Ms. Zschack and a colleague will travel to Thailand to volunteer at an orphanage that was created amid the destruction of the 2004 tsunami. Through this immersive cultural experience, Ms. Zschack will gain knowledge in the fields of special education, history, and ... more »

Mrs. Bowling will present two workshops at the National Science Teachers Association’s Regional Conference. In the first workshop, Mrs. Bowling will teach colleagues how to incorporate social networks in science classes; in the second workshop, she will discuss ... more »

Mrs. Masih will travel to Finland to study a school for the visually impaired and discuss with educators instructional strategies for working with visually impaired students. During her travels Mrs. Masih will blog about her learning so her middle school world ... more »

Hilltonia Middle School educators and students will participate in the “Indoor Gardens” project as the initial step in creating a foundation for improving student literacy and achievement. The educators will integrate learning through the use of hydroponic ... more »

Through the “Pass Path to Math Achievement” project, students will meet the demands of Magnolia Middle School’s 21st century technology goals. Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Webb will appeal to students’ enthusiasm for technology to improve their math ... more »

Mrs. Thompson will introduce iPads into her language arts classes to help better meet students’ needs as they improve their speaking, listening, viewing, and media literacy skills. Students will engage in differentiated learning projects and work in collaborative ... more »

JFK Middle School students will participate in the conservation of the Blanding’s turtle, a threatened species in eastern Massachusetts. In collaboration with wildlife biologists, students will raise and care for hatchlings which will be released upon maturation ... more »

To address varying readiness levels and interests, educators at Pocomoke Middle School will introduce iPads in classrooms to provide instructional methods that draw on students’ interests. Educators will use instant feedback to prepare for lessons and modify ... more »

Mrs. Dennis and Mrs. Gilpin will introduce a project based learning experience through which students will determine the best alternative energy source to use on school property. Students will research different “green” energy methods, draft informative ... more »

To increase the reading proficiency of underperforming and special education students, Mrs. Spencer and Mrs. Kinsinger will expand the “System 44 Reading” program. Through the program, students will be exposed to small group instruction, independent reading ... more »

To spark student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math, Mrs. Loper and Ms. Williams will introduce “Pathway to STEM,” a hands-on technology project.  The project will combine local and state standards from all core content areas to ... more »

Mrs. Macrory and Mrs. Wolf will create the Cheyenne Outdoor Exploratorium. This learning station will provide an environment where students will conduct experiments and complete research and field studies. The station will be composed of gardens, a greenhouse, alluvial ... more »

Ms. Johnson and Mr. Radermacher will assist special needs students in becoming involved in their Individualized Education Plans. Students in the program will learn to identify and describe their personal disabilities through self evaluation and be able to identify their ... more »

Through iLove Math Again, Mrs. Pernice and Mrs. Habermehl will introduce math centers in their classrooms that incorporate technology through the use of iPads. Educators will focus on students’ levels of engagement and interest to improve student achievement. ... more »

Mrs. Mauntel and Mrs. Terwiske will teach their students to use algebraic equations to program robots. Students will learn basic programming language via calculations on TI calculators and will use that language to have their robots perform a variety of tasks. As ... more »

Through the STAR program, educators will meet the needs of accelerated and gifted students. STAR will offer students assistance with developing higher level thinking skills, accelerated pacing in math and foreign languages, and the exploration and understanding of ... more »

Mr. Fowler will attend the New and Aspiring School Leaders program at Harvard University. Through the program, Mr. Fowler will gain new tools, frameworks, leadership techniques, instructional practice techniques, and ideas to more effectively build and sustain learning ... more »

Mr. Cahn will take part in a year-long learning experience through the Mindful Education Institute. Through the study, Mr. Cahn will create student centered social and emotional learning curriculum and staff development strategies grounded in research-based ... more »

To provide quality writing instruction for students at Greenville Middle School, Ms. Hedrick will attend a one-week internship at the Center for Teaching and Learning during which she will observe, discuss, and reflect on the teaching practices used by educators ... more »

Eighth grade students from two diverse schools in the Lower Merion School District will collaborate on a yearlong service learning project through Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program. Students will work collaboratively to explore social issues effecting ... more »

Through Connecting Cultures Across the World, students at Mendenhall Middle School will correspond with their peers in a sister school in Tema, Ghana. Students in each school will create videos about their school, town, region, and country. Video versions of ... more »

Mrs. Piscetta and Ms. West will upgrade Belmont Middle School’s Accelerated Reader Program with AR Enterprise, a web based application which will enhance their ability to reach all students. The program is designed to encourage independent reading and measure student ... more »

Ms. Cruse will lead a team of educators in the implementation of Kindles and eBooks at Lawrence School. The project will improve students’ ability to analyze and interpret text by allowing them to practice active reading comprehension strategies while developing ... more »

