By Celeste Johnston, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Cherrydale Primary School, a kindergarten through grade 3 school, in the Steilacoom Historical School District, was awarded a $5,000 grant from CenturyLink for student technology. Teachers, Brittany Humphrey, Cindy Lea-Balko, Sylvia Kozyra, Jill Lyons and Brian Kirby wrote and submitted a technology grant to increase the schools’ teaching technology equipment.
Specifically, the focus of the grant application was to increase student and teacher feedback through the use of an Individual Response System (“clickers”). This wireless system allows students to “click” enter instant responses, anonymously, as a class to concepts taught on an electronic board. PE, health and music concepts, as well as typical classroom instruction, can be taught without the use of pencils, paper or clipboards. Tests can be given simultaneously and feedback to answers responded to instantly enhancing student learning.
CenturyLink supports a competitive grant program — Teachers & Technology — designed to recognize K-12 educators who are creative technology integrators. The $5,000.00 grant will allow the school to purchase 3 classroom sets for the start of the 2013-2014 school year increasing the number of sets the students will have available to 8 sets.