Teacher Training - Teachers Networkteachersnetwork.org/catalogs/miamiimpactII.pdf · one-time seed grant from The Ford Foundation. Its mission is to design, shape and implement initiatives

The Education Fund (The EdFund) is an independentnon-profit organizationestablished in 1985 with aone-time seed grant fromThe Ford Foundation. Itsmission is to design, shapeand implement initiativesthat involve the privatesector in improving ourschools and bringingexcellence to publiceducation. The Ed Fund’sfirst program awarded mini-grants to classroom teachers.Today, The Ed Fund’s 15programs reach 300+ schoolsand 19,000+ teachers inMiami-Dade County and haveattracted the support of localand national companies andfoundations.

Teacher Training & Classroom SupportCitibank Success FundAwards mini-grants for teaching projects thatencourage at-risk students to stay in school. Morethan 140,000 students have benefited from SuccessFund grants, totaling more that $1/2 million.

Citigroup Team/Mentor GrantsGrants that encourage collaboration betweenveteran teachers (with more than 5 years ofteaching experience) and beginning teachers(with less than 5 years of teaching experience).This collaboration will center on student learningprojects that provide common ground for veteranand beginning teachers to work together. Thegoal is to encourage peer-to-peer learningopportunities and ongoing dialogue amongteachers.

IMPACT IIGives teachers the resources and the network toshare successful classroom-tested projects withother teachers through the Ideas With IMPACTcatalog, distributed to 20,000+ teachers andadministrators in Miami-Dade public schools, andat the Idea EXPO – The Teacher Conference, oneof the largest local teacher conferences.

Ocean Bank Center for Educational MaterialsCollects surplus inventory and supplies from thebusiness community and makes them available forfree to public school teachers throughout Miami-Dade County. The Ocean Bank center has mademore than $3.6 million in donated goodsavailable to teachers, benefiting 324,730 studentsand almost 1,000 classrooms.

Teachers Network Policy Institute (TNPI)Enables the teacher’s voice to be a factor ineducational policy-making by training teachers toundertake school-based action research projectsand then to disseminate the research implicationsto policy-makers.

Teacher Mini-GrantsAwards small cash grants to teachers who want totry something new in the classroom to stimulatelearning. Almost 1,000 outstanding projects havebeen developed with these grants.

Reading & Library ProgramsAmeriCorps Dade READS!Places 25 AmeriCorps members as full-time one-on-one reading tutors in eight elementary schoolsto raise the reading levels of children in low-income families.

Library QuestAn information literacy program that culminatesin a fun and exciting contest that appears eachyear in The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald.In the 2002 contest, students sent in nearly86,000 entries.

Roadhouse ReadersWith more than 675,000 reading forms requestedby teachers, this contest challenges students’reading comprehension skills in a fun andentertaining way. There are prizes for studentsand a free guide for parents with tips on how toencourage reading at home.

Community & FamilyEngagement InitiativesCentral EXPRESSA large-scale school improvement initiative thatinvolves teachers, administrators and parents inraising student achievement in the Miami Centralfeeder pattern. Funded by The Ford Foundationand administered by The Ed Fund in collaborationwith the University of Miami and FloridaInternational University.

Governor’s Mentoring Initiative/Front Porch FloridaThis initiative promotes mentoring in theRiverside/Little Havana Front Porch neighborhoodschools by engaging local individuals andorganizations as mentors.

REACHA new program that promotes family literacy andincreases parental literacy through onlineinstruction and a book club; engages parents withtheir children through school-based and at-homereading activities; and employs a strong incentivebased strategy that includes providing arefurbished, Internet-ready computer forparticipants’ homes.

Washington Mutual Parent Resource CentersOne of the cornerstone pieces of a large schoolimprovement effort, this program creates andsupports family centers in the Miami Centralfeeder pattern schools to encourage leadership inparents. The Ed Fund and the schools not onlyteach parents and caregivers the ins and outs ofworking with schools but they also providestrategies for getting others involved.

Technology InitiativesAT&T TeachNetEncourages teachers to become technology leadersthrough a peer-to-peer training network. Thisprogram is part of a national effort taking placein six cities.

Citibank FamilyTechOpens the world of computer technology to morethan 2,500 low-income students and theirfamilies by placing donated Internet-readycomputers in their homes and training parentsand teachers to use the computers and supervisetheir children’s work.

The Education Fund currently offers support for Miami-Dade County Public Schools in the following areas:

For more information, logon to our Web site:

www.educationfund.org

AUGUST/SEPTEMBERIdeas With IMPACT is sent to allteachers; Teacher Mini-Grantapplications available inschools; Ocean Bank Center re-opens; Citibank Success Fundapplicants notified; Impact IIPublishing Party held

OCTOBERCitibank Success Fund AwardsCeremony held; Teacher Mini-Grants applications dueOctober 28, 2002

NOVEMBERIMPACT II Idea EXPO – TheTeacher Conference held –November 9, 2002; TeacherMini-Grants judging held

DECEMBERIMPACT II Adapter Grantapplications due December 6, 2002

JANUARYTeacher Mini-Grants applicantsnotified; IMPACT II AdapterGrant applicants notified;Teacher Mini-Grants and AdapterGrant Awards Ceremony held

FEBRUARYOcean Bank Center ArtExhibition submissions due;Citibank Success Fundapplications available; CitigroupTeam Mentor Grant applicationsavailable

MARCH/APRILIMPACT II Disseminator Grantapplications due March 1, 2002;Ocean Bank Center ArtExhibition opens; Ocean BankCenter Silent Art Auction held;Library Quest contest begins;IMPACT II Disseminator Grantapplicants notified

MAYLibrary Quest ends

JUNE/JULYCitibank Success Fundapplications due June 2, 2003;Library Quest Awards Ceremonyheld; Citibank Success FundGrant Judging held; CitigroupTeam Mentor Grant applicationsdue June 20, 2003

*Dates are subject to change

The Education FundBoard of Directors

OfficersSusan Yarosz, Chair

Washington Mutual

Barbara Romani, Vice ChairCitibank F.S.B.

Barbara EhrichLocke, Vice ChairHolland & KnightLLP

Gary M. Pappas, TreasurerCarlton, Fields,Ward, Emmanuel,Smith & Cutler

Barbara F. Menendez,SecretaryHumana Inc.

Joanna D. Wragg,APR, ImmediatePast ChairWragg & CasasPublic Relations

Linda Lecht, PresidentThe Education Fund

DirectorsBrenda Bassett

Johnson & WalesUniversity

Pilar L. BoschOffice Depot, Inc.

Susan CaroleColdwell Banker

Jeri B. CohenCircuit Judge

Opal ComfortThe Miami Herald

Luis de la AguileraTotalBank

Roland B. GarciaOriginalImpressions, Inc.

Perla TabaresHantmanThe School Board ofMiami-Dade County

Dawn R. HurnsPrincipal of the Year2002, M-DCPS

Dr. Shirley B.JohnsonUnited Teachers ofDade

Betsy H. KaplanThe School Board ofMiami-Dade County

Jessica MarleauKnopfDisney PublishingWorldwide, Inc.

Carmen B. MarinelliPrincipal of the Year2001, M-DCPS

Anita MeyerMeinbach, Ed.D.Teacher of the Year2002, M-DCPS

Lucy W. PetreyMiami-DadeCommunity College

Hector J. PonteFirst Union NationalBank

Randi RappHelp U Sell ChoiceReal Estate Services

Jorge I. SalgueiroArthur AndersenLLP

Anthony X. SilvaCorporate SystemsGroup

Lisa SloatPublic Relations/Marketing

Merrett StierheimSuperintendent, M-DCPS

Pat L. Tornillo, Jr.United Teachers ofDade

Janis Klein YoungTeacher of the Year2001, M-DCPS

Past ChairsBenigno F. Aguirre

Ocean Bank

Luis AjamilBermello, Ajamil &Partners, Inc.AlbertA. del CastilloSquire, Sanders &Dempsey

Ted A. FernandezAnswerThinkConsulting Group

Seth GordonGDB + Partners

Dennis M. KlingerFPL

David Patrick NixonThe Nixon Group

R. Benjamine ReidCarlton, Fields,Ward, Emmanuel,Smith & Cutler, P.A.

Dale WebbFlorida InternationalUniversity

Pro BonoConsultants

Karen D. Godfrey,Partner

Cynthia L. Busher,Manager

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Henry H. Raattama,Jr., PartnerAkerman, Senterfitt& Eidson, P.A.

1. Buy an EducationLicense Plate! TheEducation Fund receives$15 from the sale of eacheducation license plate sold in Miami-Dade County – and fromrenewals each year!(See page 15 of the yellow insertpages in this catalog.)

2. Designate TheEducation Fund as the recipient of yourUnited Waycontribution (see page2 of the yellow insertin this catalog).

3. Honor a loved one bymaking a donation intheir name.

4. Designate The EducationFund as a beneficiaryin your will.

5. Give donations of stockor property.

6. Make a cash donationor use your credit cardon our Web site:www.educationfund.organd click “Donate now!”

Call The Education Fund(305-892-5099, x21) tofind out how you canmake charitable givingpart of your portfolio.

To contact us. . .

The Ed Fund Calendar*

The Education Fund

900 NE 125th St., Suite 10

North Miami, FL 33161

305-892-5099 (phone)

305-892-5096 (fax)

www.educationfund.org

How you can help The Education FundHow you can help

The Education Fund

w w w . e d u c a t i o n f u n d . o r g

2Impact II

A N e t w o r k o f I d e a sIMPACT II IMPACT II is a program of The

Education Fund that focuses

on strengthening curriculum,

student achievement and

leadership in Miami-Dade

County Public Schools by

identifying and connecting

teachers who exemplify

professionalism and creativity

in their classrooms. Teachers

who have developed successful

classroom teaching methods

are given grants to package

and market their proven

projects through the Ideas

With IMPACT catalog, the

Idea EXPO – The Teacher

Conference and Idea Packets

that contain curriculum

materials such as lesson

plans, worksheets and

resource lists. Adapter grants

are also available to help

teachers incorporate IMPACT II

ideas into their classroom.

