2005-06 Large Grant awards
1. “From a Schoolhouse Window”
Submitted by the Needham Historical Society and Robert Abbey
| Funding: $15,000 | | The Needham Historical Society proposes to build a social science/historical curriculum as part of the newly created Needham Historical Society “campus” consisting of the Matthias Mills House & Falls School – now located on the front lawn of the Newman Elementary School. The proposal focuses on creating living history “kits” that tie into the existing social studies curriculum for grades 3, 4 and 5. |
2. “Expanding the Dialogue”
Submitted by Debbie Watters on behalf of Needham Public Schools
| Funding: $15,000 | | This proposal for a second year of funding includes expanding the “World of Difference” program at the middle school, offering parent workshops on the “World of Difference” program, providing “Facing History and Ourselves” training for 4 middle school teachers (with the further goal of designing lessons to add to the social studies curriculum), training 40 elementary school parents in leadership positions regarding anti-racism, and continuing to provide community outreach (films, workshops, informational forums). |
3. “Author Study ~Literacy Celebration”
Submitted by Kate Maguire, Lynn Gotwals, Anne Whittredge, Char Sidell
| Funding: $15,000 | | This grant application is to put together an Author’s week in Needham, October 16-20, 2006. There will be 5 authors of children’s literature invited to work with elementary school grades (1 through 5) with one author per grade, each spending one day at four of the five elementary schools. Additionally, the week will culminate on October 21 with a public “Read-Aloud-a-thon” at the new library. This celebration will feature students of all ages & local ‘celebrities’ (possibly including the new school superintendent, town selectmen, teachers) reading from favorite published works or their own writing. |
4. “Greg Tang District-Wide Math Project”
Submitted by Sannie Rejndrup and Laurie Levin
| Funding: $9,313.14 | | Last year NEF funded a small grant to bring math educator, Greg Tang, to Newman Elementary School for 3rd & 4th grade workshops. Mr. Tang’s technique focuses on ways to make “smart groupings” that help students with different learning styles gain greater confidence in mastering basic math operations. The grant co-author (elementary math curriculum leader) considers this to be an appropriate compliment to the Math Investigations curriculum currently in place. Funding of this grant is to support a district-wide expansion of Greg Tang’s methods, including presentations to all 3rd grade students at all schools and the necessary materials for this expansion. In addition, Mr. Tang will lead a professional day workshop to introduce the program to all K-5 teachers across the five elementary schools. |
|
