NORMAN PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATION

GRANTS TO TEACHERS

Spring, 2008

1.   Divine Design for Printing Publications – Joye Oakley – Norman High School - ($200.00 fully funded)

            The newspaper class/staff needs another license for InDesign CS2 software to publish the monthly student newspaper.  The standard computer program for newspaper publication is InDesign CS2, and must be used to work with the Norman Transcript.

2.   All the Write Stuff – Jan Feldt and Lisa Barthelme – Kennedy Elementary - ($595.41 fully funded)

            Writing allows the child to acquire the ability to communicate through the written word.  We plan to purchase children’s literature books that display the writing skills we will be teaching in mini-lessons and to provide writing materials in our writing centers to promote interest and creativity during our literacy center time.

3.   Underwater Sea Creatures? Life in a Drop – Cynthia Charboneau – Whittier Middle School - ($325.00 fully funded)

            The PupilCam attaches to the eyepiece of any microscope and allows projection and recording of the life forms found in a drop of water and through examination of cell samples.  This tool will be instrumental in allowing time and attention to detailed descriptions and in depth discussion of what is being viewed and recorded while microscopes are in use and works with other forms of technology.

   4.   Where In the World…? – Kristen Carter – Whittier Middle School - ($814.00 fully funded)

               I propose to purchase an intermediate map set for my classroom.  This set would consist of a political and physical map of the world and of the United States of America.  These maps would be a great addition to our social studies classroom.

5.   Word Power, Kid Power – Shayna Kutt – Norman High School - ($259.55 fully funded)

            In an effort to improve equity across English II classes, improve students’ performance in literacy study, improve standardized test scores, and improve confidence and success in school work across the curriculum, our English II and Literacy Foundations teachers will integrate the SAT Word Power Vocabulary Cartoons.  A more sophisticated vocabulary, acquired through use of mnemonics and fun mini-lessons, provides students the key to unlocking school success.

6.   Dem Bones – Carol Harris – Whittier Middle School - ($575.00 fully funded)

            The purpose of this grant is to allow students to take a hands-on look at the skeletal system.  The skeleton models will allow students to manipulate the joints and bones of the skeleton system rather than just having to use their imaginations.

7.   Lights! Camera! Library! – Amanda Mimms – Alcott Middle School - ($387.10 fully funded)

            Funds from this grant will purchase scripts, scene and monologue books, and theatre training manuals to begin building a comprehensive drama library for my students.  This library will provide opportunities for student reading and prove helpful in planning active and relevant lessons.

8.   Composers Are Us – Leah Nellis – McKinley Elementary - ($290.95 fully funded)

            This grant will purchase an amazing software program that can create printed music written in standard musical mutation and, with the click of a button, play it back for students to hear and even record onto a CD or MPS.  The program will create written and audio files of original student musical compositions or teacher made materials, designed to meet PASS objectives in writing notation and in composing music.  It can be adapted to fit the exact needs of a class or of an individual student.

9.   Keep Your Hands ON!!! – Dondi Thompson – Whittier Elementary - ($551.80 fully funded)

            Hands-on activities help students to make the connection between concrete and abstract concepts.  These hands-on manipulatives will help students understand skills at a deeper level and help build their confidence in mathematics.

10.    You Are My Sunshine – Carol Harris – Whittier Middle School - ($401.00 fully funded)

            A Sunlit globe will be purchased with the funds from this grant.  The purpose of this piece of equipment is to allow the students to see how day and night occur due to the position of the Earth and Sun, as well as the seasons.

11.    BEWARE!! Self Cannibalizing Laminator – Maureen Goldsberry – Alcott Middle School - ($1,000.00 fully funded)

               We would like to purchase a new laminator to replace the 20+ year old init we’re currently struggling with.  Because laminators are quite expensive, our school will fund the difference between the awarded grant amount and actual cost of the machine.