IMPACT II Disseminator& Adapter Grants –Teachers SharingProven PracticesDisseminator grants are available toteachers to further develop anddisseminate exemplary programs thatthey have used in their classrooms.Grant award winners are recognized ataward ceremonies and publicationparties; provided with support toprepare materials for dissemination;published in print catalogs and on anational Web site; supported inlearning presentation skills andleading workshops; and networkedwith like-minded professionals.Adapter grants are awarded to teachersto purchase materials to adaptDisseminators’ programs. Applicationsand more information on theseprograms are available online atwww.educationfund.org.

The Ideas With IMPACTCatalog – Explore NewTeaching IdeasThe teaching ideas found in thiscatalog were developed and usedsuccessfully by teachers who appliedfor and received a Disseminator grant.These projects can be used exactly asthey are, or they can be modified tomeet a classroom’s special needs. TheIdeas With IMPACT catalog is a greatresource for ideas and an excellentreference tool throughout the year.

The IMPACT II IdeaEXPO – The TeacherConferenceGet New Ideas, Make Connections& Win Prizes

With more than 70 workshops tochoose from, the Idea EXPO – TheTeacher Conference addresses allsubject areas for K-12 teachers who arecommitted to improving studentachievement. The IMPACT II Idea EXPO– The Teacher Conference featuresgrant-winning workshops, freecurriculum packets, gift bags, excitingdoor prizes, a luncheon, and a displayexhibition that provides teachers withthe opportunity to interact withDisseminators at the visual displays oftheir projects. Call 305-892-5099, ext.18 for a registration form or see pages7–10 of the yellow insert in thiscatalog. You can also preregister onlineat: www.educationfund.org/expo.html

IMPACT II A N e t w o r k o f I d e a s


3Impact II

ATTEND the IMPACT II Idea EXPO – TheTeacher ConferenceA registration form can be found onpages 7-10 of the yellow insert in thiscatalog. You may also logon towww.educationfund.org/expo.html todownload a registration form or registeronline. Call 305-892-5099, ext. 18 tohave the form mailed or faxed to you.

BECOME an IMPACT IIDisseminator and befeatured in next year’scatalogIMPACT II awards $750 DisseminatorGrants to educators willing to sharethe successful teaching strategies thatthey designed and implemented intheir classrooms. Any Miami-Dadepublic school educator may apply tobe a Disseminator and become amember of the IMPACT II local andnational network by using theapplication found on The EducationFund’s Web site atwww.educationfund.org.

APPLY for an IMPACT IIAdapter Grant! To purchase materials to adapt one ofthe ideas featured in this catalog orpast years’ catalogs*, you can applyfor an Adapter Grant.

Here’s how to qualify:

1. Select an idea from the IMPACT IIcatalog (past or current).

2. Request an Idea Packet and discussyour ideas for implementing theproject with the Disseminator.

3. Complete the Adapter applicationfound online atwww.educationfund.org, in theback of the Idea Packet or on page5 of the yellow insert pages in thiscatalog.

Submit the application toThe Education Fund900 NE 125th St., Suite 10 North Miami, FL 33161.

You may also informally adapt theprojects on your own without applyingfor funding. If you use a project onyour own, please notify The EducationFund so you can be added to theIMPACT II network.

*For information on the past 12 years ofprojects, visit the IMPACT II Web site atwww.TeachNet.org or call The EducationFund at 305-892-5099, ext. 18.

HHOOWW IIMMPPAACCTT IIIICCAANN WWOORRKK FFOORR YYOOUU

Table of Contents

The Ed Fund’sIdeas With IMPACT

Written and edited byLorna Valle, Program Manager

The Education Fund

M. Bronwyn Beightol Director of Communications

The Education Fund

Production DirectorM. Bronwyn Beightol

Director of CommunicationsThe Education Fund

Designed & Printed byOriginal Impressions, Inc.

Miami, FL

WinAirlineTickets from

Register today forThe Education Fund’s

13th Annual IMPACT II Idea EXPO – The Teacher Conference

See pages 7-10 of the yellow insert or register online at

www.educationfund.org/expo.html

Attention Teachers!!Win a Prize*!!

Please help us help you by filling out the survey located on page 3

in the yellow insert in the center of this catalog!

*The first 100 teachers who return oursurvey will receive a Starbucks gift card.

Page 5 Math & Science ProfilesSponsored by Humana

Page 6 Bird’s Eye ViewBy Nancy Sale

Page 7 GAMESBy Donna M. Lewis

Page 8 Go With the Flow!By Barbara Zeiler

Page 9 How Sweet Math Is!By Josephine D. Dufek

Page 10 Metric InvestigationsBy Elliott Fledell

Page 11 Tropical Underwater DreamsBy Mark L. Rosenkrantz

Page 12 Where Did the Sea TurtleLay Her Eggs?By Don Deresz

Page 13 AT&T TeachNet ProfilesSponsored by AT&T

Page 14 Honey, I Blew Up the BeeBy Elizabeth Linero

Page 15 SharksBy Carol Langford

Page 16 Viva MexicoBy Rosa Duarte

Page 17 Using Art to EnhanceCurriculum ProfilesSponsored by The KirkFoundation

Page 18 Arts for Learning

Page 20 Arts & IssuesBy Ray Parris

Page 21 Digit-eyezed Through theEyes of a ChildBy Susie Stein Luck

Page 22 The Opera AdventureBy Maria SilviaConstantinidis

Page 23 Diversity Education ProfilesLearning for LifeRobert Russell Memorial

FoudationDade Community

Foundation

Page 24 Around the WorldBy Lisette T. Camps

Page 25 I Have a DreamBy Ilana Ascher-Alamo

Page 26 Making News Happen!By Tom Calvey

Page 27 Sing a Song of AmericaBy Regina Stuck

Page 28 Language Arts ProfilesChase Active LearningGrants

Page 29 Books for BreakfastBy Iris M. Garcia

Page 30 Flirting With Phonics inHigh SchoolBy Yvette M. Domenech

Page 31 Puzzling Pieces ofLiteratureBy Nancy Frailey

Page 32 Read, Read, American Girls!By Marcia Strait, LisaWashington & SandraCastellon

Page IBC Companies With IMPACT

INSERT PAGESPage 2 How to Help The Education

Fund

Pages 3-4 Survey

Pages 5-6 Adapter Grant Application

Pages 7-10 IMPACT II Idea EXPO – TheTeacher ConferenceRegistration

Pages 11-14 Disseminator GrantApplication

Page 15 Education License Plate

Page 16 Galaxy of Supporters

Did you know? You can designate The Education Fund asthe recipient of your United Way donation! Please refer to page 2of the insert in this catalog for more information.

Table of Contents

On the road to a better education.

Imagination is a powerful tool in the classroom.

With it, our teachers build strong minds and confident

spirits ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow.

Humana is pleased to once again sponsor Ideas with Impact,

a program that has made such a difference in classrooms

throughout our community. We believe that creativity is key to

meeting the challenges teachers face. Humana is committed to

supporting the dissemination of their ideas, so that more

and more children benefit from their efforts.

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE MATH AND SCIENCE SECTION

* The Florida education license plate benefits The Ed Fund. For more information on how to order a tag, see page 15 of insert.

*

Birds are a great tool for studyingscience. A Bird’s Eye View fosterskids’ natural fascination with birdswhile promoting scientific inquiry,environmental awareness andinterdisciplinary learning. Throughthe simple act of watching birdsoutside the classroom window,students learn to distinguishbetween species and to discoverdifferences in birds’ habitats,behaviors and food preferences.Students learn to identify birds bythe shapes of their beaks, wings, feetand by the sounds they make. Aninexpensive birdhouse with birdseedbecomes an outdoor lab wherestudents can collect data. Binocularsextend the lab to the entireschoolyard bringing the investigationof birds up close. The enthusiasm forthe study of birds is easily carriedover into the language artscurriculum through bird-relatedbooks, songs and poems.

THE STUDENTS:Fifteen kindergarten and 90, 3rd-, 4th-and 5th-grade students haveparticipated in this project weekly asactivities are integrated into variousareas of the curriculum. The projectcan be adapted to all ages and can beused in large or small group settings.A number of low performing studentsthroughout this identified lowperforming school participated andbenefited from this project.

THE STAFF:Nancy Sale has been ateacher for 17 years.Ms. Sale has beenawarded grants fromThe Education Fund’sCitibank SuccessFund, Teacher Mini-Grants and IMPACT IIprograms.Ms. Sale received aSierra Club GreenAward for thisproject.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES:Teachers can develop materialsappropriate for their classes throughthe school’s media center, locallibraries, the Internet and theAudubon Society, depending upon theintensity of the teacher’s interest level.Binoculars, bird feeder, birdseed andbird field guidebooks are used in theproject. The Audubon Society has astudent program that includes schoolvisits. Students can also participate viathe Internet in Classroom FeederWatch,a program of the Cornell Lab ofOrnithology.

Birds bring the scientificmethod to life and are asclose as the outside of aclassroom window. When

students learn the differentparts of birds, their unique

colors, wings, beaks, and feet,they gain a new respect forthe wonder of nature that is

all around them.

MORE INFORMATION:Nancy SaleLillie C. Evans Elementary

1895 NW 75th St.Miami, FL 33147

Mail Code: 1681 Telephone: 305-691-4973Fax: 305-691-4867E-mail:

[email protected] S. Stinson, Principal

Sponsored by:

A Bird’s Eye View


6Math & Science

A Bird’s Eye View Originally a Citibank Success Fund Grant

Originally a Citibank Success Fund Grant

G.A.M.E.S. reinforces thegeometry components of theSunshine State Standards. Italso strengthens andintegrates science, writingand technology skills.Students solve real-worldproblems as they estimatemeasurements, draw two- orthree-dimensional shapes andmake geometric objects todemonstrate geometrictransformations, includingflips, slides and turns.

