SDC classrooms, Resource Room and the general education classes can use to help support students with different learning styles to supplement the general education curriculum and/or for the moderate/severe population of students at Arroyo Vista School. Touch Math is a research based math curriculum that uses a tactile /kinesthetic approach to learning addition/subtraction. Having this curriculum would help our students who are struggling with calculation learn a technique to help them work in the grade level curriculum and give our students more opportunities to learn functional math skills.

Classroom Library Makeover!

Purpose: To increase student motivation during independent reading by having access to high interest books of varying levels and genres.

I expect to see more active reading during sustained silent reading, and an overall increase in reading level and comprehension.

Amplifying Art in Kindergarten

This project will provide a broad array of art tools and materials to improve the frequency and depth of art experiences provided in each kindergarten/TK classroom. This will increase student engagement, self-expression, creativity, fine-motor skills, and problem-solving skills.

Enhancing Cultural Awareness and Social-Emotional Learning Through Picture Books

In today’s multicultural society, it is critical for students to feel seen and represented in the content they engage with at school. The purchase of culturally relevant picture books allows students from underrepresented communities to see themselves reflected in literature, fostering a sense of belonging and pride in their heritage. For other students, these books provide an opportunity to learn about the diverse cultural histories and contributions of others, promoting empathy, understanding, and social-emotional growth. Picture books can bridge this gap by presenting important historical figures, cultural traditions, and social justice themes in a format that is developmentally appropriate and visually stimulating.

Literacy Access for AAC Users

The purpose of our project is to provide our three elementary sites with access to research-based resources for literacy instruction for our speech-language AAC users to supplement the current literacy instruction within the SDC classrooms (K-2 at Arroyo Vista and 3-5 at Monterey Hills) and for RSP teachers (Daniel Gomez at Marengo) working with our AAC users who are integrated into general education classrooms. Additionally, all of our SDC students, even non-AAC users, may benefit from the strategies to supplement the current reading curriculum with adapted access and response modalities. Our goal is to see documented improvement in beginning literacy skills for our users who may have difficulty accessing instruction with response modalities demonstrating their understanding/learning.

SPUSD Elementary Music Program

We use different instruments to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of musical concepts. We also learn songs from different cultures, and having examples different instruments and sounds representative of those cultures add to the experience.

Enhancing Dramatic Play in a Chinese Immersion Kindergarten with Diverse Toys

By incorporating a variety of culturally representative toys into our classroom, we aim to:

Provide children with role-playing opportunities that reflect their own cultural identities and those of their peers.

Enhance language skills in both Mandarin and English by creating contexts where children can practice communication in different scenarios.

Promote empathy, understanding, and respect for diverse cultures through interactive and imaginative play.

Flexible Seating for all and Literature Update

I am so excited to create this project for my classroom. I want to create a safe, comfortable environment for my students. Flexible seating is becoming more common at Marengo and I feel like I am ready to tackle the challenge. I am looking at purchasing tables, stools, chairs and a standing desk for myself to allow a variety of seating options for the students. These items are at different heights and will allow students to choose daily which option best suits their learning needs. With 31 students in the classroom, this will also allow me to open up the space and provide a great seating area in the front of the room for our morning and closing meetings as part of my Restorative Classroom practices.

Another item on my project list is a class set of “The Wild Robot.” I am ready for a new literature book for my students. It is a Caldecott Honor winner, which is awesome and they are making a movie, so it is high interest. I love our read alouds that we currently use, but would love something newer and exciting for the students. It is also a series, so hopefully students will choose to read the remaining books, as well.

We Excel in Learning and Explore our Water Supply

For many years now, fifth graders have been using the IXL website to engage students, reteach skills we are learning, remediate to already learned skills, and assess how students are learning. IXL continues to grow and evolve, allowing you to do more, and it has been extremely beneficial. We consistently find that students who use IXL repeatedly perform better and are more confident learners both in the classroom and outside. The goal is to continue improving our assessment scores.

During our visit to the San Jose Water Reclamation Plant, the students further their learning about Earth’s water, which is not only one of our science units but also a benchmark reading unit. We learn about where our water comes from, the process for cleaning it, and how we can then reuse it in our daily lives. It is a great field trip with a wealth of information for the students.

iXL for 2nd Grade DI Students

The purpose of this program is to afford Marengo’s second grade DI students an opportunity to sharpen their skills in ELA, math, and science. Anticipated goals and outcomes include working on targeted skills to help prepare students for third grade and beyond.

