December 2016 Grant Recipients

Informational text is a type of nonfiction that conveys information about the natural or social world. Exposing students to this genre early offers great benefits for young readers. It provides the key to success in later schooling, prepares students to handle real-life reading, appeals to readers' preferences, builds knowledge, & boosts vocabulary and other kinds of literacy knowledge.

Our goal is to raise the reading level of First Grade students, through instruction in guided reading groups and including multiple opportunities to practice reading in class and at home with parents and family members. Our expected outcome is that more students will move from a 1 (Intensive) or 2 (Strategic) to a 3 (Benchmark). We are currently using an innovative model with four teachers and two paraprofessionals for instruction for four First Grade classrooms. With weekly progress monitoring and flexible grouping, our goal is to give the students the practice they need to be successful readers.

With this grant I can purchase MagicTreehouse fiction books along with the non-fiction companions and use them for in depth instruction that enriches CKLA. Think how empowering it would be for students to go back to their regular classrooms and present collaborative group projects from research and informational writing they’ve done to present to their own peers. I hope you will consider this wish and let Jack and Annie (two characters every second grade reader can identify with) carry my growing readers on their fictional reading adventure.

ASL is visual language that causes students to need technology to help develop the skills. In using the ipad in my class students are able to videotape themselves or others, pen pals with students near and far, communicate with deaf individuals near or far, participate in review activities, and have ASL dictionary. I have ipads but I am in need of traveling cart to hold the ipad, and charge them overnight so they are ready to go for everyday.

Developing a costuming room will assist all art majors (dance, theater, music, and visual art) at IFAA for presentations, concerts, multi-media art, fashion designing, costuming, alterations, mathematical skills and problem solving.Currently students and parents work from home providing costuming for the theater department.

To introduce the student to rudimentary electronics in preparation for more advance electronic courses, the course will reinforce skill development in applied mathematics and physics through theory and laboratory assignments based on industry procedures and Idaho’s Electronic Technology State Program Standards. Students will be provided instruction on safety, introduction to the electronics industry, tool and equipment use, soldering techniques, and employability skills, and habits. Students will be involved in activities which will reinforce problem solving, teaming, language arts, science, and mathematics skills which use real-life industry examples and procedures. Labs will provide the students with “hands-on” experience and practical applications.