FALL 2018 AUTHENTIC LEARNING FUND
PURPOSE
The authentic learning fund was designed to provide resources and supplies for teachers who want to build out an authentic and engaging lesson for students that provide real-life connections between the classroom and the community around them. This grant program was co-sponsored by the district administration and priorities for the program were set in partnership with the NEF.
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This fund was focused on:
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Innovative, interesting lessons that connect students to their identify and community
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Clear design and understanding of an intended outcome for students
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Priority for resources and lessons that can be scaled and replicated if shown to have positive impact for students
DETAILS
Staff members were informed of this new grant cycle at the start of the school year. The staff was given a month to explore, develop and submit their proposal. The proposal had to align with the mission of the NEF and meet the above stated purpose. All requests were received and screened by the NEF and district administration. The last week in October, teachers and staff members were surprised in their classroom with the award while being broadcast on Facebook Live.
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See the detail below on all the awards, photos and Facebook Live videos.
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None of this is possible without your direct support of the NEF.
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FUN FRIDAY:FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION & SOCIAL GROUPS
Parkview Elementary – Cassandra Griffin, Lori Garner, Katie Elliott, Karen Wilkinson
$350
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Every Friday we hold a group focusing on functional communication, turn taking, and following directions with students who have complex communication needs. We use highly motivating, hands-on, and multi-sensory activities such as: cooking, music, game play and books. The goal of the project is to focus on turn taking skills, following directions and functional communication whether it be verbally or with use of their assistive and augmentative communication device using highly motivating, practical activities.
WILDCAT WELLNESS:FOSTERING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN THE K-4 CLASSROOM
Deerfield Elementary – Christina Sauchak
$550
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My vision is for Deerfield to have a “Wildcat Wellness” library. This will be a collection of picture books that can be used for social-emotional learning opportunities. All staff members will have access to the books. Themes of books will include self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness, relationship skills, coping skills, mindfulness, meditation, emotions/feelings, growth mindset, empathy, and more.
MYSTERY AT THE WILDCAT SCHOOL OF WIZARDRY
NMS 20th COMMEMORATIVE MOSAIC
Novi Middle School - David Kniaz, Alexander Erskine
$1,200
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This is for an escape room comprised of puzzles that students must solve as a team by thinking critically and logically to unravel a mystery. Our goal is to build community while engaging students’ higher-order thinking and interpersonal skills. NMS 8th graders will be the primary beneficiaries of this grant, but we have plans to create another room for 7th graders.
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Novi Middle School - Robert Baker, Alex Erskine
$500
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This is the middle schools 20th year of existence. We aim to commemorate this milestone by commissioning a 4 X 4 student-created art project that will be proudly be displayed in the main hallway. This project will be designed and created by Novi Middle School art students.
MULTI-CULTURAL LIBRARY
Early Childhood Education Center – Stephanie Hawkins
$300
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My classroom is half-day young fives. We read at least one book in the short three hours that the student attend. In addition, the students have 4-10 minutes of independent reading. Multicultural books are not only difficult to find, but also display an increase in price compared to anything of Caucasian decent. That is why I am proposing a grant to create a multicultural library within my classroom.
LEAD ME: LEADERSHIP EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MINDFULNESS AND ENCOURAGEMENT
Novi Meadows – Jeanne Dial, Maryanne Leadbetter
$850
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Our grant will allow for student representatives to go to every 5th and 6th grade classroom and lead them in developing the skills of mindfulness. Lead by teachers, this team will include highly interested and recommended leaders who wish to develop their leadership skills and mindfulness skills while leading the rest of the school in mindfulness.
WORLD DRUMS
CALMING CADDIES FOR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Novi Meadows – Ainsley Lengerich
$811
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This grant will provide several world drums and small percussion for the 6th grade choir classroom. This will help them sing with expression and technical accuracy, and increasing diverse repertoire of literature at developmentally-appropriate levels and identify a repertoire of music from diverse cultures.
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Novi Meadows – Audry Moiseeff, Jesse Harrison
$575
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This grant would fund 25 calming caddies at Novi Meadows. Students will use these caddies to help calm themselves down (practice mindfulness) and help them learn important self-regulation skills. Every 5th and 6th grade student and staff member will have access to the tools provided in each caddy.
MOTOR SKILLS ROOM
Village Oaks – Dave Belanger, Nikki McEvers
$1,043
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This grant will create a motor skills room while children can go to enhance both their Fine and Gross motor skills. K-2 grade students would be able to visit the room once a week as a supplement to their regular physical education class.
PROJECT BASED LEARNING - ANIMAL EXHIBITS
Village Oaks – Jennifer Lessway, Danielle Courtemanche
$500 (Co-Funded with the VOICE (Village Oaks PTO))
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Our K students learn how to read non-fictional texts and how to become informational writers. Teachers guide and support through this unit. This year our unit is titled Animal Exhibits. This grant will allow our students to participate in a virtual field trip to Shedd Aquarium.