12.    A SMARTboard for SMART Students– Megan Trujillo – Adams Elementary - ($1,000.00 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will be used to purchase a Smartboard which is an interactive whiteboard that will be used to enhance student learning.

13.    Graphing Calculators: Helping Students Succeed – LeAnn Chastain – Whittier Middle School - ($999.80 fully funded)

               Ten (10) graphing calculators will be purchased with the funds from this grant.  I want to be able to show students the numerous connections to our world and apply the knowledge they gain to help them succeed throughout their educational and professional lives.

14.    The Teen-Centered Book Club: Turning Readers Into Leaders – Karin Perry – Whittier Middle School - ($1,000.00 fully funded)

               This grant will provide book sets to be used during a lunch book club.

15.    LCDing is Believing! – Billie Carlsen – Whittier Middle School - ($605.00 fully funded)

               An LCD projector will be purchased with the funds from this grant.

16.    It’s a Crime not to Study Shakespeare – Amanda Mimms – Alcott Middle School - ($314.55 fully funded)

               This grant will fund the purchase of a classroom set of the novel, The Shakespeare Stealer, by Gary Blackwood.

17.    Transition Center for Students with Intellectual Disabilities – Diane Callaghan – Norman High School - ($985.73 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will purchase office equipment, restaurant supplies, and other occupational materials to provide an insulated environment where students who are physically disabled can practice skills that will prepare them for transitioning into adulthood.

18.    On the Island of Success with Test Prep Technology – Cari Elledge – Adams Elementary - ($833.00 fully funded)

               Funds from this grant will purchase a renewal site license for 3^rd grade students so teachers can continue to create confident and prepared test takers!

19.    On Your Mark! Get Dressed! Go! – Amanda Mimms – Alcott Middle School - ($600.25 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will help build a collection of costume items, wigs, and props to encourage creative expression and dramatic play.   The costumes will also be available for use in school performances and productions.

20.    Click for Success – Sheryl Tatum – McKinley Elementary - ($1,000.00 fully funded)

               This grant will fund a set of e-clickers.  E-clickers resemble a remote control and are used to gather instant assessment results.

21.    Been There, Done That: Prep for Stress Free Tests – Teresa Lansford – Kennedy Elementary - ($770.00 fully funded)

               Preparing children early for the types of questions they face in third grade testing has become a second grade goal.  With the funds from this grant, students will have the opportunity to practice common questioning styles while achieving goals in reading comprehension and cross curriculum study.

22.    Click-it is the Ticket – Laura Collins – Wilson Elementary - ($1,000.00 fully funded)

               The money from this grant along with funds from the PTA will be used to purchase an interactive response system.  This piece of technology will allow students to respond electronically to questions and receive immediate feedback to improve their learning.

23.    We’re Working, Now What? – Marcie Stickney – Special Services - ($392.92 fully funded)

               “We’re Working, Now What?” will provide the necessary housing and equipment of work essentials required of students when joining the workforce.  Students with disabilities have been ensured the appropriate uniforms, shoes, watches, and equipment it takes to succeed in the world of work and they now need suitable storage units in which to maintain their attire along with identifying name tags.

24.    Touch of a Button! – Sara Carpenter – Wilson Elementary - ($1,000.00 fully funded)

               This grant will provide partial funds for a Classroom Polling System (Blue Clickers).  The PTA will cover the additional cost of this amazing technology tool that will create a computer based learning environment.

25.    Geography…You’d be lost without it – Jan Filbeck – Whittier Middle School - ($975.75 fully funded)

               Two classroom sets of the Nystrom Desk Atlases will be purchased with the funds from this grant.

26.    Say Cheese! – Joye Oakley – Norman High School - ($700.00 fully funded)

               The newspaper class/staff needs a camera that is a quality product capable of producing superior quality pictures for the official student publication.  The grant money will allow the staff to purchase a staff camera to produce competitive-quality photographs in the newspaper and state journalism competition.