On a geometric discoverytour of the school eachstudent identifies and drawsgeometric objects observedon the tour. They then workin cooperative learninggroups to compare, contrast, classify,group, and write a description of theobjects using characteristics such asnumber of sides and angles. Next,the students estimate, measure andcalculate the length, area andperimeter, using standard and non-standard units of measurement fortheir objects. Using graph paper,students then make scale diagramsand three-dimensional models ofeach object. Throughout the project,students keep a journal ofobservations, drawings, calculations,and descriptions to use in reportingto the class. After completion of thisproject, they are ready to measure,record and complete a scale floorplan of an entire school building.

STUDENTS:Ninety-six, 5th-grade studentsparticipated in the project however,the project can be adapted for 3rd-and 4th-grade students. The classesmeet twice per week.

THE STAFF:Currently the Lead Teacher at FrancesS. Tucker Elementary, Donna Lewis hasbeen teaching in Miami-Dade Countyfor 14 years. In 1997, she was Teacherof the Year at Coral Gables Elementaryand a finalist for Region IV. She hasreceived several grants to fund projectsincluding The Education Fund’sCitibank Success Fund and TeacherMini-Grants.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:The Idea Packet for this projectincludes lesson plans, worksheets, asoftware guide, materials list and astudent journal. Onsite resourcesinclude the media center and theInternet. Guest speakers from variousprofessions such as the architecturalfield, construction, or carpet/tileindustry can be invited to speak to theclasses.

This project takes studentsbeyond the confines of theclassroom and provides real

world experiences andapplication in mathematics.

MORE INFORMATION:Donna M. LewisFrances S. Tucker Elementary

3500 Douglas RoadCoconut Grove, FL 33133

Mail Code: 5561Telephone: 305-567-3533,

ext. 128Fax: 305-529-0409E-mail: [email protected]: Vanassa Rivers

Sponsored by:

G.A.M.E.S. - Geometry and Mathematics Encounters at School


7Math & Science

G.A.M.E.S. - Geometry and Mathematics Encounters at SchoolOriginally a Catherine Scripps

Rodriguez Family FoundationTeacher Mini-Grant

Originally a Catherine ScrippsRodriguez Family Foundation

Teacher Mini-Grant

Go With the Flow! is a compilationof investigative, collaborativeactivities that engage students in theexploration of the basic principles ofdiffusion and osmosis. All cells mustbe capable of taking in nutrients andeliminating wastes. Several processesare involved in the transportation ofmaterials across cell membranes, butnone are more important than theprocess of diffusion. Knowledgeabout diffusion is the key tounderstanding how the lungs andblood system work, as well as themany forms of transport, especiallyin lower animals and plants.

Students investigate diffusion andosmosis and witness the relevancy ofscience through experiments such asOsmosis: Eggactly, where studentsuse an egg as a model of a cell. Theydissolve the shell of the egg withvinegar to observe the processes ofdiffusion and osmosis. The studentsthen make tactile observations oftheir cells identifying variables,describing the relationship betweenvariables, and measuring thechanges in the mass and size ofeggs. In another experiment,Awesome Osmosis, studentsinvestigate the process of osmosis byobserving the turgor (how firm orlimp) pressure on carrots asinfluenced by different solutions overa 24-hour period.

THE STUDENTS:Students in grades six through 12 canparticipate in this project. Creating aneffective learning environment is thefirst step in addressing the diverseneeds, backgrounds and learning styles

of various students.This project buildson the students’innate curiosity tocreate a rich andmeaningfullearningexperience.

THE STAFF:Barbara Zeiler hastaught for morethan 25 years andis currently aScience Specialistwith the Divisionof Math and Science of Miami-DadeCounty Public Schools. She is active inThe Education Fund’s IMPACT IInetwork disseminating information onthe science projects, Hallmark, WatchOut and Opposites Really Do Attract.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:The school media center provides anassortment of books and videos. TheInternet provides many sites withbackground material on diffusion andosmosis as well as many virtualsimulations of the processes.

Students make the connectionbetween science and the realworld as they witness a naked

egg swelling in water andshrinking in syrup and learn

why putting salt on a slug is adeadly pursuit, for the slug

that is! Perhaps learning canbe achieved through osmosis!

MORE INFORMATION:Barbara Zeiler

Science Specialistc/o Richmond Heights Middle

15015 SW 103rd Ave.Miami, FL 33176

Mail Code: 6781Telephone: 305-256-1762Fax: 305-255-4523E-mail:

[email protected]

Sponsored by:

Go With The Flow!


8Math & Science

Go With The Flow!

This collection of activities allowsstudents to explore mathematicalconcepts such as collecting andorganizing data, measurement,graphing, number sense, geometryand algebra - the five mathematicstrands of the Sunshine StateStandards. The activities incorporatescientific concepts and follow thescientific method of inquiry in“Probability with M&Ms” in whichmiddle school students are eachgiven a sample of M&Ms and use thescientific method to predictoutcomes, collect data, findmeasures of central tendency,convert data to construct tables,construct bar graphs using candyand find probabilities. For 8th-gradeand high school students, theactivity can be extended to a basicChi Square statistical investigation ofwhether the colors of M&Ms areequally distributed. In “SkittlingAround”, students use candy todiscover the mathematicalrelationships between thecircumference, radius and diameterof circles. And in “Chew it Up”students mass pieces of gum, chew,then mass the gum again todetermine the percent ofcomposition. They can determine andgraph percent of composition as itrelates to the length of time that thegum is chewed. An extension of thisactivity is to make a comparison ofpercent of composition betweendifferent brands of gum.

THE STUDENTS:Students in grades sixthrough 12 canparticipate in thisproject. Low performingstudents usually showlittle interest inmathematics, sogimmicks such as candyare used to get theirattention, then thedata provided by thecandy is used to dographing and dataanalysis. By engagingthe students in thisway they better remember themathematical concepts.

THE STAFF:A teacher of mathematics for 26 years,Josephine Dufek is currently aneducational specialist in math andscience for Miami-Dade County PublicSchools.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:As a starting point, textbook resourcepackets provide great ideas from whichto build numerous and varied activities.There are numerous Web sites thatprovide good ideas for using candy inclassroom activities and providesuggestions, which incorporate mathand science, that can be adapted tomost classrooms and grade levels. Animportant resource is networkingbetween colleagues. Some of thelessons provided in this packet arebased on ideas suggested by colleagues.

Many students hate mathbecause of the rote “drill andkill” method. Incorporatingcandy into the lesson gets

their initial attention and thehands-on portion of the

activity holds their attention.

MORE INFORMATION: Josephine D. Dufekc/o Richmond Heights Middle

15015 SW 103rd Ave.Miami, FL 33176


[email protected]

Sponsored by:

How Sweet Math Is!


9Math & Science

How Sweet Math Is!

Students use a series of scientificinvestigations to familiarizethemselves with the metric system aswell as the investigative process. Ininvestigations entitled ColumnCapers, Float Your Boat andRaindrops Keep Falling in My Gauge,students use the scientific method toexplore such topics as weightsupporting structures and waterdisplacement. They form ahypothesis and conduct experimentsusing metric measurements. Forinstance, in Column Capers,participants construct three columnswith just rolled-up paper and scotchtape. They then predict how manybooks weighing one kilogram eachthe columns will support. In theFloat Your Boat experiment, studentsconstruct boats of aluminum foil andpredict the weight in grams neededto sink the boat.

THE STUDENTS:The class is divided into cooperativelearning groups with each memberassigned a task and a title (captain,recorder, equipment handler, etc.).This method has been successful withall kinds of intermediate students (3rd,4th and 5th grade) including learningdisabled students who are given theeasier jobs. The project helps lowperforming students because it is ahands-on, concrete exercise.Participating in a satisfactory mannerwere 12 ESE students as well as threeother low performing students.

THE STAFF:Elliott Fledell is therecipient of TheEducation Fund’sIMPACT II DisseminatorGrant (2001-2002); isthe ElementaryEisenhower resourceteacher (math andscience) for the SouthMiami High Schoolfeeder pattern (1998to present); and wasone of three finalistsfor Dade CountyElementary Mathteacher of the year(1996-1997).

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:Any classroom with a sink. Materialsinclude Metric Investigation worksheetsfrom the Idea Packet, metric weights(grams and kilograms), metric capacitycontainers (liters), and various othermaterials that can easily be acquiredsuch as paper and aluminum foil.

An organized method ofsolving any problem is

valuable to the developmentof each student. Application

to real life situations islimitless. The most immediate

benefit is proficiency inputting together Science Fair

projects each year.

MORE INFORMATION:Elliott FledellEmerson Elementary

8001 SW 36th St.Miami, FL 33145

Mail Code: 1641Telephone: 305-264-5757Fax: 305-267-2476Principal: Maria Acosta

Sponsored by:

Metric Investigations


10Math & Science

Metric Investigations

The overarching goal forTropical Underwater Dreams isfor students to use criticalthinking skills by producingevidence of science contentlearning. Interdisciplinaryteaching and teachercollaboration are thestrategies used to reach thisgoal. Second through fifthgraders, produce a varietyshow illustrating theirlearning about aquaculture(the science of tropical fish).Using art concepts andmaterials, students create anunderwater environment oftropical fish illustrating waterand fish characteristicsthrough drawing and painting.Second-grade studentsresearched a specific tropicalfish for a written and oral report.Fourth-grade students wrote theirown fantasy story after beinginspired by the African American fishfolktale. Through teachercollaboration in music and drama,the students sang and actedillustrating the tropical fish theme.

THE STUDENTS:Approximately 300, 2nd- through 5th-grade students of diverse ethnicity,demographics, and learning abilitiesparticipated. All students achievedsuccess in one or more aspects of theproject. Students met with the music,art and drama teachers once a weekfor several months. This project can beadapted to any age or achievementlevel and tailored to a single class or aschoolwide production.

