Teacher Innovation Grants Archives - WakeEd

Unique Apparel at Heritage High School

WakeEd — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 18:50:10 +0000

By Allison Reid | WCPSS Instructional Technology and Library Media Services

Suzy McCabe and her students at Heritage High School (HHS) were the recipients of one of WakeEd Partnership\’s Teacher Innovation Grants. Built from her desire to provide an opportunity for vocational training for her special education students students, McCabe set about to create a store where each of her students could learn and serve their community.

“Unique Apparel” opened in early 2017 after months of planning and collaboration. McCabe envisioned a mobile apparel store where her students could learn to conduct sales transactions, use a cash register, manage inventory, and interact with customers. Her initial idea was shared with Jim Burrows, the HHS Construction teacher, who led his own students through a design and revision process to build a cart to best serve the needs of McCabe’s students. Burrow’s students spent months planning, building scale models, revising, and finally constructing the cart that now serves as the mobile storefront. Unique Apparel opened in February. It was truly a community event; the official ribbon-cutting was featured in several area newspapers, and Wake Forest’s mayor, Vivian Jones even came out to support the cause. Staff and students are not only excited about the wares sold in the store, but they are also very supportive of the students who work there.

The store is open on Wednesdays during all lunches at the school, and they sell T-shirts, lanyards, and other apparel depending on the season. For example, right now, they are selling cub ears and Lion King T-shirts to help promote the school’s musical which runs for two weeks in May. McCabe even has the cart set up during intermission and after the Lion King shows to sell merchandise, and is offering fresh flowers as well for theatre-goers to purchase.

McCabe’s students are learning to interact with customers, how to count change, operate a cash register, properly fold and display merchandise, keep up with inventory, and more through their experiences with the Unique Apparel store. The store has provided not only an opportunity for these students to learn these vocational skills, it has also increased their confidence and self-esteem. On my visit, I watched a student set-up the cart displays, help a customer pick out a shirt in her size, complete the transaction, and then fold the shirt and present it to the customer. The look of excitement and pride on his face because of his job well-done was evident and infectious.

Thank you, WakeEd Partnership; because of this grant, Unique Apparel has positively impacted the lives of many students. The 4Cs are on display through the collaborative and creative work of the many adults and students who worked on the project.

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WakeEd Announces Teacher Innovation Grant Recipients

WakeEd — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:50:23 +0000

We are pleased to announce our 2017-2018 Teacher Innovation Grant recipients. This year, more than 140 educators will be involved in implementing these projects across the county, hoping to change the lives of more than 2,100 students.

iCommunicate Using iPads

Allison Kurtz | Adams Elementary School

Impact: 110 Students, 5 Educators

Adams Elementary students in second and fourth grade will use iPads to showcase their learning in a variety of formats through digital learning portfolios. Educators in all subject areas will use portfolios to increase classroom communication, while also giving their students the opportunity to receive feedback from authentic audiences, including teachers, parents, and peers. Through this grant, educators will harness the power of digital connectivity, allowing parents to see student progress in real-time and creating a 21^st century classroom that supports students’ technological literacy.

STEMtastic Story Boxes

Sonia Clark | Ballentine Elementary School

Impact: 200 Students, 12 Educators

Students in third, fourth, and fifth grade at Ballentine Elementary school will have the opportunity to revisit familiar fairy tales with an exciting new twist, as educators brings stories to life through engineering challenges. “Story Boxes” will engage students in STEM learning by providing all of the items student teams need to complete their challenges. For example, students will work collaboratively to engineer an escape route for Goldilocks so she can escape the bears or build a biplane to get Little Red Riding Hood safely to Granny’s house.

Doubling the Impact

To double the impact of one Teacher Innovation Grant, so that even more Wake County students could use Story Boxes to engage in STEM learning, Sonia and the Ballentine Elementary PTA partnered with Laurel Park Elementary School. It was the support from PTA parents that made Sonia’s vision a reality. “During the first PTA meeting, parents and staff sorted the donated item into story sets. Looking at the material lists, many volunteered to donate more needed items.” Sonia told us.

In addition to the generosity of school parents, the Wake County community stepped in to help. “I filled two carts of supplies and was checking out of the Dollar Store when our STEM excitement spread to a very kind and patient couple behind me in line. When they learned of our project and the grant, they insisted on paying for a few of our items. I was touched to tears.”

