Poetry Slam 2026
Thank you for making our 3rd Annual Poetry Slam such...
Category: Programs
Rubber Ramp Tower
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.
A Classroom Where Students Feel Valued
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,
Building a Cool Geodesic Dome!
Learners in Science + Maker teacher, Michael Kim’s, class build...
New Texts for Early Readers
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,
Students Love Their New Classroom Library
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 »
QTAC is a Safe Nurturing Place for Alameda Teens
Interview with Jeramie Andehueson from Alameda Pride
Because Jeramie Andehueson, who founded Alameda Pride (and the Alameda Pride Foundation non-profit organization), didn’t get the support he needed growing up in the Midwest, he wanted to create a safe, inclusive environment for LGTBQ+ teens in Alameda. Thus the QTAC (Queer Teen Alameda Center) was born in October 2024.
Jeramie began his dive into community activism when he started the Alameda Pride in the Park festival in 2022.
» Read more about: QTAC is a Safe Nurturing Place for Alameda Teens »
Junior Engineer Enrichment Class Jump Starts STEM Learning
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 »
