INNOVATIONS IN EDUCATION: FALL 2009 GRANTS

Hardy School Garden, Hardy School: A previously prepared bed is planted with spring bulbs by kindergarten classes and a colonial “Three Sisters garden” by third graders studying Native American and Colonial gardening. A self-watering system and timer helped maintain the garden through the summer.

PhotoStory 3 Workshop, Dallin School: Third grade students create movies of their fiction writing with scanned illustrations and audio voice-overs.

Kamishibai Project, Peirce School: Second graders’ study of Japan is enhanced by hands-on experience with this Japanese storytelling kit.

From Scraps To Blooms: Composting at Peirce School: Fifth graders work to create fuel for their Science Garden from the leftovers in the cafeteria, then train 4th graders to take over the following year.

Old Schwab Mill, Ottoson Middle School: 7th grade Technology students integrate the curriculum covering the history of manufacturing and technology in Arlington during the Industrial Age with a walking field trip to tour the mill

Art of Writing and Song, Thompson School: A year-long artist-in-residence program conducted by the Troubadour group focuses on literacy through the Art of Writing and Song, as visiting writers traine teachers and teach students about writing, poetry, and songs.

Ceramic Tile Mural for Senior Center, Arlington High School: Advanced Art students at Arlington High School collaborate with the Arlington Senior Center to plan, design, and install a ceramic tile mural for the Center.

Dealing with Grief, Bishop School: The Bishop School hosts workshops for Arlington teachers addressing specific strategies to help staff and students after a loss in the school community, and providing insight into how children understand death and loss.

Fourth Grade Community Concert, Town-wide As a supplement to the newly-integrated fourth grade social studies curriculum on Teosinte, El Salvador (Arlington's Sister City), fourth graders from every elementary school come together for a concert by local bilingual music group, Sol y Canto--and get a chance to interact with each other before they enter the Ottoson Middle School.

Improving Math Fluency with FASTT Math, Peirce School: Peirce students have the opportunity to pilot a math software program which provides tutorials and fun motivational games to help students attain quick recall of their math facts.

Introduction to Second Language Teaching, Ottoson Middle School: Ottoson teachers have the opportunity to attend professional development workshops providing an introduction to second language learning and helping them to modify lessons for students whose first language is not English.

Project Physics, Ottoson Middle School: This project provides a Vernier motion detector, track, and standard cart--state-of-the-art physics equipment--to eighth grade students at the Ottoson Middle School.

INNOVATIONS IN EDUCATION SPRING 2010 GRANTS

Increasing Student Engagement Through an Inquiry Science Approach, Hardy School: Fourth grade teachers create hands-on, community-based activities to enhance the science curriculum.

Responsive Classroom, Peirce School: Two teachers receive training in this approach "to creating safe, challenging and joyful elementary classrooms and schools."

Learning by Design: A Box City Project, Peirce School: Students learn about engineering, architecture, design, community, measurement, scale, communication, and cooperation as they design and build their own miniature city.

Engineering is Elementary (Afterschool Program ), Stratton School: An elementary-level engineering program developed by the Science Museum helps kids find engineering solutions to real-life challenges.

Fit and Focused - Using Mindfulness and Yoga for Better Learning, Stratton: Mindfulness and yoga activities before, during, and after school are introduced to help students develop the focus they need to succeed in school.

ELMO Document Camera and Projector System, Ottoson Middle School: Teachers and students at the Ottoson pilot the use of an ELMO that enables teachers to project everything from historical documents, to scientific samples and slides, to student work, in order to support group projects and learning.

Exploring Online Learning, Arlington High School: AHS brings teachers together to explore online resources to enhance classroom and independent learning, This grant also provides funds to add wireless spaces at AHS so that students and teachers have increased access to the Internet to take advantage of those resources.