Suncoast Credit Union

I work in one of the healthiest and wealthiest cities in the nation. Yet, 43% of the students who come to my school each day are approved for free lunch. I teach at a very small school with a pretty diverse population. My classroom is very diverse in ability, culture and socioeconomic status. But I find that no matter what kids don't have in common there is always one thing they can do together--LEARN! My students come in each day eager to learn new things, become innovators and grow as independent learners. One thing I would like to do is to create an environment that is as diverse as the learning styles represented in the room. I strive to teach in a way that is safe, engaging and comfortable for all, and I am now looking into ways to make my physical learning environment the same.

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Breaking Out of the Mold and Playing Beyond the Screen

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School:
Lake Park Elementary 
Subject:
Language Arts 
Teacher:
Kristin Merrill 
Students Impacted:
50 
Grade:
Date:
August 26, 2017

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

Michael & Andrea Schroeder - $692.00

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 45

I believe that learning happens best where there is a perfect balance between rigor and engagement. Lessons should be focused on targets and standards, but they should also be engaging and tap into the interests of the students learning. Through the funding of this grant, I have been able to accomplish this and for that I thank you.

In my class I work hard to plan lessons for students that incorporate the 4 C’s—creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication.

 

Breakout Edu boxes and OSMO learning kits are perfect ways to do this. Breakout Edu boxes are challenges where students have to use various skills to problem solve their way to unlocking all the locks on the box. They work in small group teams or sometimes as a class to uncover the clues and their hidden meaning. We have enjoyed challenges that focused on theme and inferencing as well as one that correlated to a well-known picture book titled The Dot that we read in class. The students cheer every time they see the boxes locked and waiting for them.

 

OSMO learning kits are a fun tool that hooks on to any of our classroom iPads. Students use the mirror tool to draw, play games incorporating physics and evening coding! My favorite way to use the OSMO is for vocabulary review. I am able to create my own lessons and slides that represent the words students are currently learning in class. They love to try and decipher which word is being displayed by using their inductive reasoning while competing with each other.

 

Thank you again for investing in the learning that happens daily in our classroom and for giving us the chance to engage through rigorous leaning that promotes creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication.

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Boxes prepared and ready to go!

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They broke out!

 

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Working hard to solve the puzzle!

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Original Grant Overview

Goal

I work in one of the healthiest and wealthiest cities in the nation. Yet, 43% of the students who come to my school each day are approved for free lunch. I teach at a very small school with a pretty diverse population. My classroom is very diverse in ability, culture and socioeconomic status. But I find that no matter what kids don't have in common there is always one thing they can do together--LEARN! My students come in each day eager to learn new things, become innovators and grow as independent learners. One thing I would like to do is to create an environment that is as diverse as the learning styles represented in the room. I strive to teach in a way that is safe, engaging and comfortable for all, and I am now looking into ways to make my physical learning environment the same. 

 

What will be done with my students

It's time to escape from the norm, ditch the old routine and rev up our learning in class! I want to teach the traditional reading standards and skills in a way that transfers the ownership of learning to my students. This BreakoutEDU box I am requesting will help infuse teamwork and critical thinking into my classroom through the games and tasks presented to students. In addition to the content knowledge needed to succeed in a specific game, all BreakoutEDU games require critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication. Every new game provides learners with many opportunities to fail forward. Every unsuccessful attempt to open a lock forces the players to try again and persevere towards the end goal.

Osmo is an award-winning game system that will change the way students interact with the iPad by opening it up to hands-on play. Osmo Coding teaches logic skills and problem solving, and it helps kids succeed in an increasingly digital world. Osmo Words allows students to interact with letters and words to interactively build their vocabulary and Osmo Coding Jam gives students the opportunity to compose their own song by arranging the coding blocks into patterns and sequences. It’s happy, hands-on play that can be integrated into multiple subject areas.
 

 

Benefits to my students

It's time for something different in my classroom. It's time to engage students in a new way that develops a community of learners who are deeply engaged and working incredibly hard to solve problems. 

 

Budget Narrative

The Osmo lerning bundles come with 5 programs in each bundle, and cost 189.00 each. They can be used on any iPad in the building and I will be able to share with my fellow teammates and their classes in addition to my own. The BreakoutEDU box is a kit that comes with 15 different tools including hasps, letter locks, UV pen and light, number locks and so much more! The kit can be reset and used over and over with a new challenge presented each time.  

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 3 OSMO Bundles $567.00
2 1 BreakoutEDU box set $125.00
  Total: $692.00

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Special Thanks to Our Presenting Partners

Suncoast Credit Union