THE STAFF:Mark Rosenkrantz has been teachingelementary art for five years in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. He hasrecently achieved National BoardCertification in Elementary Art. He hasreceived four grant awards from TheEducation Fund for interdisciplinaryart projects. Teacher collaboration isessential to the success of this project.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:Art supplies and music need to besupplied by the adapting teacher.Aquaculture science curriculum isprovided in the grade level sciencetext, library, and a condensedcurriculum provided in the IdeaPacket. Parents assisted in sewingcostumes.

Students are almost“swimming” in fish. Sciencecontent is made accessible toall the students by providingexperiences that create for

the student a personalrelationship to the subject

matter. In TropicalUnderwater Dreams the

variety show context providesstudents with motivation,multiple opportunities for

active interaction withsubject area content, and a

variety of means tocommunicate learning.

MORE INFORMATION:Mark L. RosenkrantzCharles D. Wyche Jr. Elementary

5241 NW 195th Dr.Miami, FL 33055

Mail Code: 5991Telephone: 305-628-5776Fax: 305-628-5775E-mail:[email protected]: Patricia Urban

Sponsored by:

Tropical Underwater Dreams


11Math & Science

Tropical Underwater Dreams Originally a CitibankSuccess Fund GrantOriginally a CitibankSuccess Fund Grant

This project is a sequenceof hands-on, minds-onactivities that blend thegeological, marine, earth,biological, and physicalsciences in an ecologicalinvestigation. The studentsbegin working as scientistsby using the process skillsof classifying andobserving. A cooperativelearning atmosphere isencouraged, as thestudents must generatetheir own progression ofqualitative characteristics afterclassifying nuts, screws and boltsand then an assortment of rocks tosolve several problems. Afterconsidering the ecologicalimportance of a beach habitat, theyoung scientists consider the originof several sand samples and thenatural forces that could cause theirformation. From their previouslearning, the students determineexactly where a sea turtle nests on abeach profile by comparing thequalitative and quantitativecharacteristics of the sand samples.

THE STUDENTS:Any class of 6th-, 7th-, or 8th-gradestudents can participate. In a typicalmiddle school science classroom, thestudents can be arranged in six studygroups with about 4-5 students pergroup. This collaborative groupingstrategy alleviates the linguistic andreading weaknesses of individuals,while taking advantage of the strengthof the diversity of the groupinteraction. The flexibility in theproject design also allows forelementary grade applications.

THE STAFF:Don Deresz, a National Board CertifiedEarly Adolescent Science teacher, hastaught in Miami-Dade County PublicSchools for 26 years. More about Mr.Deresz can be found at:www.fsu.edu/~curricin/science/sce4362/communication/bioda-ta/deresz.html

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:The project can be conducted in anyvenue. The Miami-Dade County PublicSchools Biscayne Nature Center forEnvironmental Education will providethe sand through the school mailsystem if requested. Other materialsneeded are plastic baggies, anassortment of screws, nuts, washers,bolts, rocks, minerals, and a sandgauge. An Internet search of sand +identification will provide globalinteractive cyber experiences.Geoscience programs are available formiddle school science classes at nocharge during the summer session atthe M-DCPS Biscayne Nature Center forEnvironmental Education. Anapplication may be found at:www.dade.k12.fl.us/mathsci/bncee.

From this project, studentslearn about the intricateinterplay of nature that a

common substance like sandcan have in preserving the

marine habitat for sea turtles.

MORE INFORMATION:Don DereszBiscayne Nature Center for

Environmental Education6767 Crandon BoulevardKey Biscayne, FL 33149


ext. 115Fax: 305-361-7061E-mail:

[email protected] Supervisor:

Dr. Gus Loret-de-Mola

Sponsored by:

Yamaha Contender MiamiBillfish Tournament

and

FPL

Where Did the Sea Turtle Lay Her Eggs?A Case for a Forensic Geoscientist


12Math & Science

Where Did the Sea Turtle Lay Her Eggs?A Case for a Forensic Geoscientist

AT&T TeachNet Projects There is no doubt that technology has

changed teaching and learning forever.

Educational reform, technological

advancement and the information age

have thrust teachers into a whirlwind

of change. Teachers are required to

keep up with these changes, yet many

have not had adequate training or

access to new technology.

The AT&T TeachNet Project in Miami

supports the “new classroom” by

supporting the “new teacher.” The

project empowers teachers where they

teach. By making them technology

leaders, it creates an environment of

learning and growing among teachers.

The AT&T TeachNet Project in Miami is

one of six sites nationally and is part

of AT&T’s efforts to help families,

schools and communities use

technology to improve teaching and

learning.

For more information about AT&T’s

support for education, visit the AT&T

Foundation Web site:

www.att.com/foundation

Students will get a close-up look atbees without the sting! This projectis an investigation on bees in whichstudents are buzzing through the netto find answers and then usetechnology to present their findings.The focus is on using technologytools to collect and organize data.The student uses technology toenhance learning, increaseproductivity and promote creativity.Students will learn to classify thehoneybee, understand theimportance of bees in pollination,why pollination is important for thefood we eat, and all aboutbeekeeping. In the process, manystandards are covered in science,math and language arts. In languagearts the student constructs meaningfrom a variety of texts, readsinstructions, stories, informationtexts, and captions, and participatesin all steps of the writing processindividually and with a group.

THE STUDENTS:This unit was developed for a 2ndgrade level classroom. It can beadapted for all elementary levels. Thestudents must know how to use theInternet, have a basic knowledge ofcomputers and how to use thedesignated software. Students willwork in groups and with partners tohelp each other in the acquisition ofknowledge through the Web and othersoftware.

THE STAFF:Elizabeth Linero is a newcomer to theteaching profession. She is a graduateof Florida International University and

has been teaching inMiami-Dade County PublicSchools since 1998. For thepast four years, she hasbeen a volunteer leader fora 4-H Club. Ms. Linero’s 15years of experience in thecorporate world helped herincorporate technology intothe classroom. As an activeparticipant in TheEducation Fund’sFamilyTech program, Ms.Linero has providedopportunities for herstudents to be involved in technology.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES:Students need access to the Internet, aprocessing program and a printer.ClarisWorks or KidPix may be used tomake graphs and a slide presentation.A digital camera is needed to takepictures of their handmade projectsand a scanner to scan pictures frombooks that they may want to integrateinto their presentation. Othermaterials include the resources foundin the lesson plans, the arts and craftmaterials, and, of course, the honey. A local beekeeper to visit theclassroom with glassed-in beehives ora field trip to beehives might also bearranged. The school media center andlocal public library have many booksand magazines available on thesubject.

Each year, bees pollinate 95crops worth an estimated $10

billion in the U.S. alone.Insect pollinators contributeto one-third of the world’sdiet. With these kinds ofnumbers they are worth

studying in depth.

MORE INFORMATION: Elizabeth LineroWest Little River Elementary2450 NW 84th St.Miami, FL 33147Mail Code: 5861Telephone: 305-691-6491Fax: 305-693-1960E-mail: [email protected]: Gigi Gilbert

Sponsored by:


14AT&T TeachNet Project

Honey, I Blew Up The Bee!Honey, I Blew Up The Bee!

Science, reading, writing, andtechnology merge into a livelyexploration of sharks and theirplace in our sometimes sharedwater habitat. Hands-onactivities include studentscreating a food chain toillustrate the sharks’ top positionas predator and participating ina Keen Sense of Smell lesson todemonstrate how sensitive thesense of smell is to humans andsharks. Students write sharkpoems and stories, publish themas class books and post poemsand stories on the Internet.Technology is further integratedinto the curriculum through theuse of Ask an Expert Web sitesfor students to pose questionsabout sharks and how they live andsurvive. Students also visit shark andocean Web sites to gather andorganize shark data and then createa KidPix slide show of informationcollected throughout the unit.

THE STUDENTS:Thirty-two 2nd-grade gifted studentsparticipate in daily science, languagearts and technology sessions for nineweeks. The project can be adapted forother grades and academic levels andcan be modified for both large andsmall groups.

THE STAFF:Carol Langford, a professional educatorfor more than 20 years at every levelfrom elementary through graduateschool, has received numerous awardsfor her exemplary teaching abilities.She has served as a peer mentor andschool leader for most of her career.

Her accomplishments includedeveloping writing curriculum for thedistrict-wide Gifted program andauthoring numerous grants to providestate-of-the-art science and computerlabs for Avocado Elementary.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES:The project is designed for a classroomsetting with one or more computers. Ifcomputers do not have Internet access,students can use the school computerlab to search for and collectinformation needed. They can alsogather information from bookmarkedshark Web sites and utilize searchengines using shark key words.Interactive Web sites, such as AskJeeves, International Year of the Oceanand SeaWorld are also excellent sourcesof information. Information on sharksand their water habitat can be locatedin the school media center and publiclibrary. No-cost videos and films areavailable through the Miami-Dade

County Public Schools Media Division.Speakers from local science anduniversity departments are availablefor school site visits and students canview sharks first-hand on a field tripto the Miami Seaquarium.

As students participate inscience, language arts andtechnology activities, their

enthusiasm and overallattitude toward learning is

increased. The projectimproves reading, writing andscience skills as well as word

processing and research.

MORE INFORMATION: Carol LangfordAvocado Elementary School16969 SW 294th St.Homestead, FL 33030Mail Code: 0161Telephone: 305-247-4942 Fax: 305-246-9603E-mail:[email protected]: Dr. Grace Nebb

Sponsored by:



Sharks: Famous Friends or Fearsome Foes?Sharks: Famous Friends or Fearsome Foes?

Viva Mexico was designed to addressthe standards in reading, writing,music, art, foreign language, andtechnology with the purpose ofintegrating these subjects. Studentswork collaboratively using projectbased learning to increase theirdecision-making and critical thinkingskills to create authentic projects.Based on interactive units that buildstudents’ research skills, the projecthelps students explore Mexico throughculturally rich Web sites. The studentsassemble the acquired informationinto a presentation that is judgedusing a rubric by their peers.