27.    To See Is To Believe: Writing Chinese Characters with Airliner – Alice Nan – Norman High - ($421.00 fully funded)

               This grant will be used to purchase one Airliner Wireless Slate set which is an excellent visual aid for teaching Chinese character writing.  Since writing Chinese characters is an art form, projecting large colorful Chinese symbols on a screen will enhance teaching and learning Chinese by enabling students to clearly see how each Chinese character should be constructed.

28.    Let’s Read! – Kristy Ford and Pat Morgan – Eisenhower Elementary - ($930.75 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will purchase quality literature for our emergent and transitional readers in 2^nd grade.  These books will fill an immediate need of providing interesting books at a lower reading level, and they will continue to benefit second graders for many years to come.

29.    Mallet Mania – Megan Pettitt – Kennedy Elementary - ($898.80 fully funded)

               This grant will fund the purchase of Orff instruments, metallophones and glockenspiels.  Students will gain hands-on learning of rhythm, melody, harmony, and improvisation through use of these instruments.

30.    Look Once Look Again! – Audra Plummer – McKinley Elementary - ($471.90 fully funded)

               This grant will fund the purchase of 144 books of the “Look Once Look Again” exploring non-fiction science books.  These readers will be used to help turn young readers into young research scientists.

31.    Books for Boys – Jan Merchant – Madison Elementary - ($536.40 fully funded)

               National studies show that boys read an average of 1.5 grades behind girls.  Books will be purchased to motivate boys reading below grade level.

32.    Listening, Sorting, Learning – Brittany Venk – Truman Elementary - ($184.00 fully funded)

               Funds will be used to purchase the Listen and Learn Phonemic Awareness Activity Program as well as the Magnetic Sound Sorting Boards that provide different hands-on learning activities all centered on phonemic awareness development.

33.    It’s Great for Kids to be “Puzzled” – Linda Sherrod – Lakeview Elementary - ($241.21 fully funded)

               Puzzles are a captivating way for kindergarten students to practice developing literacy and math objectives.  Since each puzzle targets a specific skill (uppercase letter recognition or spelling three letter words), it’s easy to give each child just the right puzzle to practice a needed skill.

34.    Literacy Intervention Program – Mary Neff – Madison Elementary - ($982.70 fully funded)

               The Literacy Intervention Program will provide students with the opportunity to take leveled reading books home nightly to read with their parents.  This program will increase parent involvement and students’ reading abilities.

35.    “My Book Essential” is Essential – Linda Bibb – Cleveland Elementary - ($179.98 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will purchase a 500 GB External Hard Drive which will provide much needed storage space for music files, PowerPoint files, and digital videos as well as the many electronic files provided with the new textbook adoption “Spotlight on Music”.

36.    LCDs “Projecting the Future!” – Amy Simcsuk – Whittier Middle School - ($605.00 fully funded)

               An LCD Projector will be purchased with the funds from this grant.

37.    Streaming Knowledge Into Their Minds – Karin Perry – Whittier Middle School - ($1,000.00 fully funded)

               A subscription to United Streaming will be purchased.  Teachers will have access to 5,000 videos to view for any subject taught.

38.    Teaching, Learning and Problem Solving Cooperatively – Ann Faison – Whittier Middle School - ($416.22 fully funded)

               An Airliner Wireless Slate will be purchased with the funds from this grant.  It enables you to teach from anywhere in the room and allows the students to interact with the media from their seats.

39.    Hot! Hot! Dots! – Heather Toney – Jackson Elementary - ($338.69 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will purchase Hot Dots Reading Comprehension cards that will be a fun way for kids to become better readers.

40.    Books Really Do Take You Places! – Heather Toney – Jackson Elementary - ($989.95 fully funded)

               Guided reading books and teacher’s guides will be purchased with the funds from this grant.

41.    With Teacher Tools, Literacy Rules! – Shayna Kutt – Norman High School - ($448.80 fully funded)

               Tools for Teaching Content Literacy is an easy-to-use resource full of new and favorite strategies for teachers to use in helping students become more strategic readers and learners in every class and to become successful EOI test-takers, too!

