My name is Mike Holman and I am a TK Teacher at Paden Elementary. I received an AEF grant to purchase a Rubber Ramp Tower set for my new TK classroom. Please see below for photos of some students using the new awesome material!
The Rubber Ramp Tower set has allowed my TK students to explore and experiment in so many unique and interesting ways! They have learned how to work together to setup the rubber ramps on the tower.
I am a first-year teacher at Love Elementary. I’m applying for a mini-grant to continue setting up my classroom. My goal is a culturally responsive classroom setting where all students feel represented, valued, and academically and emotionally supported. I would use the funds to purchase books and materials that represent the diverse group of students in my classroom and our district. My goal is a culturally responsive classroom setting where all students feel represented, valued,
Since 2018 I have developed my own version of a...
In celebration of Black History Month (February), AEF is highlighting seven African American visual artists and one poet who are participants in our Art Changes program. All eight artists made short videos where they explained (and sometimes demonstrated) their work. Each visual artist video is accompanied by an art activity video made by two film students of color. The poetry video is accompanied by an instructional PDF slideshow.
Here’s the list of artists with a description of their video.
» Read more about: Artists Featured for Black History Month »
Assia Day, 2nd & 3rd Grade Teacher at Maya Lin School, applied for a Teacher Mini Grants for decodable texts for her classroom. Decodable texts are books or reading materials specifically designed to help early readers practice their phonics skills. They are designed JUST for early readers, and follow a very explicit sequence. Students are taught the phonics skill explicitly, then expected to practice applying the skill in texts. These texts are made to be easy for beginners,
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your generous support of our classroom library at Ruby Bridges Elementary School. Thanks to your grant, my third-grade students are now enjoying a welcoming, well-stocked, and engaging library space that has quickly become the heart of our classroom.
The new library rug and comfortable seating have transformed our reading area into a cozy, inviting environment where students are excited to gather, read independently, and share books with one another.
» Read more about: Students Love Their New Classroom Library »
One of AEF’s favorite STEM after school enrichment classes in the fall of 2025 was Junior Engineer – described as a hands-on adventure in engineering and space exploration. Kids dove into projects – like aviation, space science, and engineering. From building models of the solar system to experimenting with compass headings, students learned by doing—building, asking questions, and testing real-world engineering concepts. The program was designed to inspire the next generation of innovators, showing kids that they have what it takes to become future engineers,
» Read more about: Junior Engineer Enrichment Class Jump Starts STEM Learning »
November is Native American Heritage Month! Also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, this is a time to recognize the history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous people. National Native American Heritage Month was recognized federally for the first time in the United States in 1990. Joaquin Newman, one of our Art Changes local artists, is a member of the Yaqui tribe. You can read more about Joaquin and learn about his art here.
