SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Springfield-Wittenberg Teacher Institute offers mini-grants for teachers to support action research in the classroom. This innovative approach to the decline in budgets within the school system allows teachers to apply for mini-grants up to $500 for projects that document student social and academic gains. The grant monies can be used to purchase student and teacher materials essential to the project implementation.
"The intent is to provide resources to the teachers that support creative instruction, ultimately benefiting the students with enhanced learning opportunities," said Jeannine Fox, co-director of the Springfield-Wittenberg Teacher Institute and director of graduate studies in education at Wittenberg University. "We are excited as we enter a new era in working together to generate genuine and sustained improvements in our local schools by giving educators new opportunities and funding some of their best ideas."
According to Fox, this is the first time the institute has offered such grants, which have been made possible by the generosity of the Turner Foundation. Fox encourages teachers to be creative in the design, implementation and documentation of the research projects.
Applicants can be individuals, groups or teams of teachers, and notification will be given within one month of submitting an application. A team of teaching associates will review each grant application. Once accepted, the projects must be completed with a final report by April 30, 2004.
The action research grants can help a teacher purchase a set of books or software, bring guest speakers into the classroom or school, establish better communication tools for parents such as a newsletter, fund an interactive reception for parents and teachers, or take students on educational field trips, among other avenues. For more information or to receive an application, call the Wittenberg department of education at 327-6417 or visit www.wittenberg.edu, and click on the education department's Web site.
The Springfield-Wittenberg Teacher Institute is a collaborative professional development partnership between Wittenberg University and the schools of Springfield/Clark County.
