GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRBJ) - Students in underserved southeast Grand Rapids schools got to take part in new experiential classroom activities last year.
Amplify GR completed the first year of its Scholar Strong mini-grant program, meant to fund instructional projects in the classroom that otherwise would not be possible.
The Scholar Strong program also seeks to assist teachers by providing resources that reduce the financial burden many feel by having to purchase supplies for their classrooms. Because supplies are purchased with money from teachers’ pockets, many creative projects often are out of the question.
“The Scholar Strong mini-grants gave our staff the opportunity to finance projects we’ve dreamed of implementing but didn’t have funding for previously,” Dickinson Elementary School teacher Heather Quamme said.
Through the program, 23 teachers at Dickinson Elementary School, Hope Academy of West Michigan and River City Scholars Charter Academy won grants for up to $500 for classroom projects and learning activities revolving around STEAM, literacy, college and career readiness, and leadership development.
These teachers’ students — who all qualify for free or reduced lunch — gained experiences through projects such as a STEAM workshop, student-led community gardens and off-site learning experiences, including a prey-and-predator simulation at Blandford Nature Center and visits to the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
“What we saw from this initiative is when we invest these monies, the passion of teachers comes alive because they now can think out of the box in terms of activities and experiences that they want to provide their students,” said Ashanti Bryant, Amplify GR education director. “But also, the students, they demonstrate real potential. They just need the opportunity.”
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