Animal Study for Second Graders

The purpose of this unique experience is to not only meet the second grade standards of research, informational writing, and the study of animals but to also provide an opportunity for students to see the animals with their peers. Furthermore, students will be able to work with various materials to create a habitat that would be suitable for their animal. The goal of the project is to enrich students’ experiences as they learn about animals and their habitats. Students will be provided a plethora of materials to create a unique habitat for their animal. The end result is that students will acquire new knowledge. With that knowledge, they will create something beautiful to share with their classmates, teachers, families, and the Marengo community at large.

Sensory Exploration

The purpose of this project is to help our kindergarten students find more opportunities to strengthen their spacial awareness and learn more about their senses. The sensory sand, sensory sand tools, orbeez, and flexible area tables make this project something that can be used often and for years to come.

The Great Genre Challenge

We often stick to what we are comfortable with, and that includes reading. Or sometimes there are so many options, it’s overwhelming! The purpose of our project is to offer a selection of books across various genres so that students can participate in The Great Genre Challenge. They will have a chance to try new books of different genres, some they may have never considered before. This is a great opportunity to encourage our students to venture from their default choices in literature and expand their preferences. We look forward to seeing our students grow in their love of reading and trying new things.

Outdoor TK/K Playground Equipment

The purpose of our project is to provide more playground equipment to ensure we have the proper tools to prepare and instruct our Kindergarteners. Our goal is to have a higher level of engagement from students during playground time. The students enjoyed the items that were granted to us last year, however there is a need for more equipment now that we have an idea of what the students enjoy playing outside.

IXL, Classroo Library, and Battle of the Books

I have heard so many many great things about using IXL and helping students with the website.

I want to use it to reteach skills we are learning, remediate already learned skills, and assess how students are learning through quizzes.

I want to create a safe, comfortable environment for my students. We recently had an inservice where we learned that having a welcoming classroom library will allow students to find a place that is welcoming, comfortable and engaging for them to work and read. I am looking at purchasing bookcases, two small couches, bean bags, a rug, some stuffed animals and pillows. Items that will allow a variety of seating options for the students in the classroom and in the library area.

I have held Battles for many years, and this gets some kids involved in teamwork, time management, strategy and most importantly finding a love for reading. All while working on necessary grade level academic and social learning skills. Over the years I have worked on maintaining my Battle Books. However, I would love to update my books to current award winners and series. I have five battles a year. There are 5 books per battle and 6-7 copies of each book (approximately 35 books per battle). Students are always recommending different series and so many new amazing books have come out.

Animal Visit and Gamble House Field Trip

In third grade, we study our local community and spend time learning about the local architecture. The Gamble House field trip allows us to conclude our local architecture unit as our culminating trip. The students love visiting the house and seeing how the architecture is similar to many of the houses they see in the neighborhood.

In third grade, we also study animals and their adaptations. We would love to have some of the more exotic animals we don’t see everyday visit our school, so students can learn about them in person. Raptor Events provide a great learning opportunity for students to see animals in person and to hear from some animal experts.

Classroom Library Enhancement

As I am new this year, I entered into a classroom that had just the bare necessities. I would love to be able to create a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment, where all of my students will thrive. I have observed the numerous flexible seating options throughout the classroom at Marengo, and I would like to offer my students the flexibility of choosing their seating arrangements. I know not all students function best at a standard desk and seat, and many will thrive with the opportunity to move throughout the room to complete their work.

Another goal is to build and develop my classroom library. I would like to be able to purchase more grade-level-appropriate books, as well as current books that students are interested in. I hope that building a more engaging library will help excite students about reading and encourage a love of reading to grow throughout the year and into middle school. Along with a library, another goal would be to purchase a class set of “The Wild Robot” for us to use as a new novel study. The students love our novel studies, especially being able to read and discuss a book as a class. This story is new and exciting, and it is also being adapted into a movie soon, which would likely increase interest and excitement among students.

Tap, Read, and Soar: Increasing Access to Chinese Literacy with Interactive Reading Pens

The purpose of this project is to increase access to Chinese books by enhancing character recognition and reading engagement among second-grade Mandarin dual immersion students, both native and non-native speakers. The Chinese reading system is logographic, which means that students often face challenges accessing texts without having previously learned all the necessary characters. By providing interactive support through the reading pens, we aim to bridge this gap, enabling students to tap the pen and hear characters pronounced aloud. Additionally, since many students have stronger listening skills than reading abilities, this feature further enhances their access to the material. We anticipate that these tools will foster greater interest in reading Chinese and ultimately improve literacy outcomes for all learners.