“You never know who you will impact on a WakeEd Journey.”

Digital Portfolios with Green Screen Studio

Sara Roberson | Harris Creek Elementary School

Impact: 700 Students, 35 Educators

Harris Creek Elementary students in second through fifth grade will use a mobile green screen studio to create engaging, collaborative video presentations for their digital portfolios. This studio will empower tech-savvy students to find creative ways to visually enhance and demonstrate their learning. Educators are excited to use this new assessment tool, which gives students ownership of their learning experiences. The green screen studio can be checked out and used in any classroom throughout the year, as teachers in every subject area integrate video presentations into their classes.

Partnering for Possibilities

Laura Privette | Forest Pines Elementary School

Impact: 25 Students, 20 Educators

Partnering for Possibilities will pair Forest Pines Elementary students with an adult to build connections, improve academic performance, reduce office referrals, and develop important social skills. Educators and school staff will identify students who are struggling with behavior or social-emotional skills, as those often correlate with low academic performance. Students in the program will meet with their mentor one-on-one during weekly after school sessions to participate in activities that address goal-setting, active listening, study skills, and conflict resolution. This grant is part of the school-wide implementation of research-based programs like Steps to Respect and Second Step, which focus on students’ social-emotional wellbeing.

Communication: A New Dimension

Lisa Tomaszewski | Lead Mine Elementary School

Impact: 101 Students, 25 Educators

Lead Mine Elementary educators will develop a comprehensive program of universal core vocabulary instruction and supports so students with sensory or cognitive challenges can have meaningful instruction and interactions with peers and adults. Historically, symbolic communication has focused on concrete words that limit a child’s ability to participate in dynamic learning experiences. With the entire school community incorporating consistent core vocabulary familiar to students with complex communication needs, they will develop an inclusive learning environment for all students. This grant includes the purchase of a MakerBot 3D Printer, which will allow a multidisciplinary team of teachers, vision specialists, hearing specialists, audiologists, speech language pathologists, instructional assistants, and assistive technology specialists to provide consistent instruction to students and staff in the use of Project Core vocabulary symbols.

“This was a huge team effort from the EC team at Lead Mine. I know my name is on the grant but it was truly a team effort, and I\’m excited to share this news with them.”

Math Outside the Box!

Elizabeth Propp | Lincoln Heights Elementary School

Impact: 50 Students. 3 Educators

Educators at Lincoln Heights Elementary will bring abstract math concepts to life with a fun, hands-on approach that engages special education students. Lego math kits will make math tangible and build students’ confidence in learning, using familiar Lego bricks and real-life understanding of math concepts. This grant was designed to help prepare students for a world that requires critical thinking skills, technological savviness, and collaborative capabilities that special education students often struggle to attain through traditional instruction.

Virtual Reality PBLs

Jennifer Zoller | Weatherstone Elementary

Impact: 800 Students, 40 Educators

Every student at Weatherstone Elementary will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on, experiential learning through Virtual Reality (VR.) Art and STEM educators at each grade level will work collaboratively to implement project based learning (PBL) units using VR. For example, second grade students will virtually visit other countries in 3D, rather than passively reading or watching a video. Students will also work together to create a drawing that showcases what they have learned, which will be transformed into a VR image for them to explore.

The Internet of Everything

Greg Eyman | Brentwood Elementary School

Impact: 160 Students, 1 Educator

Brentwood Elementary students will explore how the “Internet of Things” (IoT) is used to solve problems in communities around the world. Collaborative teams will become globally competitive creators as they imagine, plan, and adapt devices to create smart objects for the classroom. This project will give student engineers the basic tools they need to create a product that utilizes the Internet of Things for real-world solutions. For example, students could use Littlebit Kits to create a product that saves electricity by turning off the lights when no motion is detected in the room. They will present their creations to the whole school on Engineering Night.

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From the Classroom: Thank You for Changing Lives

WakeEd — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:39:36 +0000

By Elizabeth Propp | Lincoln Heights Elementary School

I want to thank you and WakeEd Partnership for the continued support of my classroom and Lincoln Heights. The “Weather and Me” and “Cultural Recipe Book” Teacher Innovation Grants provided my kids with an opportunity to learn in innovative ways and expand their knowledge beyond the four walls of our classroom. There are so many stories I would love to share with you about the impact these projects have had on my students. There are things as simple as a field trip to Raleigh and watching a student ride an escalator for the very first time. He was so excited. There is another student who has had difficulty with motivation. He loved the weather project so much that he started independently researching weather topics and bringing this information to the classroom to share with other students. He wants to be a meteorologist now! He asked me to help him find the steps to achieve this goal. My amazing kid is now motivated to graduate and go to college! He will be the first person is his family to go to college.