Mrs. Dufrene and Mrs. Sevin will introduce the MyMathLab online program into eighth grade pre-algebra classes. The program will allow students to take control of their own learning as they work at their own pace and receive immediate feedback after completing assignments, ... more »

Mrs. Towne will develop a hands-on, face-to-face training program that will enable school nurses to prepare for mandatory online training properly. The program will be a training opportunity that will enable other nurses to correctly use their screening equipment, network ... more »

Mrs. Ibson and six colleagues at Harwood Union Middle/High School will form a study group to explore interactive instructional strategies using iPads to improve engagement and academic performance. After an initial training, the group will research educational apps with a ... more »

Mr. Wetzel will attend a SMART Certified Training to gain an understanding of the full capabilities of the interactive whiteboards at Licking Heights Central Middle School.  Post training, Mr. Wetzel will train colleagues on effective whiteboard use and will ... more »

Through “Virtual Book Buddies,” eighth grade students at Springfield Middle School will create digital storybooks.  Students will record themselves reading the books aloud and the recordings will be used as learning tools to assist kindergarten ... more »

Mrs. Macht and Mr. Sgro will introduce “Youth Engaged in Service through the Arts (YES A+),” a unit that will use the core principles of service learning to bring youth voice and choice into the school day.  The project will guide students in the ... more »

To help students develop advanced writing, research, critical thinking, and presentation skills, Mrs. Collier and Mrs. Almond will engage students in a production that incorporates rap, singing, and dramatic presentations based on their social studies and language arts ... more »

Ms. Hargaden will attend Columbia University’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project in the summer of 2011.  Upon returning, she will lead a team reading and writing workshop at her school to implement and refine an approach to literacy instruction.  ... more »

Mr. Pizzo and Mrs. Aiello will lead a professional learning community to reinforce writing as a skill integral to all curricula.  Exemplary lead teachers in the district will team with professionals from the College of Saint Elizabeth not only to provide training for ... more »

Mrs. Gruis and Mrs. Rother will introduce Where Everybody Belongs (WEB), a middle school transition program that helps sixth grade students feel comfortable throughout the first year of their middle school experience.  WEB will foster a belief that students want to and ... more »

Teachers in Muskegon County school districts will implement Camp Shout Out, a multi-layered learning environment for children who stutter, their families, and speech therapists.  Speech therapists will be trained by board certified fluency specialists who have ... more »

Mrs. Ritchie will attend the National Institute of Trauma and Loss in Children’s Practitioners’ Assembly and learn new methods of providing services to students and staff during crisis situations.  As a member of the district’s Help and Response Team ... more »

Ms. Moore will attend the 2011 National Science Teacher Association conference and learn strategies to bridge the learning gaps students are experiencing in earth and life science.  Ms. Moore and her department expect content retention to increase and student test ... more »

Physics students at HB Woodlawn School will investigate the feasibility of generating electricity using wind turbines.  Students will first receive instruction on the physics of wind turbine design and then coach middle school students working in groups to build a ... more »

In an effort to reinforce the importance of outdoor learning, Mrs. McMurray will lead classroom sessions in local state parks.  By raising student awareness of the natural world and motivating students to become engaged in natural resource management practices, Mrs. ... more »

Mrs. Spencer and Mr. Goffin will challenge students to become independent learners capable of meeting their personal goals.  Through the use of iPads and available applications, students will identify life goals and research the math skills needed to accomplish these ... more »

The Job Skills Exposure Program will teach special education students the job skills they need in order to gain employment.  To help determine necessary skills, students will be taken to potential employers and exposed to various jobs.  Classroom instruction will ... more »

The Making Music Modern Project will engage music students at Cohen Middle School to increase critical thinking skills and provide an outlet for creative expression.  The project will incorporate software with which students will compose, arrange, play, and record ... more »

Through Generation 2 Generation, Hulstrom Options’ students will help preserve and document local history through podcasting, video logging, and artifact curation.  Students will work with senior veterans to digitize more than 4,500 artifacts dating from the ... more »

Students at EARTHS Magnet School will embark on real and virtual journeys to different biomes in California to conduct environmental research.  Students will study the water sources and watersheds in each biome and collect data, photos, and videos on water supply, ... more »

Mr. Junsay and Ms. Rosenkrantz will employ the Qwizdom student response system in seventh grade science classes during a unit on cell biology.  Each student will be provided with an electronic clicker so that he or she can respond to multiple choice and short response ... more »

To better serve their diverse student body, science, social studies, and electives faculty at Corner Lake Middle School will complete the Florida Inclusion Network (FIN)’s Curriculum of Differentiated Instruction.  By addressing the individual needs of students ... more »