It is getting extremely close to the end of the school year. With only fifteen more days of school, I am finding it more and more difficult to focus on everything that needs to get done before June 18th. Because there is so much on my mind towards the end of the school year, I have found it challenging to take the necessary steps towards my two goals of: creating more meaningful learning experiences that involve the use of digital tools and promoting creative thinking in the classroom. Although I have talked with our district math coach and my administrator about professional development opportunities, the lack of funding for education has put a halt on my progress. Not only is there insufficient funds for training, but there are a limited amount of technology grants available as well. I have been trying to research grant opportunities that provide technology tools in the classroom and have so far been unsuccessful.
Throughout all of my research I have learned that grant writing is more difficult than I had originally thought (especially in more challenging economics times) and that I may need to take an actual class before attempting to apply. Most of the technology grants are very precise and require teachers to provide specific lesson plans; therefore, I first needed to decide what tool I wanted in the classroom and why I wanted it. I have decided that since I already have a student response system, I would really like an Interactive White Board. According to multiple sites, this tool would cost roughly $2,000. This is $2,000 that our district does not have and is something that I am not prepared to pay for; therefore, I will be looking more in depth for grants that provide this type of tool. As for writing the grant, I will need to find someone in our district that can help with this process. One person I have in mind is our physical education teacher who has already written and earned a grant of her own.
At this point I do not think that I need to modify my plan; however, I may need to stretch the deadline. Although I may not be successful with earning a grant this year, I have all summer to write and apply. I need to relax and take things one step at a time, otherwise I am afraid that I will get burnt out and will have less success with teaching my students the new skills that they desperately need for a better future.
Some questions that I still have are:
1. What other resources are available for funding technology in the classroom?
2. If technology is as important as educational leaders say that it is, why can’t we get more assistance in this area?
3. What are some effective strategies for writing grants?
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3 comments:
Erin-
First, I am sorry you have `5 days left. I agree that it is extremely hard right now to work on these goals. We have added other tests, field trips, awards night, and several other things to plan. Good luck with the searching and just think there will be more time once school is out.
~Meghan
Erin
It can be very stressful to see the importance of technology in the classroom but not be able to actually apply it. It is not your fault that all of these amazing teaching tools we are learning, some of them cannot be put into action because your district cannot provide the necessary pieces of technology. Keep on going with the grant writing. A few years ago, our PE teacher wrote a grant and received over $100,000 for our PE department. We have crazy stuff for our kids to enjoy.
Aaron-
Thanks for the words of advice! Our PE teacher recieved a grant award as well and that is who I have been trying to reach about grant writing strategies. With the end of the school year quickly approaching many teachers are extremely busy; therefore, I have found it difficult to find resources for my GAME plan process. I hope that you are having more luck than I!
Erin
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