THE STUDENTS:This project is designed for 3rd-, 4th-and 5th-grade students; however,younger or older students, as well asteachers, may use the activities tolearn how to use the Internet forresearch. Low performing studentsbenefit from this project by working incollaborative groups and participatingin hands-on activities.

THE STAFF:Rosa Duarte is in her 26th year inMiami-Dade County Public Schools.Holding a master’s degree in ESE, shespecialized in autism and was aStaffing Specialist in Region IV and aDistrict Support Teacher for theAutistic Program. She received herEducational Specialist in ComputerApplications and in 1996, became theTechnology Coordinator/ComputerTeacher at Southside Elementary, whereshe teaches the Academic

Excellence Program as wellas computers to K-5students. As webmaster, shepublishes Southside Expressand has been awarded TheEducation Fund’s CitibankSuccess Fund, IMPACT IIDisseminator, and CitibankFamilyTech grants as well as several AT&TTeachNet grants.

MATERIALS and FACILITIES:Access to the Internet and a wordprocessing program such as Publisher,Microsoft Office, Word, or AppleWorksto copy and paste information,graphics, maps, graphs, etc. to theirdocument as well as presentationprograms such as iMovie, PowerPoint,and Inspiration, are used in thisproject. Also needed are a printer anda scanner or digital camera forembedding information brought fromother sources and music instruments,literature books and cookingingredients to complete otherassignments.

Students will be engrossed inlearning a variety of skillswhile having fun producingauthentic projects. Whenlearning is meaningful it

becomes long lasting.

MORE INFORMATION:Rosa DuarteSouthside Elementary

45 SW 13th St.Miami, FL 33130


ext. 115Fax: 305-381-6237E-mail:

[email protected]

Principal: Maria Gonzalez

Sponsored by:

Viva Mexico



Viva Mexico

The Kirk Foundation, as part of itsongoing work to make South Floridaworld class, is sponsoring the “UsingArt to Enhance Curriculum” section.The resource listed below is just oneof the programs that The KirkFoundation supports.

Arts for LearningArts for Learning is part of a nationalinitiative by Young Audiences, thenation’s leading non-profit arts in education organization. YoungAudiences annually provides morethan 100,000 live arts experiences forstudents across the country, and helpsteachers integrate the arts experi-ences into the total educational life inschools. Locally, Arts forLearning/Miami is a three-way collabo-ration between Young Audiences,Miami-Dade County Public Schools,and Miami Dade County Department ofCultural Affairs.

Arts for Learning/Miami was createdto provide K-12 educators with easy-to-access, custom-designed resources tointegrate creative and diverse culturalresources into their curriculum plans.

Arts for Learning has threecomplementary components:1. Live arts in education programs

for K-12 students throughpartnerships with local artistsand cultural organizations.

2. Hands-on teacher professional

development and in-school artsintegration planning.

3. A multimedia Web site providing

an online environment forresource exchange amongeducators in the culturalcommunity.

The Arts for Learning Website allows the educator to:1. Explore videos, audio clips, and

images to get a taste of arts andcultural programs in the area.

2. Access activities and lesson

plans to extend the learningvalue of these programs, whileaddressing teachers’ corecurriculum goals, including FCATlearning benchmarks, theSunshine State Standards andthe Competency-BasedCurriculum.

3. Discover new ways to reach

students with different learningstyles or developmental needs.

The Kirk Foundation

Arts for Learning aims to build a community of learners who seek to morecreatively engage their students through a broad range of educational andartistic experiences. Arts for Learning provides an online forum for dialogue andresource exchange among educators, after-school providers, artists, culturalinstitutions, and parents.


18Using Art to Enhance Curriculum

Rhythm of the ButterflyStudents participated in an 8-weekunit focusing on butterflies: the lifecycle & transformations, varioustypes of butterflies, geographicallocations and migration patterns,math lessons including butterflies,poetry about butterflies, and artfocusing on butterflies. They wrotepoetry and read stories andfolktales, and created photographs,sculptures, and paintings. The unitculminated in an evening “Butterflyfestival” with a dance presentation,dramatic presentation of studentwork, and display of projects.

THE STUDENTS:Thirty 3rd-grade students participatedin this project, which may be adaptedfor grades K-4.

THE STAFF:The project was a collaborationbetween Anjanette Hallman, 3rd-gradeteacher, Dia Carter-Webb, art teacher,and Iracema Pires, dance teacher atCharles R. Drew Elementary School.

COMMUNITY ARTS RESOURCES:The students attended “Carnival of theAnimals” by Maximum Dance Companyand went on a field trip to ButterflyWorld. Materials for the project wereprovided by the art teacher and Artsfor Learning.

Colorful Butterfly

Colorful butterfly, pretty as can be

Wonderful butterfly, cheerful like me

Beautiful butterfly, fast asleep

Happy butterfly, I would like to keep

Morpho butterfly, stay with me

Beautiful blue butterfly. . . Why? Why? Why?

Must you fly away from me?

Jobria Christian, 3rd gradeThe first 100 teachers to read this sentenceand call 305-892-5099, ext. 18 will receive acheck for $5 courtesy of The Kirk Foundation.

This unit incorporates visual art, dance, language arts (bothreading and writing), math, science and social studies to teachcore concepts in all disciplines through projects that are arts-

infused, thematic, engaging and student-centered.

Rhythm of the Butterfly



The Massive Mosaic Mural Project

The school-wide theme for the yearat Cutler Ridge Middle School was“RESPECT.” Wanting to reinforcethis theme, the interdisciplinaryteam decided to address it invarious ways across theirclassrooms. In art class student stalked about respect for self andothers and then cooperated todesign and create a mosaic/muralto adorn an outside stage. In math,students looked at the structure ofdwellings/buildings in othercultures and designed a chickee hutto scale. In language arts studentsread novels whose themes focusedon respect for others, thenexpressed their feelings throughpoetry. In science, the theme ofrespecting the environment and theearth led students to a tour of theMiami River and to creating boardgames that illustrated the role ofthe earth in our galaxy. Studentsworked collaboratively withstudents in the ESE art class tocreate the Massive Mosaic Mural,and the unit culminated in anevening presentation during whichthe mural was unveiled, and thenused as a stage for students topresent their work.

THE STUDENTS:Approximately 120 students in 6th to8th grade participated in this project.It is appropriate for all middle gradesand incorporates visual art, languagearts, math, science and social studies.

THE STAFF:CUTLER RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOLMarilyn Polin, art teacherKisha Brown, ESE art teacher

Theresa Gilbert, science teacherWilliam Roberts, math teacherStephanie Woolley, language artsteacher

COMMUNITY ARTS RESOURCES:The students attended “Carnival of theAnimals” by Maximum Dance Company,toured the Miami River with OperationGreen Leaves and worked closely withMosaic Artist, Gina Hubler.

This unit incorporates visualart, dance, language arts

(both reading and writing),math, science and social

studies to teach core conceptsin all disciplines through

projects that are arts-infused,thematic, engaging and

student-centered.

Sponsored by:

The Kirk Foundation

Teachers may apply for Adapter grants using any of the communityarts resources and/or classroom resources on the Arts for LearningWeb site: www.arts4learning.org.

For more information and to receive a free CD, please call or e-mail Connie at305-576-1212 or [email protected]

As of August 2002, A4L has a new, educator-centered Version II of the Website. Some of the highlights of the new version are:

• Many more resources, including current research from leading education andarts institutions and links to national sites

• Easy to access bulletin boards for ongoing discussion with your colleagues

• Your own “My A4L” page, which acts as your personal filing cabinet andupdates you on resources that may be of particular interest to you

• A “Best Practices” section to highlight projects, teachers and schools whosework can benefit other educators.

The Massive Mosaic Mural Project

Art & Issues teaches students to beproblem solvers and critical thinkersthrough the integration oftechnology, FCAT preparation andthe visual arts curriculum. In thisproject, students explore and devisesolutions to a major issue in Americaor around the world such asbiological warfare, poverty,endangered species or capitalpunishment, using art and computergraphics. Students then create aconceptual work of art that reflectsthe social, ethical and moral issuesthey have researched. Students usecomputers to research, write andmanipulate pictures and drawings.Once students’ artwork is completed,their graphic work is displayedwithin the community. This projectwas started in Baltimore at LochRaven Middle and has been a successever since. The lessons have beenmodified to meet different gradelevels and FCAT strategies.

THE STUDENTS:Art & Issues has also beenimplemented in Baltimore Countymiddle and senior high schools. A classof 23 students met daily in computergraphics and also worked outside ofclass with their English and Historyteachers and community members. Tenlow performing students improvedtheir writing skills through thisinterdisciplinary project.

THE STAFF:Ray Parris hasbeen teaching forsix years, two ofwhich have beenin Miami-DadeCounty. He hasreceived grantsand awards forhis teachingideas.

MATERIALSand RESOURCES:A computer graphics lab, consisting of23 computers, or a traditional Fine artsstudio is needed to implement thelessons. Programs such as PhotoShop5.5, Illustrator 9.0, and Microsoftproducts with Internet capabilities willbe needed. Students were also giventhe opportunity to work withprofessional graphic artists whodiscussed and demonstrated theimportance of visual communication.

This project propels studentsto be active participants inworld issues by allowing

students to work cooperativelyin researching and solving

problems in aninterdisciplinary approach.

MORE INFORMATION:Ray ParrisSouth Miami Senior High

6856 SW 53rd St.Miami, FL 33155

Mail code: 7721Telephone: 305-666-5871Fax: 305-666-6359E-mail: [email protected]: Thomas L. Shaw

Sponsored by:

The Kirk Foundation

Art & Issues



Art & IssuesOriginally a

NextiraOne TechnologyTeacher Mini-Grant

Originally a NextiraOne Technology

Teacher Mini-Grant

Students usecomputerized technology(digital camera, scannerand printer) in artisticways across all areas ofthe curriculum. Studentsmeet twice each week, aswell as during specialschool events, to use adigital camera andcapture images, projects,events or schoolassignments. Each childhas a topic to investigatebased on his or herindividual interests (i.e. cars, trees,people, nature). The children work inpairs, venturing out into the schoolcommunity, taking five photographson their individual disks which theythen edit and scan. Students learnhow to enlarge, make collages orcombinations, crop and distortimages of their photographs. Forinstance, Samantha, a fifth-gradestudent decided to explore the worldof “geometric shapes.” In order tocomplete her assignment, shetraveled around the school, takingpictures of various shapes. When shephotographed the jungle gym, shewas able to observe how points andlines combine to form interestingshapes. She returned to theclassroom, inserted her disk into thecomputer, selected one photographfrom her photo index, took a sectionof the photo of the monkey bars,eliminated the background andzeroed in on various geometricshapes. She then experimented withfocusing, enlarging, colorizing andedging her design. At the end of theproject, students enter their work,accompanied by a written reflection,in a School Art & Technology Show.

