Educators receive Teaching and Learning grants
The Institute for Learning Partnership at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has awarded seven 2010-11 grants totaling more than $36,000 to area educators to improve teaching and learning in Northeastern Wisconsin schools.
The Grants to Improve Learning and Teaching were available to educators in Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) districts 7 and 8. Awards up to $7,500 were available for collaborative projects that improve instructional practices, curricula and learning outcomes.
This newest Institute recipients are from Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, Manitowoc, Marinette, Pulaski and CESA 8. The projects range from a student/parent book club to programs that will enhance English Language Learning instruction to a project that helps seventh-graders prepare for eighth-grade algebra and other rigorous classes that will be necessary if they are to become first-generation college students.
Grant recipients, their schools/school districts and their projects include:
• Kasee Jandrin, T.J. Walker Middle School, Sturgeon Bay School District
Middle School Parent/Student Book Club – Bringing Families Back into the Picture by Bridging Home and School with Reading: $481.39
This project encourages students and parents/families to read novels together and share a common experience and dialogue. Participants will meet in formal “book club” setting on designated discussion night.
• Lori Brandt and Marianne Smith, Manitowoc Public School District
Discover New Frontiers through Verbal Interactions in Science: $7,500
This project will improve the language skills of all students by improving the quality of hands-on materials in the Science/Discovery Centers and providing professional development to teachers on language interaction strategies and science related activities.
• Theresa Willems, Danz Elementary School, Green Bay Area Public School District
Grow Learning and Go Green: $7,500
Student engagement with learning will be demonstrated through hands-on “Go Green” activities that produce grown plants and useable compost. “Go Green” learning activities focus on improving student attendance, behavior choices, literacy reading and writing levels from baseline data to spring assessment.
• Shirley Paulson, Green Bay Area Public School District
AVID Algebra Readiness Project: $5,800
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a program to prepare first-generation college students, many of whom are students of color or from poverty, to succeed in rigorous high school courses so they can gain admission and be successful in college. This project seeks to give AVID seventh-graders the knowledge and skills to succeed in algebra in the eighth grade. Specially trained college tutors will work with students based on need identified by a pre-test.
• Deb Modschiedler, Park Elementary School, Marinette Public School District
PRIDE – Provide Reading Interventions and Differential Education: $2,980
Project PRIDE enables Park Elementary School staff to meet the needs of all readers. Strategies will be developed and materials assembled that will allow staff to reach students at both ends of the reading spectrum.
• Mariah Adnane, Deborah Dolata, Bec Kane, Tony Logue, Amy McKeefry, Pulaski Community School District and CESA 7
Closing Achievement Gaps for ELL and At-Risk Students: $4,606.50
This project will provide learning outcomes and enhance teacher effectiveness by providing 30 teachers with the background knowledge and strategies to facilitate high quality instruction, based on research and best practices, not only for ELL and Selected/Targeted Learners, but also for all students in content area teaching, with the goal of closing the achievement gap for struggling learners.
• Glenda Butterfield-Boldig, CESA 8
Reading Best Practices Effectiveness in RTI Approach: $7,500
This project will use reading best practices strategies as the basis for Response to Intervention protocols and determine to what extent students make progress based on a variety of assessment measures.
This is the 12th year that the Institute for Learning Partnership has presented the Grants to Improve Teaching and Learning, and during that period more than $710,000 has been awarded to support projects aimed at improving teaching and learning in the schools.
The Institute for Learning Partnership at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay enhances professional development for educators to improve academic achievement for all learners. The Institute brings together educators from K-12 area school districts, universities, colleges, businesses and local community leaders with the expressed purpose of improved learning for all in grades PK-16. For more information: www.uwgb.edu/learnpart/index.html.
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