42.    Let Your Fingers do the Smart Thing! – Renee Hensley – Wilson Elementary - ($1,000.00 fully funded)

               This grant will provide $1000 of the cost of a Smart Board Interactive Whiteboard.  The PTA will cover the additional cost of this show not tell technology tool that will create an interactive learning environment in class.

43.    Calculating Students – Barbara Rice, Sandra Gerding, Kelly McBride and Mary Powell – Alcott Middle School - ($545.92 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will purchase classroom sets of TI-15 Explorer calculators for special needs students integrated into regular math classes and special education classes.

44.    Dog, Jog, Log . . . . Have you seen my frog? – Lianne Attar – Adams Elementary - ($292.68 fully funded)

               The funds for this grant will be used to buy resources to teach rhyming to kindergarten students.

45.    Fluency is Fun! – Yasmin Merchant – Adams Elementary - ($452.61 fully funded)

               “Fluency is Fun” is a proposal for teacher resources for fluency instruction.  The proposal includes books with reader’s theater scripts, plays, and poems.

46.    Math That Sticks! – Megan Trujillo – Adams Elementary - ($365.70 fully funded)

               This grant will be used to purchase giant magnetic manipulatives of fractions, bars, circles, pattern blocks, and place value blocks.  These manipulatives will enhance our math instruction because they provide children concrete practice of these concepts.

47.    Parents as Partners – Bonnie Meisel – Lakeview Elementary - ($483.24 fully funded)

                    This grant proposal named Parents as Partners will be used to purchase a collection of parenting resources to be placed in the school library media center.  The books will provide a wide variety of information for parents and teachers to consult when faced with issues like peer pressure, helping students with homework, discipline and reading with a child.

48.    Digital Natives Come to Life! – Sara Carpenter – Wilson Elementary - ($465.60 fully funded)

               An Airliner Wireless Slate will be purchased with the funds from this grant.

49.    Problem-Solving Practice with Puzzles – Mary Neff – Madison Elementary - ($367.90 fully funded)

               Literacy and Math puzzles will be purchased with the funds from this grant.  They will help a wide range of students practice literacy and math skills individually or in small groups.

50.    Accelerating our Readers: The Driving Force – Cindy Castell, Mary Pace, and Karin Perry – Whittier Middle School - ($998.64 fully funded)

               An Accelerated Reader program will be purchased with the funds from this grant.  The program is a bank of software tests on the computer over fiction and nonfiction books that we have in our library.

51.    Inquiries into Weather – Stephen Buck – Whittier Middle School - ($240.80 fully funded)

               A weather kit will be purchased with the funds from this grant.  This kit provides equipment and materials to conduct over 70 different investigations and activities that will enhance the current curriculum and allow for a deeper understanding of weather phenomena.

52.    Reviving My Library – Brad Talley – Jackson Elementary School - ($449.54 fully funded)

               This grant will fund the purchase of new novels for the library.

53.    3-2-1 Countdown to Genetics – Eileen Grzybowski – Norman North High School - ($1,000.00 fully funded)

               This grant will provide Biology classes with materials to actually perform Mendelian Genetic crosses on Wisconsin Fast Plants, lab materials to simulate other genetic processes, and to model genetic processes that students find difficult to learn.

54.    Around the World in 175 Days – Mark Stahl and Kristi Milligan – Longfellow Middle School - ($521.64 fully funded)

               The seven regional mapping labs offer challenging interactive and hands-on exploration of the ever-changing human, physical, political and cultural dimensions of the world that form the focus of the 7^th grade World Geography curriculum.  The labs provide students the opportunity to build and apply skills of the geographic inquiry process using the latest information.

55.    You and Me—Bully Free – Nicole Jerles – Kennedy Elementary - ($802.89 fully funded)

               The funds will purchase 2 research based “Bully Stopper Kits” that will be used in classroom guidance lessons to promote a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying.  Each kit contains research-based videos, posters, activity cards, teacher’s resource book, and pre and post tests.