The grants you have awarded my classroom are so much more than money. These grants are an opportunity to change a child’s life. I cannot thank you enough for the positive impact you have had on my kids and on me as an educator. The legacy of WakeEd and your passion for the students of Wake County will live on forever in the hearts of the kids who you have empowered through the Teacher Innovation Grants.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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Students Explore Careers Through Teacher Innovation Grant

WakeEd — Mon, 22 May 2017 12:38:53 +0000

At Fuquay-Varina Middle School, Mr. Zirkle is using a WakeEd Teacher Innovation Grant to help students as young as 7^th and 8^th grade develop digital portfolios and resumes to showcase their skills. The grant was used to purchase cameras, lights, a microphone, a computer, and a backdrop for his classroom – equipment that has allowed students to explore a variety of digital media careers, such as marketing, graphic design, animation, and TV reporting.

Early in the school year, his students became entrepreneurs. Throughout the fall, they collaborated to develop marketing strategies and materials for virtual businesses. Students developed important entrepreneurial skills as they used the new technology to produce commercials, design billboards, plan focus groups, record jingles, write sample finance reports, and more. They even created a company “website” through OPResume, an online portfolio and resume building website, to share their creations.

In May, another group of students developed personal online portfolios. While exploring options for careers after high school, they honed their interview skills on camera, collaborating to film and edit videos for their digital portfolios. Mr. Zirkle encourages students to continue adding artifacts throughout high school, as digital portfolios make students more marketable to colleges and employers.

According to Mr. Zirkle, the heart of this project is summarized well in this quote from Benjamin Franklin: “Tell me and I will forget, teacher me and I will remember, involve me and I will learn.” Through our Teacher Innovation Grants program, he was able to integrate math, literacy, composition, and computer science into hands-on entrepreneurial experiences that prepare students for future careers.

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iCan: Teacher Innovation Grants at Hunter Elementary

WakeEd — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 14:49:56 +0000

At their March meeting, members of the WakeEd Partnership Board of Directors welcomed two kindergarten teachers from Hunter Magnet Elementary School, who gave a short presentation about their Teacher Innovation Grant project.

Kerry Ann Martinez and Cullen Eller attended the North Carolina Technology In Education Society (NCTIES), North Carolina’s premiere education tech conference, where they learned about Seesaw. Seesaw is an app that empowers students and engages parents in student learning using student driven digital portfolios. Kerry and Cullen saw it as opportunity to develop student leaders who collaborate digitally with their peers to meet literacy goals.

“As a Kindergarten Professional Learning Team (PLT), we believe in the power of reading and literacy. Moving forward into the 21st century we see the need to integrate collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking with digital literacy to promote student success.”

Soon after, they pitched their idea to the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) Grants Office, which directed them to WakeEd’s Teacher Innovation Grants program. “It was a perfect fit!”

Now approximately 120 kindergarteners in five classrooms have the opportunity to capture and showcase their learning through photos, videos, drawings, notes, and blogs using Seesaw technology. The open-ended nature of digital portfolios allows students to take ownership of their learning and encourages them to think critically about how to present their best work.

Seesaw also provides a unique way to engage parents in their child’s education, as student work is automatically shared with parents. “Imagine being in a meeting at work and hearing your phone buzz. Your child has just published a book and it’s only nine in the morning!” Kerry and Cullen have found that digital portfolios provide an authentic audience, so students can write with a purpose.

Additionally, collaborative, digital apps like Seesaw, Explain Everything, and Felt Board, are flexible, multisensory, and they cater to students who are verbal, kinesthetic, visual, or auditory learners.

All of these benefits, and more, have contributed to the success of this Teacher Innovation Grant project at Hunter Elementary. In less than one year, their success has inspired teachers throughout the school to integrate digital literacy portfolios into their classrooms.