THE STUDENTS:This project was used with 20 studentsfrom 2nd through 6th grades who mettwice a week for 90 minutes in anafter school club. Levels ofachievement include students inalternative education who are at-risk,students and are limited Englishproficient or emotionally handicapped,as well as students who are working onor above grade level. This project isappropriate for any student at anylevel. The program helped 20 lowperforming students who were ESOL,ESE and alternative, at-risk students.The arts stimulated growth in allcurricular areas with increases in FCATscores in reading and math.

THE STAFF:Susan Luck, Teacher of the Year (2002)from North Glade Elementary, learnedhow to use and apply technology in theworld of art at Bennington College inVermont. She has been teaching art for28 years and still finds joy in exposingchildren to the worlds of art andtechnology. She has received a TeacherMini-Grant from The Education Fund.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:A computer, color printer, scanner anda digital camera are needed. Thoughnot essential, it would be highlybeneficial to find a volunteer withsome experience in using digitalequipment.

If Einstein is correct when hesaid, “Imagination is moreimportant than knowledge,”students who become “digit-eyezed” acquire knowledge of

technology, art, science,mathematics...and have fun

as they learn to thinkcreatively and collaboratively!

MORE INFORMATION:Susie Stein LuckNorth Glade Elementary

5000 NW 177th St.Opa Locka, FL 33055

Mail Code: 3861Telephone: 305-624-3608Fax: 305-621-3606E-mail: Susieq5@aolPrincipal: Dr. Ruthann Marleaux

Sponsored by:

The Kirk Foundation

Digit-eyezed Through The Eyes of A Child



Digit-eyezed Through The Eyes of A Child Originally a Teacher Mini-Grant

Originally a Teacher Mini-Grant

In this project students produce anopera on one important chapter inAmerican history or another relevantsubject of social studies. OperaAdventure is a curriculumintegration project that weavestogether the arts, music, languagearts and social studies. Studentswrite the script using the FCATstrategies and techniques oforganizing and predicting. Thestudents experience a musicaladventure as they discover the mostpopular melodies of the operarepertoire. They then adapt theirscript to selected melodies. Studentsare responsible for the singing,acting, costumes, preparation of thestage, lighting, sound, set andscenery production.After initial complaints that operawas boring, the students worked onsetting the last months of Lincoln’slife to music. By the end of theproject, the students not onlycreated a successful operaticexperience that they will rememberand identify with, but also requestedto do the project again next year.

THE STUDENTS:The project can be developed forelementary, middle and senior highstudents. Students can participate inthis activity during the language arts,social studies, music, art or dramablock. The activity allows studentswith low, average, above average, ESOLand learning disabilities to worktogether as a team. Because of thediversity of roles and personnel to putthis project together, it allows for ateam of 30 students to work on theproject at one time.

THE STAFF:Silvia Constantinidishas been teachingfor 20 years. Sheholds a master’sdegree from theUniversity of Miamiand is continuingpostgraduatestudies. She hasreceived severalgrants for herteaching projects.Presently she is involved with a grantfrom the U.S. Department of Educationto create Internet lesson plans andlessons for classroom teachers thatincorporate music into other subjects.Ms. Constantinidis has worked withthe Opera Adventure project for twoyears, refining procedures andtechniques and including FCATstrategies and skills. This projectfollows the guidelines of the NationalStandards in Music Education.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES:The Idea Packet contains all theinformation needed for the project.Collaboration with the art teacher isadvised. The final project can bepresented in the classroom or on thestage.

Becoming familiar with greatmusical works enriches thestudents’ lives. They maycarry the opera adventure

with them forever.

MORE INFORMATION:Maria Silvia Constantinidis South Hialeah Elementary

265 E. 5th St.Hialeah, FL 33010

Mail Code: 5201Telephone: 305-885-4556Fax: 305-888-7730E-mail: [email protected] or

http://sylviasmusic.tripod.comPrincipal: Dr. Julio Carrera

Sponsored by:

The Kirk Foundation

The Opera Adventure



The Opera AdventureOriginally a Catherine Scripps



Teacher Mini-Grant

Learning for LifeLearning for Life is a charactereducation program that assiststeachers in the challenge ofteaching character and gooddecision-making skills and thenlinking those skills to the realworld. With grade-specific, age-appropriate lesson plans developedby professional educators andchild development experts,Learning for Life:

• Improves classroom behavior.• Improves students’ decision-

making skills.• Helps students care more about

others.• Helps students better understand

honesty.

The elementary program consistsof 60 lesson plans designed toreinforce social, ethical, andacademic skills in areas such ascritical and creative

thinking, ethical decision making,interpersonal relationships,practical living skills, buildingself-worth, writing and otherlanguage arts, and practicingcitizenship.

The middle school program is alsoa series of 50 interactiveworkshops that help youth developand assess the personal skills andvalues needed to make futurecareer choices.

The senior high school programconsists of interactive workshopsthat teach the practical skillsnecessary to acquire a job and stayemployed. Topics include JobApplications and Writing Resumes,Job Interviews, Employer andLabor Relations, MoneyManagement, Where to Find a Job,Women in the Workforce, andEthics in the Workforce.

The special-needs curriculumteaches youth with disabilities thelife skills they need to achieve self-sufficiency. The program focuseson and enhances coping skills suchas: Self-concept, Personal/SocialSkills, Life Skills.

Learning for Life is a nationalprogram that has been approvedby the School Board of Miami-DadeCounty to assist in the State ofFlorida Character EducationInitiative.

Teachers will receive:• Lesson plans for their grade• A recognition program• Opportunities to participate in

various field trips• Classroom speakers

Additional information on theprogram is available online at www.learning-for-life.org

Robert RussellMemorial FoundationThe Robert Russell Memorial Foundation was created by Bob Russell, a long-time Miamileader. It was activated at the time of his death inDecember 1983. It helps to fund programs for youthin Miami and supports many programs in the Jewishcommunity in Miami, nationally and in Israel.

The following Diversity Education Profiles – Teaching Students to Respect Each Others’Differences are sponsored by the Robert Russell Memorial Foundation and the Dade CommunityFoundation to perpetuate ideals such as valuing each other, appreciating all cultures, races andreligions and promoting tolerance of all people in the young minds of Miami-Dade County PublicSchools students.

Dade CommunityFoundationDade Community Foundation’s Mission is toencourage philanthropy and charitable giving bydeveloping a permanent endowment to meet GreaterMiami’s emerging charitable needs. By bringingtogether diverse groups in Miami-Dade County, DadeCommunity Foundation helps to improve the qualityof life and build a more cohesive community bysupporting local non-profit organizations with grantsand technical assistance.

The Around the World project aimsto develop greater cross-culturalawareness through a comprehensivecultural and geographic study of theworld. Students develop the skillsand knowledge that enable them toappreciate other cultures, while atthe same time gaining a greaterawareness of themselves and theirculture. Young learners develop anunderstanding of cultural diversitythrough the use of an investigativestudy of cultures and authenticexperiences with art, music, foodand dance that bring ideas to life.Through the use of the Internet, e-mail and community resources,students conduct relevant researchfrom which they create multimediapresentations and original displays.By creating a classroom museum,they are able to teach otherstudents, teachers, and parentsabout the cultures of the world.

THE STUDENTS:Thirty-five gifted students in 1stthrough 5th grades participated in thisproject.

THE STAFF:Lisette Camps has been a teacher inthe gifted program, grades 1-5, for thepast five years. She has also been anAcademic Excellence Program teacher.Ms. Camps has presented at severalDistrict Gifted Workshops. She was alsothe Social Studies Teacher of the Yearfinalist for Miami-Dade County PublicSchools in May 2000. Educationalawards include state and districtgrants, as well as three Teacher Mini-Grants from The Education Fund.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:Materials needed include:a student atlas, books on worldcultures, computer(s), art suppliessuch as paint, construction paper,markers, student journals, and displayboards. Access to the Internet is alsorequired. Guest speakers from localconsulate office(s), university artsdepartments, or other culturalorganizations provide students withcultural expertise on a diverse groupof countries.

If students learn to valueother people, cultures and

viewpoints from an early age,through hands-on activitiesand the use of multimediatechnology, the foundation

will be laid for building futurebridges to other cultures theywill encounter later in life.

MORE INFORMATION:Lisette T. CampsKinloch Park Elementary

4275 NW 1st St.Miami, FL 33126

Telephone: 305-445-1351Fax: 305-567-3530E-mail: [email protected]: Ana Casas

Sponsored by

Dade CommunityFoundation

Around the World


24Diversity Education

Around the WorldOriginally a Catherine Scripps



Teacher Mini-Grant

After a thoroughstudy of the CivilRights Movement,which includes keyconcepts such aspoll tax, blackcodes, segregation,Jim Crow laws,boycotts, sit-insand civildisobedience, theclass discussesleadership andwhat makessomeone an effective leader. A list iscompiled of leadership characteristicsand of familiar civil rights leaders,which is kept and used to comparewith their finished projects. Studentgroups conduct research on themovement and then select fourpeople for a civil rights honor roll. Aposter is made of each entry, whichstudents use to persuade others tovote for their placement in the top10 of the civil rights honor roll.