56.    Calculator, Calculator . . .talk to me! – Lianne Attar – Adams Elementary - ($434.01 fully funded)

               The funds for this grant will be used to purchase student calculators, student talking calculators, and an overhead calculator for use with kindergarten children.

57.    Everybody’s Reading! – Jennifer Burnes – Alcott Middle School - ($747.84 fully funded)

               This proposal is for the 2^nd level of a reading program to use with those students who need additional intervention in order to master basic reading skills.  It is a highly structured program to help those students for whom phonics does not work.

58.    Man Are We SMART! – Carmi Scheller – Lincoln Elementary - ($1,000.00 fully funded)

               This grant will match funds to purchase the first Smartboard set up for our school site.  This engaging technology will be used for several projects with each grade level to explore geography as a starting project.  The unit is portable and can be checked out for use by all teachers and classes.

59.    Instant Assessment is Only One Click Away – Brad Talley – Jackson Elementary - ($820.98 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will purchase clickers for the classroom.  They are an innovative technological way to encourage students to have fun while being assessed.

60.    Mira, Mira On the Disk – Angela Redman – Norman North High School - ($241.60 fully funded)

               Miras are tools that students use to be able to see lines of symmetry, reflections, and other geometric transformations of shapes.  The funds from this grant will purchase two classroom sets of miras plus two resource books to help develop classroom activities to use the equipment.

61.    Free Me! – Teresa Lansford – Kennedy Elementary - ($980.00 fully funded)

               The internet, along with current software, provides numerous ways to expand student learning.  This grant will expose students to more in-depth class discussions, reviews, and instruction through access to PowerPoints, internet, and video while given the freedom of not being tied down to a bank of computers.

62.    Everybody Read Now – Jennifer Burnes – Alcott Middle School - ($942.48 fully funded)

               This proposal is for a reading program to use with those students who need additional intervention in order to master basic reading skills.  It is a highly structured program to help those students for whom phonics does not work.

63.    Smart Boards for Smart Kids – Sue Madole – Truman Elementary - ($1,000.00 fully funded)

               A smart board will be purchased with the fund from this grant.

64.    Don’t Just Tell Me, Show Me! – Sarah Bishop – Wilson Elementary - ($893.60 fully funded)

               The funds provided by this grant will allow me to purchase an LCD projector.  This projector will greatly enhance my ability to utilize computer based resources in the classroom, make teaching more engaging and increase student learning.

65.    First Step to Second Step – Tiffany Wylie – Truman Elementary - ($623.29 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will purchase books on Violence Prevention.

66.    Secure Your Sensational Sight Words – Jessica Jameson – Madison Elementary - ($224.20 fully funded)

               The Secure Your Sensational Sight Words grant will make it possible for students to be exposed to sight words everyday with fun, interactive sight word games and activities.

67.    Interactive Journey to Learning – Toni Carver – Whittier Middle School - ($605.00 fully funded)

               An LCD Projector will be purchased with the funds from this grant.

68.    Hands-On Geometry – Nicole Shobert – Irving Middle School - ($540.00 fully funded)

               This grant will fund the purchase of an entire set of materials needed for introducing characteristics of geometric solids. 

69.    A Home Connection! – Audra Plummer – McKinley Elementary - ($998.00 fully funded)

               This grant will fund the purchase of 96 Family Fun Packs reinforcing reading and math skills. 

70.    Electronics in a Snap – Michelle Grady – McKinley Elementary - ($795.85 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will purchase (13) Snap Circuits 300.  We will use the snap-together color coded pieces to learn about electronics while we experiment with lights, fans, sound and other circuits found in everyday electronics.

71.    The ABC’s of Kindergarten – Maggie Muir – Roosevelt Elementary - ($723.90 fully funded)

               The core of the Kindergarten literacy program is the alphabet.  This grant will help to enrich student learning and understanding of the alphabet through puzzles, letter dice, letter lacing beads, games and books based on the alphabet.