To help fellow educators secure the resources they need to bring their own innovative projects to life, Kerry and Cullen have become grant leaders at Hunter and enthusiastic ambassadors for the WakeEd Teacher Innovation Grants program. They are excited to work with other teachers on developing their grant proposals so that Hunter students will continue to benefit from teacher innovation.

Before they shared their project with the WakeEd Board of Directors, they presented their work at NCTIES 2017, where they encouraged teachers across the state to utilize technology in the classroom.

Educators across Wake County have experienced this ripple effect, so they understand the impact of Teacher Innovation Grants. They have seen how one innovative idea spreads from a single classroom to an entire grade level, to an entire school. Successful projects like these spread to other classrooms in the district, are shared statewide, and are soon on their way to becoming best practices in education.

Check out these awesome writers publishing their How-To stories using @BookCreatorApp ! pic.twitter.com/YqxtjThlIb

— Mrs. Eller\’s Class (@MrsEllersClass) February 7, 2017

Hunter Teachers presenting digital learning portfolios via @Seesaw! @wcpssitlms #ncties17 pic.twitter.com/Ck3FjeFdSX

— Hunter GT-AIG Elem (@HunterPrincipal) March 2, 2017

We are authors! Ss ❤creating and recording ditgal How-To books. @BookCreatorApp @HunterPrincipal @Seesaw pic.twitter.com/tuSjhLFzRZ

— Hunter K (@HunterESKinder) February 7, 2017

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WakeEd Grants Wishes at York Elementary

WakeEd — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 14:36:46 +0000

By Meg Osterhoff | STEM Coordinator/Coach | York Elementary School

\”When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, anything your heart desires will come to you…\” or at least that\’s what happened to us when WakeEd Partnership linked up with York Elementary School. WakeEd Partnership is an incredible organization that allows your dreams to become reality. We were the lucky recipients of not only one but two Teacher Innovation Grants. This allowed our school to gain access to the latest technology that was being used to teach STEM at home! One of our goals as a school was to be on the forefront of the latest research and design projects for students that would accelerate them forward. Students have latched onto these technologies and love manipulating them. We couldn\’t have done this without our partnership!

Not only does WakeEd offer Teacher Innovation Grants, but they also created SummerSTEM. SummerSTEM is an insightful week full of immersion and excitement. Teachers are partnered with businesses in order to create project-based learning (PBL) STEM units based on skills seen in the immersion. Teachers integrate these units into their curriculum to showcase authentic, real-life experiences in the workplace. Students work on projects in teams in order to answer driving questions and problem-solve for solutions.

My teachers have another PBL unit to implement in their classrooms because I was able to attend SummerSTEM. Student engagement is at an all-time high and one of the companies with whom we partnered during the summer has come to York to judge many of our engineering competitions! That\’s just one small impact that this teacher immersion experience has had on our school. The ripple effect of this program is in the works, with more and more teachers creating PBL STEM units inspired by this opportunity.

Proud to have 8 of our staff volunteering for @wakeedpa\’s Partners Read program on Fridays to help children improve their reading skills! pic.twitter.com/1wKx147Q9J

— Delta Dental of NC (@DeltaDentalNC) March 3, 2017

As if that wasn\’t enough, WakeEd also partners with York Elementary School to do \”Partners Read,\” a volunteer-based program where business volunteers come to York each Friday to read with students at school. We are pleased to have Delta Dental of North Carolina along with retired WCPSS teachers reading with our students each week. This allows the community to build relationships with the school as well as the students in it. Students read with their partner and then are given books to build their library at home, which builds their fluency and comprehension skills while at school.

WakeEd is one of those all-around organizations that makes all your dreams come true. If it weren\’t for WakeEd Partnership, our school would be at a loss when it comes to receiving grants, partnering with local companies, as well as encouraging and facilitating opportunities for teacher professional development through SummerSTEM. We are very blessed to have WakeEd as part of our school community!

Engineering fair success! @YorkESBulldogs Thank U to our amazing judges @RedHatNews @precisionlender Come back anytime! @STEM_WCPSS @WCPSS pic.twitter.com/AaYJCVjZSs

— Engineering Coach (@york_engineers) February 24, 2017

Special thanks to @thecw22 for coming to @YorkESBulldogs! We loved hearing about marketing, production, & leadership skills! @STEM_WCPSS pic.twitter.com/Vj4rIrPs7g

— Engineering Coach (@york_engineers) March 14, 2017

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