We’ve Got Soles

The purpose of this project is to promote a flexible learning environment that supports diverse learning style needs in my third-grade classroom. Anticipated goals include increased student engagement and improved focus during lessons. I aim for students to feel more comfortable and empowered in their learning spaces, ultimately leading to better academic performance and a positive classroom atmosphere.

Increasing Student Engagement and Problem Solving Skills

1. Increase Student Engagement: Leverage interactive platforms to motivate students and foster a love for learning.

2. Enhance Mastery of Standards: Utilize targeted resources to support differentiated instruction and provide practice aligned with grade-level standards.

3. Facilitate Collaboration: Encourage collaborative learning experiences through discussions and group projects.

4. Monitor Progress: Use data from digital tools to track student progress and inform instruction.

Growing Readers Using “Hello Decodables” Books

The purpose of the purchase of the Hello Decodables book sets are to use them for small group reading instruction to differentiate lessons for 1strs. “The science of reading research tells us that systematic, explicit phonics instruction followed by lots of opportunities to practice the new phonics skills in connected text is superior for readers learning to read. Hello Decodables are a fiction set of 60 books that progress from simple to complex skills and are successive in that each book focuses on one or two new phonics skills and incorporates all the previously taught phonics skills for more embedded, meaningful and repeated reading practice.” – Hello Decodables https://hellodecodables.com/pages/a-guide-to-decodable-books

Sensory Bins for exploration and calming

Many children at MHS are finding the sensory bins and experiences to be highly beneficial. Not only are they providing opportunities for sensory exploration, they have also been found to be useful in calming anxiety. Through the repetition and focus of the interaction, students have been able to reset themselves and calm anxious and panic moments. Many children have benefitted from the quiet, independent sensory activities. By having sensory bins and activities available to students in a common area near the lunch pavilion, students have been able to use this calming strategy while outside, helping with their behavioral regulation. These activities are benefiting both students with special needs as well as general education students. In addition, it has been exciting to see the interactions cultivated between the general education and speical needs students. This project is an exciting collaboration among colleagues: Dawn Tull, 4/5 teacher, Sharon Stearn, resource teacher, Jennifer Detterich and Amy James, special day class teachers, Rania Shanny, school psychologist, Cassandra Jacobson, occupational therapist, and Marina Thompson, school counselor.

The Character Counts Show

We are working together and learning about Character Counts, a program that teaches us important values known as pillars, which guide us to be better friends, students, and citizens. Each month, we will focus on one of the six pillars: Trustworthiness (being honest and reliable), Respect (treating others how you want to be treated), Responsibility (being accountable for your actions), Fairness (playing by the rules and being open-minded), Caring (showing kindness and compassion), and Citizenship (doing your part to make your community better). We will have fun projects each month related to these pillars, like creating posters about respect. To celebrate our learning, we are planning a school-wide assembly with an outside company that will do two shows. We can’t wait to share our journey with all of you and make our school an even better place together!

IXL.com Online Math and ELA Enrichment Program

The purpose of the IXL program is to provide students with access to online core subject skills that supports concept development, conceptual understanding, and mastery of computational fluency, as well as reading comprehension practice.

Goals:

Outcomes:

Students will be able to access IXL’s curriculum materials online both in school and at home, and even away from home as long as they have internet access.

Students will demonstrate proficiency and mastery of specific grade-level math and ELA skills by earning gold medals when they complete each skill topic practice.

Students will receive support and reteaching through IXL’s built-in on-the-spot mini-lessons and video lessons when they miss a problem.

MHS Herb Garden/Composting and Recycling Project

The purpose of this project is to create an herb garden at Monterey Hills School. We will teach composting skills at lunchtime to show them how to repurpose food as fuel for the garden. Our goal is to be able to grow herbs that the kids can use for food, teaching them where food comes from and promoting sustainability. The objectives will be:

Outcomes will be:

Accessible Science and Social Studies Materials (Grades 3, 4, 5)

The purpose of Accessible Science and Social Studies Materials is to provide students in grades 3, 4, and 5 books and tasks that they will use to gain information from their grade level’s science and social studies units. Each student will be exposed to grade level science and social studies topics in the form of adapted, interactive books and independent practice tasks (matching, sorting, reading comprehension). The students will be read to and will read on their own. They will be taught how to complete the practice tasks and then they will complete the tasks on their own at their independent workstation.