Royal Oak Foundation for Public Education
Announces Grant Recipients
ROYAL OAK, MI. - Jeff Knaggs, President of the Royal Oak Foundation for Public Education, announced eight grants totaling $8,676, which were recently awarded to Royal Oak Neighborhood School teachers.
Addams Early Childhood Center
Project - Phonic Phones; Teacher Dawn Mayers
With phonic phones, children with articulation difficulties hear words and sounds, as they say them, in order to correct their own articulation errors.
Keller Elementary School
Project - Learner Profile and Attitude Books; PYP Coordinator Kelly Stanesa
The project will create a collection of library books that promote the characteristics and attitudes of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (appreciation, commitment, confidence, cooperation, creativity, curiosity, empathy, enthusiasm, independence, integrity, respect and tolerance). The goal is to provide examples of literary characters exhibiting these characteristics and use these characters as models of behavior which the students can follow.
Oakland Elementary School
Project - Math Pentathlon; Teacher Lisa Shannon
The project includes interactive problem solving games and instructional tools for all students to increase conceptual, spatial and creative thinking.
Jeff Knaggs, President of the Royal Oak Foundation, said "Math Pentathlon is a great project which utilizes all four sides of the Educational Success Square: Parents, Teachers, Students, plus Resources. The Foundation is pleased to help with the 'Resource' side."
Upton, Addams, Royal Oak Middle School
Project - Rosetta Stone; Teacher Christy Osborne
Rosetta Stone is a computer program designed for English Language Learners to independently acquire vocabulary, speaking, reading, writing and comprehension skills using systematic and researched strategies.
Royal Oak Middle School
Project - History Storyteller; Teacher Kristina James
The goal is to introduce 7th grade students to significant figures in Ancient Egypt or Ancient China. History storyteller Maureen Esther will make presentations on the discovery of King Tut’s tomb and the first emperor of China using artwork, photographs and artifacts to bring the topic to life.
Royal Oak Middle School
Project - Smartroom Learning Solutions; Team 7R Teachers - Deborah Bernhart, Pauline Schultz, Natalie Weir, Greg White
Whole class use of hand-held remote systems to interact with digital teacher presentations in order to retrieve instant feedback and reinforce learning. By using anonymous student polling technology, every student answers every question, without concern of peer pressure or embarrassment. This approach creates an enhanced learning environment for all students.
"This pilot project utilizes technologies and processes that have a proven track record of boosting learning on many of our nation's university campuses," said Knaggs.
Royal Oak Middle School
Project - Holocaust Library; Teacher Ann Williams
As a cross-curricular ELA and Social Studies unit on the study of Europe, 6th grade students have shown a keen interest in the Holocaust. Fiction and non-fiction themed books will provide a mix of books for literature circles for this particular unit of study. This library will enhance the motivation and self-directed learning of the students.
Royal Oak High School
Project - Interactive Student Website Expansion; Teacher Steve Chisnell
A grant was awarded to aid Mr. Chisnell’s efforts to help define and determine effective Internet enhancements to the classroom experience.
The Royal Oak Foundation for Public Education accepts and reviews applications for $1,500 mini-grants that fulfill its mission of enriching lives through educational opportunities for the Royal Oak Public School community. The next deadline is February 29, 2008. For guidelines and grant application details, see www.rofoundation.org
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