Experiencing the Monarch

My MLEF co-sponsored trip to the monarch colonies in February, 2008 enabled me to better understand a more complete picture of the monarch's journey, and subsequently share my passion and knowledge of the amazing monarchs and their over wintering sites in the Transvolcanic mountains of Michoacan, Mexico first hand with students and faculty. Seeing the millions of monarchs gave me a greater appreciation of stewardship for the planet that I'd like to weave into the environmental ethics portion of my curriculum.

Robin Anderson
6th grade teacher of Science
Briarcliff

What Teachers are Saying

The Smart Boards are such a powerful teaching tool.  Many of my students who were previously not interested in learning French suddenly see a purpose to paying attention.  They want to be successful when they touch the SmartBoard.

Sue Bessin, Teacher of French
Wildwood and MLHS

I Don't Know How I Taught Without It

Having a SmartBoard in my classroom allows me to plan hands-on, fun, and interactive lessons that utilize real-life and real-time data. I don't know how I ever taught without out it!

Amal Hussein, 5th grade teacher of Math
Wildwood

Real-Time Weather Data

I've been very fortunate over the last 4 years to receive two grants from the MLEF.  The first one was for our Weatherbug program at Wildwood where we now have a State-of-the-Art Weather Station monitoring system along with the Weatherbug Achieve program.  Students are learning concepts in Meteorology while using/studying real-time weather data.

Last year, I received a grant to get a Smartboard for my science classroom.  Our 5th grade students are basically using the interactive whiteboard and smartboard technology on a daily basis.  It truly enhances the learning environment.

I'm extremely grateful and thankful for all the MLEF has done for my students and me.  Without their generous support, my classroom would not be what it is today.

Mark Walters
5th grade science teacher
Wildwood School

A Profound Impact

The smartboard has profoundly impacted the way I teach. I am using it on a daily basis to integrate the visual aspects that are so important in Art Education. Students are given opportunities to see things in a very different way. Artwork can be projected and the students can come up and identify things. For example, if we are discussing the shapes we see in a painting the students can come up to the Smartboard and draw the shape they see right on top of the artwork so others will know what they are seeing. It is a magnificent way to integrate hands on learning. It has revolutionized the way I teach.

Jeanette Meyer, Teacher of Art, Wildwood School

Can You Hear the Wows?

A few years ago the foundation gave the first grade team money to purchase several "real" not toy microscopes.  I wish they could hear the "Wows" that we hear.

We recently viewed the chrysalis of the monarch butterfly, the wing of a butterfly and a chrysalis that had been invaded by a parasite.  So you see the foundation keeps giving year after year.  Thank you!

Anne Brown
1st grade teacher
Wildwood School

Interactive Learning

Since the 2006 Educational Foundation award, the centralized availability of Smartboard technology in the Wildwood School library has vastly benefited and enhanced the educational opportunities of our students and staff. The technology has been instrumental in engaging students with interactive learning opportunities across the curriculum.

Irene Muka, Librarian
Wildwood

Stooges Keep Us Balanced

A few years ago I applied to the MLEF and got a grant for very accurate electronic balances for the AP and first-year chemistry curricula.  These balances are accurate to the nearest 1/10,000th of a gram, and were extremely necessary for our work.  In fact, they were required equipment for the AP chemistry curriculum.  So, thanks to the MLEF, we have been using Larry, Moe and Curly (our names for them) for three years now.

Chris Wallace
Teacher of Chemistry
MLHS