Programs

The following projects were funded for the 2006-2007 schools year:

Becoming an Effective Teacher: An Action Plan

In conjunction with an e-learning course on classroom management, beginning teachers read the noted "First Days of School" by Harry and Rosemary Wong. Then, the mentor works with them to plan needed changes in classroom management. As part of the national board model, the mentor, who is a math department chair, videotapes beginning teachers' mathematical lessons, which are then viewed and improvement strategies discussed.- Sandra A. Daire, Eduardo Guzman, Daniel Alvarez and Barbara Velunza Felix Varela Senior High School

Botanical Adventures through Your Senses - Bringing the Adventures Home

Science and photography teachers create an outdoor classroom via a greenhouse where students grow crops and learn about field botany through digital photography. Science students plant different fruits and vegetables and replant in containers until harvesting. They work together with the photography students to select and display their data collection on presentation boards that are displayed at a community gallery. - Eloisa Mesa and Juan E. Cabrera Design & Architecture Senior High

I'm Looking at Someone Special: A Photographic Journey

This project develops the students' awareness and pride in their family and community and increases their ability to effectively communicate through visual images and written statements. The participating students, who are classified Severely Emotionally Disturbed or Emotionally Handicapped, improve their coping and social skills by combining reading, writing, art history and fine arts. Students are trained in portraiture and how to tell a story through pictures. Then, they take photos of the community, discuss the results in class and make individual scrapbooks. The best photos are enlarged and chosen for an exhibit. - Melinda Fedorko and Erica Lee Irving & Beatrice Peskoe Elementary

Investigating Math through Art

This project allows teachers and students to investigate the mathematics found in art by creating lessons highlighting the relationship. Students view art videos and create art projects that explore math concepts such as geometric shapes in art, proportions, distance and angles. After exploring these math concepts, students create a final work of art illustrating comprehension of the concepts.- IsisT. Silva and Daniela Schwimmer Joella C. Good Elementary

It's in the Bag!

This program, developed by National Board Certified Teachers, covers just about every question or problem a new teacher might encounter. A bag full of useful and workable ideas, tips, strategies and activities is helpful to new teachers to assimilate successfully to the teaching field. Their collaboration includes joint lesson planning, coaching, observations, reflection activities, modeling, and peer-coaching techniques. - Ana Cruz and Sylvia Rappaport Liberty City Elementary School

Rallying Around the 3-Rs: Research, Resources & Refreshments

In order to cultivate a community of learners, once a week, new teachers and National Board Certified mentors are invited to share ideas along with refreshments. New teachers are invited to come with specific topics in mind to discuss with the mentors. Lesson plans, interdisciplinary projects and thematic units are explored so that a professional collaboration is established. - Mickey Weiner and Jessica Grayton Myrtle Grove Elementary School

Reflecting on Differentiating Instruction to Improve Student Achievement

This project will further the skills of the veteran teacher, allowing for an opportunity to conduct action research and develop successful teaching practices that are responsive to the specific needs of students and teachers at various sites. The participating new teacher benefits from the learning community created as a result of the research, reflection, mentoring, modeling and coaching that is inherent in the project/ relationship. The new teacher learns skills and strategies in classroom management, differentiated instruction, design and implementation of experiential/discovery learning activities, self-reflection and action research. - Valerie Morris, Jenita Lyons, Louise Muscarella-Daxon and Anthony Armbrister Miami Edison Senior High

Spectacular Scientists

This project is designed to prepare 4th-grade students for the 5th-grade FCAT as well as to ensure new teachers are promoting hands-on science. This project teams three new teachers and one veteran to implement eight hands-on science kits that students can experiment with at home to reinforce classroom learning.

They're able to explore science at their own pace, in a comfortable environment, with their parents to support them. - Dina Adler and Byrna Berman Ojus Elementary School

Writing Our Way to Success

Students currently lack opportunities to express themselves through writing. This project entails creating a student-initiated newspaper, which gives students practice in different types of writing, including those tested on FCAT Writes. It also solves the dilemma of eighth period, an extremely difficult time of the day when teachers are dealing with tired and apathetic students. Because students learn best while having fun, students look forward to this end-of-the day writing enrichment. - Kelly Welsh and Elizabeth Lennox Madison Middle School

Zora Neale Hurston Festival

Students expand their knowledge of the themes in the book "Their Eyes Were Watching God" through text rendering, collages, and evaluative essays. They also gain appreciation about the life and experiences of Zora Neale Hurston, while they grasp a new culture, time period and lifestyle. Other novels that tie in thematically are studied so students can identify how themes are evident in different texts. To further their study of the author, the students attend the Zora Neale Hurston Festival in Eatonville, Florida, the setting of the novel. Here students participate in activities and discussions about the novel and how it relates to Florida's people and heritage. - Keisha McIntyre-McCullough and Michelle Chanda Singh Robert Morgan Educational Center

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