A board game is also created by thestudent groups to test theirknowledge of people, events and theinequalities surrounding the civilrights movement using the book FreeAt Last. As an alternative, thestudents can individually write andillustrate an alphabet ‘A-Z’ book onitems that relate to the civil rightsmovement. Having students create aproduct helps them to retain thematerial better than if they hadsimply memorized definitions for aquiz or test.

THE STUDENTS:Approximately 200 8th-grade studentstook part in this project. It works wellwith all kinds of students and can beeasily adapted to all areas of socialstudies at all class levels. This projecthelped 30 low performing studentschoose an alternative assessment andwork in group situations where theywere able to receive extra help incompleting their tasks.

THE STAFF:Ilana Ascher-Alamo has been teachingfor seven years. She was a fellow forthe Justice Teaching Institute in 1999,and received grants from TeachingTolerance, The Education Fund’sTeacher Mini-Grants and IMPACT IIprogram. Additionally, her lessonshave been published in the A&EClassroom magazine as have herinnovative ways of using technology inthe magazine, Cable in the Classroom.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:This project requires the teacher tohave the book, Free at Last, bySouthern Poverty Law Center. Alsohighly recommend is the Civil RightsWeb Instructor by Forest Technologies,as are videos on the civil rightsmovement. To request a civil rightsactivist to speak to students, contactN.A.A.C.P., A.C.L.U. or Thirlee Smith(head of M-DCPS African Americancurriculum).

Important lessons in how non-violent protest can work in a

democratic society remindstudents that one person canmake a difference and showthe importance of speaking

out against injustice in society.

MORE INFORMATION:Ilana Ascher-AlamoArvida Middle School

10900 SW 127th St.Miami, FL 33186

Mail Code: 6021Telephone: 305-385-7144Fax: 305-383-9472E-mail: [email protected]: Herbert S. Koross

Sponsored by

Dade CommunityFoundationandFlorida MatchingGrants Program

I Have a Dream



I Have a Dream Originally a Teacher Mini-Grant

Originally a Teacher Mini-Grant

In this project, students participatein an in-depth study of an importantevent in history such as theHolocaust, the French Revolution orthe dropping of the atomic bomb.For several weeks, the students workin small groups as a newspaper staff— with each group writing accountsof events, editorials and politicalcartoons. Articles includebackground information on the timeperiod in which the events tookplace. For instance, studentsstudying the Amistad event createdan abolitionist newspaper thatincluded articles about the injusticeof the event and the need to free theprisoners. In order to write editorialsabout the Supreme Court decision inthe Amistad case, students firstreviewed and analyzed the decision.They also developed cooperativelearning skills by meeting in groupsto write and edit articles and designthe pages of the newspaper.

THE STUDENTS:Fifty 9th graders from Miami LakesEducational Center/High Schooldivision participated in this project.This project provides low performingstudents with an opportunity to learnthrough different media, such asgroup work and visuals. In hands-ongroup work, students also learn fromeach other.

THE STAFF:Tom Calvey has been a teacher ofsocial studies for 15 years, both inprivate and public schools. He was aTeacher-of-the-Year candidate for theMiami-Dade County Council for SocialStudies in 2002 and a Doctoralcandidate in Educational Leadership atNova Southeastern University. He also

participates with agroup of teachersin a grant fromAmericaReads/FamilyLiteracy at TreasureIsland ElementarySchool.

MATERIALSandRESOURCES:Reference material concerning thehistorical event, paper and writingmaterials, file folders, computers fornewspaper designing and printing ifavailable, and materials for cutting andpasting if computer access is notavailable. Students participating in theactivity took a field trip toBicentennial Park in downtown Miamiwhere they saw and boarded thereplica of the Amistad ship. They alsoreceived instructions concerning thehistory of the Amistad from Dr. PaulGeorge of the South Florida HistoricalMuseum. Students researched variousWeb sites that helped them to preparearticles about the Amistad from ahistorical perspective.

This project provides studentswith the opportunity to work

as a team to produce apublication about an

important event in history.Through their research on

injustices that have occurredthroughout history, students

learn the importance ofrespecting other people

and cultures.

MORE INFORMATION:Tom CalveyMiami Lakes Educational

Center/High School Division5780 NW 158th St.Miami Lakes, FL 33014

Mail Code: 7391Telephone: 305-557-1100Fax: 305-364-9279E-mail: [email protected]: Ms. Rosa Borgen

Sponsored by:

Robert RussellMemorial Foundation

Making News Happen!



Making News Happen!

Sing a Song of Americateaches history through musicand lyrics. Exposing studentsto songs of different eras inU.S. history, gives them abetter understanding ofdifferent time periods.Studying the lyrics is much likestudying poetry, which isincluded on the FCAT test.Song lyrics are, however, oftenless difficult to understandthan poetry, therefore helpingsome students get over theirfear of poems. Music is used tointroduce different units of history,such as the American Revolution, theCivil War, Labor, Suffrage, the 60’s,etc. For instance, prior to teachingabout the Civil War, students hearsongs from both the Union and theConfederacy, songs showing firstenthusiasm, then acceptance, andfinally despair. Hearing the songs aswell as reading the lyrics shows themthe human side of this war. Songsand their lyrics reveal to studentsthe everyday life of different periodsof history that is not easily conveyedthrough textbooks.

THE STUDENTS:One hundred and eighty-five 8th-gradestudents participated. Most of thesestudents are below grade level andabout 10 different cultural groups arerepresented. This project would workwell with any grade level, dependingon which songs are chosen. Lowperforming students who may not readwell are able to remember song lyrics.Music uses a different type of learningstyle. Using music and lyrics is a wayto introduce poetry to low performingstudents.

THE STAFF:Regina Stuck has been teaching for 8years and has participated innumerous educational opportunitiesincluding: The National Endowment forthe Humanities, the FloridaHumanities Council, Foundation forEconomics workshops, Justice TeachingInstitute, Summer Urban GeographyInstitute, and others. She has alsosponsored the Geography Bee andBrain Bowl. She has presentedworkshops at the local and state levels,and received two Adapter andDisseminator grants from TheEducation Fund. TheHomestead/Florida City Chamber ofCommerce named her Teacher of theYear for 2001-2002.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:The classroom teacher is sufficient forthis project, although it would lenditself to collaboration between socialstudies and language arts teachers.A CD or tape player or a computerwith good speakers is needed to playthe music. Many of the song lyrics canbe found on the Internet or at garagesales (Big Band, Andrew Sisters). The

public library also has CDs to loan.Songs compiled by Keith and RustyMcNeil of the American Revolution,Civil War, Westward Movement,Cowboys, and Working and Unionpeople can be purchased from SocialStudies School Service for $117.00. A guest speaker when studying eventsof the 20th Century, such as a WorldWar II vet, who could address some ofthe popular songs of the time, isrecommended.

If a picture is worth athousand words, then a songshould be worth at least as

much. By studying song lyricsstudents will develop a better

understanding of the timeperiod they are investigating.

MORE INFORMATION:Regina StuckHomestead Middle School

650 NW 2nd Ave.Homestead, FL 33030

Mail Code: 6251Telephoe: 305-247-4221Fax: 305-247-1098E-mail: [email protected]: Janice Reineke

Sponsored by

Florida MatchingGrants Program

Sing a Song of America



Sing a Song of America

The Champions of ActiveLearning program, funded by

The J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, is

a national initiative that encourages

and supports innovative instructional

programs that result in improved

achievement for middle grade

students. The goal of the program is

to help middle school teachers and

students create engaging,

interdisciplinary projects that link

schoolwork to real life. Grant funds

enable teachers across the country to

implement hands on, standards-based

learning activities that produce high

levels of student achievement, foster

collaboration between teachers, and

provide opportunities for local

education funds, parents and

community members to support

public schools.

Applications for the $5,000 grant

award for the 2003-2004 school year

will be due in April, 2003.

Speak Out for Teen CourtMarilyn Treusch & Barbara Arkon500 Role Model Academy

At-risk students learn reading, writingand public speaking skills as theydesign, develop and implement a mocktrial program that provides a forum forstudents’ to address grievances.

Let’s Build Our DreamNeighborhoodCarlos E. SalgadoAspira South Youth Leadership

Charter School

Students participate in the spiriteddebate of what will happen to the siteof the Homestead Air Force Base. Theylearn the political processes involvedin land use planning, the real cost ofland and building, the implications ofenvironmental issues in the buildingof a neighborhood, and how to workas a team.They also participate in field studyactivities to existing plannedneighborhoods and meet professionalsin action. They then develop andpresent their own ideas through thedesign of a 3-D scale model andmultimedia presentation.

WRAPS 4 (Writing, ReadingActively Participating forSuccess)Sharron Sue HughesNorth Miami Middle Community School

WRAPS 4 is a multi-facetedcomprehensive project designed toimprove test scores and increasestudents’ reading levels through activeparticipation, including the visual andperforming arts. Students investigatetopics and create original books ontheir investigations. They also readstories and books, then write scripts,design costumes and perform thestories as Readers’ Theater for others.In addition, students also willparticipate in Buddy Reading with ESOLand ESE partners. Parents and studentswill also work together on literacyactivities in a family book club.

Real Time HistoryStephen StrongsonHomestead Middle School

Standards in social studies, science,mathematics, and language arts will beaddressed through project-basedlearning explorations of the mysteries,stories and mistakes that make history.

Champions of Active Learning (CAL)

CAL grants being implemented in 2002-2003:

A program of The Education Fund

For more information logon towww.educationfund.org.

On the following pages are the Language Arts profiles.

