The Saline High School Chamber Choir plans to commission a piece from Connor Koppin, an award-winning and nationally recognized composer of new choral music. Students will go beyond their normal practice of simply learning a piece by being a part of the creative process from the very start. This grant will include the commissioned work itself, visits from Mr. Koppin who is currently doing his DMA at MSU, and a unique collaborative experience for our students to be the very first voices to share a piece of new art. The final published score will include a dedication to Saline Choirs, and we hope it will carry our name beyond Saline to performers and audiences around the world.
Lighting up Learning
As you grow older, you learn what types of environments are best for getting work done. I work best in an area that is comfortable, quiet, and relaxing. I want to create that environment for my kids. I think what students see when they walk in my door can impact their hour, day, and maybe even year, so IÛªd like to create a space that they feel comfortable working in, being themselves in, and excelling in.
Service Learning for Students with Special Needs: Fleece and Thank You!
This proposal revolves around project-based classroom experiences, focused on service learning for students with special needs. Through the Foundation for Saline Area Schools grant, along with the company Fleece and Thank You, I will provide Compass-driven volunteer experiences for students with academic and functional deficits. Students with special needs will organize and implement blanket creation projects, as well as video communication, in order to serve children within the community that are hospitalized due to chronic illnesses. This proposal allows for a structured environment in which students with disabilities can extend their learning into the community and make a difference for others, while also taking part in learning experiences they are not often able to access at the high school.
Hornet Time Community Giving Initiative
My Hornet Time class (26 freshman) would like to do some type of “give back” to our community for the holidays (or any time would work!). The students have not decided yet, but they have thrown around ideas such as making toys and treats for the humane society, food/toiletries or holiday baskets with food/toys for SASS and even making fleece “knot blankets” for children at SASS or U of M/St. Joes.
I am hopeful that this amount will sustain us for 2 years of projects like this.
Micro:Bits Visible Coding in the Elementary Classroom
Micro:Bits are tiny programmable chips that allow students to see their code come to life. For this proposal, students will use Micro:Bits in a project that is aligned to their science curriculum. The Instructional Designers across the district will support teachers with the lesson plans and also aid in classroom implementation in a wide variety of grade levels.
Wheely Great Sensory Input
Self-regulation is the ability to adjust or regulate the level of alertness depending on the time of the day and the stimuli presented. When students have a difficult time with self regulation, we observe maladaptive behavior or responses to the environment and sensory stimuli. WeÛªd like to provide students with the equipment necessary to enable them to self-regulate in order to increase abilities in all areas of learning and in all learning spaces. Improved self-regulation will increase the opportunities for special education students to collaborate in and participate with the general education setting through all eight Saline Area Schools Compass Attributes.
Using Games to Enhance Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
As a department, the math teachers at SMS are working to implement critical thinking activities into our lessons. We are helping students identify strategies for problem solving that will carry into other courses and beyond the school walls. By allowing students time to play games, these skills can be reinforced in a fun and creative way. These games will also help to foster positive communication skills and cooperation amongst peers, as students put away their electronic devices and work together to play board and card games.
Ecosystem Model-Reef Tank
A highly diverse reef tank will simulate an actual aquatic ecosystem. This system serves as a microcosm of our world. This DIRECTLY relates what is/could be extended to be taught in Biology regarding but not limited to: nutrient cycles and flow of matter, biodiversity, symbiosis, carrying capacity, competition for resources, invasive species, global warming, coral bleaching/ocean acidity, food webs and chains, reproduction, population growths, sustainability, global awareness, human impact and much more. I am working directly with Fish Doctors out of Ypsilanti to create this design to meet my instructional needs. (Not just a “cool fish tank” for the classroom!) This directly corresponds to the state high school standards (“Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems” as well as “Independent Relationships in Ecosystems” which could be assessed on the MSTEP).
Apple Watch and Breathe
Apple Watches have an app called Breathe. When using this app, it provides a multi sensory (physical and visual) experience. During times that our students are experiencing moments of stress, anxiety and other emotional irregularities, the staff have used their personal Apple Watches to help de-escalate / calm students using the Breathe app. The staff place the watch on the childÛªs wrist and assist the student in the breathing exercises. The Apple watch also has a timer that is also multi sensory, which helps students with understanding of time and when to transition in the school environment.
An Outdoor Makerspace: Learning through Play!
From perspective taking to learning in a group, students learn and develop best through play! Recess is an opportunity for our students to practice and generalize skills of communication, collaboration, and creativity in a genuine, yet unstructured setting. However, the playground is not always accessible or equitable for students as they may not be interested in activities such as football or soccer. I propose that we encourage opportunities for play and learning using the Everblocks from Stemfinity as a step towards building an outdoor makerspace!
