Here’s a great story from Kristen Smeal, Middle School Technology (Grades 6-8) teacher at the Academy of Alameda:
“What a fun year! We were able to purchase 3D printers for our Technology program and they provided so many fun opportunities. I had students who were not even in my classes stop by just to look at the printers. It was really cute!
I thought I’d send along a photo of the 3D mini city ‘Olympianville’
Marissa Nowlan, a Nea Community Learning Center 1st Grade Teacher, was in need of special seating for some of her students. She wrote “I have four students, two of whom have extremely high needs, that enjoy being in beanbags in the library. I’d wanted to purchase some as a means to give a calm and safe place for regulation for when these students have overstimulating moments. The beanbags have been the biggest blessing this school year!
Ms. Candice Camp is an Instructional Coach working with K-5th, multilingual English learners across the District. She wanted to help English learners at school reclassification ceremonies celebrate and be proud of the hard work it takes to become ‘reclassified’ with a t-shirt that says “Multilingualism is my Superpower”.
Reclassification for English Language Learners (ELL) means that a student is officially recognized as having achieved sufficient proficiency in English to no longer require special language support services.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but we don’t need...
New Kindergarten teacher at Love Elementary School, Jana Lee, applied for funds to help set up her classroom as a first-year teacher. She wanted to purchase an easel to do whole-group activities at a level closer to students, and games, read-alouds, and more to supplement targeted intervention. For example, she wished to buy rhyming and other phonemic-based activities for small-group interventions. Ms. Lee needed help facilitating both whole-group instruction, so students can be engaged and are able to participate themselves,
» Read more about: First Year Kindergarten Teacher Gets Classroom Supplies »
Margarethe Olsson, Grades TK – 5 Art Teacher at Ruby Bridges Elementary, put in an application for an AEF Teacher Mini Grant to purchase a color printer, paper and inks to fund several projects in the art room. One project would be a community wall where all students could see themselves represented in the larger school community. Students would take photos, print them and embellish them with frames or backgrounds, so each photo represented the way students wanted to be seen.
» Read more about: A Color Printer to Build Community Around Art »
Melissa Smiley, 8th grade teacher at Academy of Alameda (AOA), described a book project for 8th graders explore the psychology of learning and reading development, how lessons are taught through children’s stories, and the publishing process. The final project for this unit would be for students to write and create a children’s book with a specific grade level in mind that would share a specific message with the audience. When the books are completed, the 8th graders will participate in “Buddy Day” where they will visit elementary school classrooms and share their stories with the younger students.
» Read more about: Writing, Publishing and Sharing Children’s Books »
Wood Middle School grades 6 – 7 science teacher, Naveed Zainab, applied for a mini grant to purchase 5 microscopes for the class. Microscopy is an essential part of the 6th-grade science curriculum, and to ensure every student has hands-on experience, the school typically aims for two students per microscope.
Unfortunately, several microscopes were broken this school year, so up to four students had to share one microscope at times making it challenging for students to fully engage in the learning process.