Books for Breakfastfosters a love forreading in students andhelps parents developstrategies that reinforcereading and learning athome. As a way ofencouraging reading athome, parents wereinvited every othermonth to share a storyand have breakfast intheir child’s classroom.The kindergarten and first gradeteachers modeled storytelling anddemonstrated how a book canprompt enjoyable activities. Forexample, the first book read was, IfYou Give a Moose a Muffin by LauraNumeroff. The students worked on astory recall activity sheet, made sockpuppets and appropriately ate a lotof muffins. At the next breakfast,there was a reading of Caps for Salewhich the students role-played andthen painted caps that were used forschool events like field day, walkingtrips and field trips. For the thirdevent in March, the book, Planting aRainbow by Lois Elhart, was read.Parents and students plantedannuals and also made class muralsof garden flowers and flower boxes.Finally, in May, two theme-relatedbooks were read, Pancakes, Pancakesby Eric Carle and If you Give a Pig aPancake by Laura Numeroff. Afterthe reading, the students role-playedmaking pancakes in the classroom.For each theme, follow-up activitiesand suggestions were given toparents to use at home.

THE STUDENTS:Although the project was primarilyused by all the kindergarten and 1st-grade students at the school, it can beeasily adapted to other grade levels oraudiences by adapting the suggestedreading books and activities. In oneclass, nine of 30 low performingstudents were directly helped withtheir language and reading skills dueto the high interest theme activities.Other classroom teachers involved inthe project also indicated that itmotivated their low performingstudents to read more at school andhome.

THE STAFF:Iris Garcia has been teaching in Floridaand New Jersey for 12 years. This ideacame to her while working on NationalBoard Certification as a way ofreaching out to the community. Sheimplemented this Citibank SuccessFund grant from The Education Fundwith the collaboration of thekindergarten, first-grade and specialarea teachers.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:Books and activities. Contributionsfrom Dade partners, parents, and TheEducation Fund’s Ocean Bank Centerfor Educational Materials are necessaryfor breakfast goods, paper goods, andsome craft materials. Parents areencouraged to visit their local libraryfor books that will help them generateactivities with their children.

Teaching parents how toprepare an environment

conducive to learning will havea direct positive impact on

their children’s reading levels.

MORE INFORMATION:Iris M. Garcia Biscayne Elementary

Community School800 77th St.Miami Beach, FL 33141

Mail Code: 0321Telephone: 305-868-7727Fax: 305-864-5543E-mail: [email protected]: Carlos Fernandez

Sponsored by


Books for Breakfast


29Language Arts

Books for Breakfast Originally a Citibank Success Fund Grant

Originally a Citibank Success Fund Grant

This project enhances the students’abilities to use phonics skills to readunfamiliar words. By improvingstudents’ phonics skills, they willthen improve their reading and,possibly, their comprehension skills.Students learn the phonics andsyllabication patterns throughmultiple intelligences by reading,playing word board games, writingpoetry with magnetic tiles, listeningto books on tape, drawing andcomposing jingles and songs. Forexample, one activity allows thestudents to work with multi-syllabicwords, use the syllabication patternsto break it into its syllables,categorize the syllables into phoneticpatterns, and place them in theappropriate place on a chart. Thisproject has helped many non-readersbegin their journeys to reading byshowing them how to read simplewords and become interested in whatbooks have to offer them. Theactivities are geared toward highschool age students in order to notinjure their self-esteem.

THE STUDENTS:This project was originally used with45, 10th-grade students with learningdisabilities who met for one hour everyday, five days a week. It is easilyadaptable to any age or achievementlevel. Eighty low-performing studentslearned to use phonics to pronouncewords without losing their self-esteemor becoming frustrated.

THE STAFF:Yvette Domenech has beenteaching for six years. Shewas the CEC Rookie Teacherof the Year for 1997 andthe Region I finalist forDade County Rookie Teacherof the year for 1997. Thisproject began in 2000 andis still being used today.

MATERIALS andRESOURCES:The Idea packet will include the lessonsfor each phonetic pattern. Any bookcan be used to teach phonics. A list ofother supplementary material, such asletter tiles and magnetic poetry, is alsoincluded in the Idea packet.

This project allows high school students to learn

phonics without feeling as ifthey are back in elementaryschool. It incorporates the

different intelligences to reachall students. Students will

improve their reading skills,which gives them a better

chance at passingstandardized tests.

Flirting with Phonics in High School


30Language Arts

Flirting with Phonics in High School

MORE INFORMATION:Yvette M. DomenechBarbara Goleman Senior High

14100 NW 89th Ave.Miami Lakes, FL 33018

Mail Code: 7751Telephone: 305-362-0676, ext. 2202Fax: 305-827-0249E-mail:[email protected]: Marcos M. Moran

Sponsored by


Puzzling Pieces ofLiterature is a curriculumdesign that develops andenhances knowledge ofnovels and short storieswhile incorporating thevarious components ofliterature such as author’sfocus, main idea,symbolism, imagery, etc.into an integratedproblem solving activitythat brings the story tolife. This project isadaptable to multiple grade levelsthereby enabling the teacher to usepuzzles with reading material inpoems, short stories or novels.A novel or story is read as a group.The teacher then develops the puzzlepiece questions or statements thatare integral to the understandingand development of the story. Thestudents are given a small copy anda larger replica is made for thebulletin board out of cardboard andlaminated so it may be used again.The puzzle pieces have questions,thoughts, vocabulary or other issuesrelated to the story written on thefront with the answer on the back ofthe large display puzzle piece (thestudent’s puzzle pieces do not havethe answers). The solution to thepuzzle piece can be done as a class,small group or individually. As thepuzzle pieces are solved, connectionsare made, and the answers becomemore in-depth and reveal an increasein students’ comprehension. However,the real application of knowledgecomes when the students are allowedto create their own literature puzzlefrom a novel for their peers.

THE STUDENTS:The project can be adapted to any agegroup that reads. It can be used withan entire classroom, as a small groupactivity such as literature circles, or asa means for developing understandingand comprehension in a guidedreading group. The implementationdoes not differ greatly from group togroup. Low-performing students’reading comprehension skills increasedwith this project as the activities anddiscussion helped bring the meaningtogether for them.

THE STAFF:Nancy Frailey is the Reading Leader atGKE Sabal Palm Elementary School. Shehas been an educator for 26 years andhas been the recipient of 15 grants onthe local, state and federal levels.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES:Multiple copies of novels and stories,cardboard and markers are needed forthis project.

As a novel approach toteaching reading, writing,critical thinking, and FCATpreparation, this project

introduces children to storiesand novels and gives them the

opportunity to analyze andapply the components of

literature in a meaningful andcomprehensive manner.

Puzzling Pieces of Literature


31Language Arts

Puzzling Pieces of Literature

MORE INFORMATION:Nancy FraileyReading LeaderGertrude K. Edelman Sabal

Palm Elementary17101 NE 7th Ave.North Miami Beach, FL 33162

Telephone: 305-651-2511, ext.128Fax: 305-652-7219E-mail: [email protected]: Raul Gutierrez

Sponsored by

BankAtlantic Foundation and

Original Impressions, Inc.

The American Girls Book Club centerson reading the published AmericanGirls Book Collection, a historicalfiction series centering on seven basicfemale characters, who eachrepresent a different time period inhistory. To help students formconnections between the books andthe particular era in history, varioussupplemental activities are created tobring that time period to life.Students participate in tea parties,mommy and me activities, crafts,field trips, charity fundraisers,reading response activities,Accelerated Reader quizzes, andInternet and software usage.

THE STUDENTS:The participants are 25 girls in 2ndand 3rd grade. The group meets everyWednesday for an hour after school,with the exception of faculty meetingdays. The book club can easily beadapted to meet the needs of youngeror older students through the use ofadditional reading material. The bookclub services 15 students who readbelow grade level. Through the club,the majority of these students haveincreased their reading test scores.They have also increased their weeklyreading, the number of books theyborrow from the media center, andtheir Accelerated Reader use.

THE STAFF:Sandra Castellon has been a mediaspecialist for two years. Ms. Castellonattended Florida InternationalUniversity and Nova SoutheasternUniversity and has a master’s inEducational Media. Cherylise

Washington is a 3rd-gradeteachers and is currentlyworking on National Boardfor Professional Stardardscertification. Marcia Straitis the reading teacher atLeisure City K-8 center.

MATERIALS andRESOURCES:Book club meetings are heldin the media center, aclassroom and the school’sauditorium. Supplies needed for theclub’s implementation are theAmerican Girls Book Collection,corresponding Accelerated Readerquizzes, reading response sheet, craftmaterials, computer access (includingInternet capabilities), and basic schoolsupplies. Materials available toteachers to adapt the project areletters to parents, a reading responsesheet, instructions and lessons forbook club sessions. Guest speakers andfield trips round out the program.

The project not only motivatesits participants to read,

thereby increasing students’vocabulary usage and

comprehension, but theassociated activities also

increase critical thinking, andhistorical, social and

technological knowledge.

MORE INFORMATION:Marcia Strait, Reading TeacherLisa Washington, 3rd-grade

TeacherSandra Castellon, Media

SpecialistLeisure City K-8 Center

14950 SW 288th St.Homestead, FL 33033


[email protected]: Ms. Adrienne Wright

Sponsored by


Read, Read, American Girls!


32Language Arts

Read, Read, American Girls!

Companies With IMPACT

Platinum Star

Gold Star

Silver Star

Bronze Star

Original Impressions, Inc. FPL BankAtlantic Foundation

Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament

Robert Russell Memorial Foundation

Florida Matching Grants Program

The Kirk Foundation

Companies With IMPACT

Dade Community Foundation

13th Annual IMPACT II Idea EXPOThe Teacher Conference• More than 75 displays & workshops• Teacher networking opportunities• Door Prizes• Gift Bags• LunchSaturday, November 9, 20028:45 am – 3:30 pmHilton Miami Airport & Towers5101 Blue Lagoon Drive

Register now for this teaching extravaganza!!See pages 7-10 of insert for registration form.Pre-registration by November 1st is $35.

Attention Teachers!

To register online, logon to www.educationfund.org/expo.html

Attention Teachers!Register now for South Florida’s largest

teacher curriculum conference!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL: The Education Fund 305-892-5099, ext. 18.

Sponsored by

Documents

Teacher Training - Teachers Networkteachersnetwork.org/catalogs/miamiimpactII.pdf · one-time seed grant from The Ford Foundation. Its mission is to design, shape and implement initiatives