Grants Awarded for the 2018-19 School Year
1. Screen Free Coding for Kindergarten
Nicole Putnam and Cynthia Matthes, Instructional Technology Specialists, District
The grant funds the purchase of screen free coding materials for Kindergarten students to support the teaching of computational thinking aligned with the Massachusetts technology standards. Instructional technology specialists and math specialists will work with Kindergarten teachers to integrate the new materials into the curriculum on both the Lincoln and Hanscom campuses.
2. HMS Garden Club
Jeanne Arango, ELL Teacher, Hanscom Middle School
The Garden Club, an afterschool club at Hanscom Middle School will give English Language Learner students additional time to improve English language expressive and receptive skills while connecting to their school and community, in a meaningful way. Students will learn about the LEED certified HMS building; develop and execute proposals for the Carton2garden school garden competition; and select, plant, harvest, and market micro-greens to the Hanscom community.
3. National Conference of Teachers of Mathematics
Becky Eston Salemi, K Teacher and Team Leader, Smith
This grant supported the attendance of Becky Eston Salemi and Kathy O’Connor (Math Specialist) at the National Conference of Teachers of Mathematics. At the conference they attended sessions focusing on innovative mathematics education, reviewed new curricula and materials, and had the opportunity to talk with math educators from all over the United States.
4. Efrain Fuentes & Silvia Gomez: Folk Artists from Oaxaca, Mexico
Donna Lubin, Art Specialist, Hanscom
Students at Hanscom and Lincoln had the opportunity to extend their learning about Mexican art, culture, and traditions and practice their Spanish language skills through direct engagement with Efrain Fuentes and Silvia Gomez, artisans from Oaxaca, Mexico. The artists demonstrated traditional wood-carving and painting techniques, showed a video of their village life, and provided students with an opportunity to ask questions.
5. LLCT Nature Guides
Jane Chevalier, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT), District
This grant helps to support the publication of a naturalist guide for Lincoln that is being shared with teachers and children in Lincoln’s public and private schools and the general public. This initiative recognized teachers’ need for a simple tool to help identify common species of flora and fauna when engaging with students in the outdoor “classroom.” This project also helps to extend the impact of the Wetlands Walkway project and related curriculum development sponsored by the LSF, LLCT and the Town of Lincoln.
6. Civil War Washington Professional Learning Course
Steve Cullen, History Teacher, Brooks
This grant supported the participation in a weeklong professional development program sponsored by the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation focused on the teaching of American History at the Ford’s Theater in Washington, DC. The program engaged teachers from across the country in topics such as using place and topography as primary sources, teaching about race relations, facilitating difficult conversations among students, and developing oratory skills in the classroom. This program not only offered an opportunity to enrich the curriculum delivered on campus, but also to inform the 8th grade Washington DC field trips.
7. Technology Integrated Classroom
Matt Reed, 2nd Grade Teacher, Smith
This grant built on a 2017-18 grant that aimed to improve student learning by developing technology-embedded lessons across the curriculum. This year’s grant will be used to create meaningful lesson plans for the 2nd grade team based on best practices of technology integration as well as the new digital literacy and computer science learning expectations.