72.    Look Ma! No Hands Listening Center – Melinda Barrett – Wilson Elementary - ($209.95 fully funded)

               Four (4) Playaway self-playing digital audio books will be purchased with the funds from this grant.  They will enhance the listening skills of pre-kindergarteners.  The lightweight Playaway books with earplugs will be available in a listening center for student choice.

73.    Projecting the Word-Enlightening Readers – Carol Wahpepah – Irving Middle School - ($645.00 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will purchase a document camera which will be used with students who scored “limited knowledge” or Unsatisfactory” on the Oklahoma Core Curriculum Test (CRT) in reading.  The document camera is an innovative way to help visual learners in the acquisition of successful reading strategies.

74.    Surgery by Proxy – Donna Queen – Norman North High School - ($390.00 fully funded)

               The Airliner is a wireless slate incorporating interactive websites; it can be used to engage students by providing information and resources along with practice, simulations, and other learning activities. In Physio/Anatomy, this would include the opportunity to work with virtual dissection techniques.

75.    Hands on History: Colonial Period – Linda Cowen – Roosevelt Elementary - ($950.70 fully funded)

               The intent of this grant is to purchase hands-on history kits, books, videos, cds, and games to support the study of the colonial period, primarily from Colonial Williamsburg.  The opportunity to handle reproduction objects representing various perspectives will make colonial life “come alive” for students.

76.    Drama, Drama, Drama!!! – Michelle Sudbury – Washington Elementary - ($218.50 fully funded)

              The funds from this grant will purchase Reader’s Theater scripts from each genre and vocabulary enhancing games that will help students practice their expression phrasing, and vocabulary building in a fun and natural way.

77.    The Start-In (Students Are Responding To Intervention) Reading Program – Norma Ting – Monroe Elementary - ($499.80 fully funded)

              The Start-In Reading Program is a nine week, 45 hour, evidence-based program for small groups (1-5 students) of struggling readers in elementary grades.  Students with reading difficulties complete the 16 tasks in one hour sessions, five days a week, using reading materials from their classroom or library.

78.    Classroom Commandoes – Amy Brewer-Sterr – Jefferson Elementary - ($999.00 fully funded)

               This grant, combined with donated funds, will purchase a school set of 24 classroom clickers for on-site library checkout.

79.    Bright Beginnings – Bonnie Meisel – Lakeview Elementary - ($410.00 fully funded)

               The funds from this grant will be used to purchase a collection of Early Childhood resources to be used by the school counselor and Early Childhood teachers.  The books will be used to provide learning experience in the pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and 1^st grade classrooms.

80.    Think Outside the Block – Jamie Daniels – Cleveland Elementary - ($121.90 fully funded)

               A 100 piece set of Magna-Tile Blocks will be purchased with the funds from this grant.  The block set will greatly enhance the block center giving students an even greater opportunity for exploration and creative play.

81.    Go ahead touch me! – Melodye Pipes – Lincoln Elementary - ($483.00 fully funded)

               This grant will provide a touch screen monitor for students with communication needs to use computers to gain access to language and open their world in new and exciting ways.  This technology creates opportunities for independence and access to technology that does not exist without this device.

82.    Show Me the Math – Michelle Studbury, Larissa Luther, Amy Szarka and Marie Hill – Washington Elementary - ($596.80 fully funded)

               The money from this grant will be used to purchase math centers that help students develop their proficiency with multiplication, time, measurement, problem solving, and computation.

83.    Ready for Takeoff – Angela Redman – Norman North High School - ($415.00 fully funded)

               An Airliner wireless slate will be purchased with the funds from this grant.

84.    Stick with It! – Jamie Daniels – Cleveland Elementary - ($89.85 fully funded)

               A magnetic color maze and a magnetic counting maze will be purchased with the funds from this grant.