School of Education, Teaching and Health: Download Forms

The Ganek Family Student Teacher Mini Grants for Innovation in Education

We are pleased to announce the fall 2008 recipients of the Ganek Family Student Teacher Mini Grants, which were made possible by the generous support of Lynne Brenner Ganek and her family.

Fall 2008 - please click on the student name to find out more information about the projects.

Kira Sonberg, BA Elementary Education (2008)

Spring 2008

Tom Bishop, MA International Training and Education, Graduate Certificate in Secondary Teaching, English (2008)

Ariella Brodecki, BA Elementary Education (2008)

Alison Clark, BA Secondary Education, Mathematics (2008)

Hilarie Shanley, MAT Elementary Education (2008)

Fall 2007 (inaugural semester)

Usha Chidamber, MAT Elementary Education (2007)

Student Teacher Mini Grants were created to provide an opportunity to American University Student Teachers to test out new methodologies and innovative lesson ideas with their cooperating teachers in DC area classrooms. The program is sponsored by American University supervisor and clinical faculty member, Lynne Brenner Ganek. Professor Ganek developed this program in 2007, based on her dedication to the tradition of inspiring student teachers to create exciting learning experiences for their students.

The purpose of the program Ganek Family Student Teacher Mini Grants is to foster and support student teachers in the development of inventive classroom activities, lessons, projects, and experiments. The grants are designed to enable student teachers to explore new methodologies and experiment with activities and lessons while under the supervision of cooperating teachers in local schools. Mini grants are awarded every fall and spring semester to student teachers who promote academic excellence and design exciting learning experiences which meet curriculum standards.

Students, for more information about the grants, please contact Karen DiGiovanni at digiovanni@american.edu. You can download the application here.

Fall 2008 Grant Recipients

Kira Sonberg, BA Elementary Education (2008)
Janney Elementary School, 2nd Grade, Washington, DC
Cooperating Teacher: Ms. Shana Zallman

Ms. Sonberg created Z-ville, a mock community, in Shana Zallman’s second grade classroom at Janney Elementary School. The idea is attributed to Jennifer Miller, a fellow second grade teacher at Janney who has experienced a lot of success with her own “Millertown.” The students created a connected classroom community that they were responsible for running. Students took on classroom jobs that mirrored jobs in a real community such as running a post office, the Z-ville store and the Z-ville bank. They completed their jobs with pride because they learned the affect those jobs had on the well-being of the classroom. Students also experienced the Washington D.C community as the classroom was visited by real workers who have the same jobs as those in Z-ville. Students met police officers, firefighters, the American University eagle, a crossing guard, and other individuals who are important to the Janney School community. Through their exchange of “money”, students developed financial responsibility as they worked to be paid, paid classroom expenses, and then decided whether to spend or save their money. Students experienced the real world within their classroom community in a fun and exciting way. Ms. Zallman was so excited about Z-ville that she plans to continue the project in the future.

Spring 2008 Grant Recipients

Tom Bishop, MA International Training and Education, Graduate Certificate in Secondary Teaching, Social Studies (2008)
Ballou Senior High School, Washington DC
Mr. Bishop will use “Bishop Bucks” to encourage good behavior, class attendance and class participation and discourage disruptive behavior in his class at Ballou Senior High School in Southeast, D.C. Students will earn Bishop Bucks for good behavior, which they will be able to use towards rewards like apples, granola bars, candy or a pizza party. Students will be fined between 1 and 10 Bishop Bucks for disruptive behavior or poor attendance.

Ariella Brodecki, BA Elementary Education (2008)
Burning Tree Elementary School, 3rd Grade, Bethesda, MD
Cooperating Teacher: Ms. Michelle Soriton
Ms. Brodecki will teach 93 third grade students at Burning Tree Elementary School in Bethesda, Maryland about business and the cultures of the world. The entire third grade will be split into groups—each group representing different countries within different continents—and will be asked to research, plan, budget, manage, market and sell products in a world market. The project will culminate in a “world market bazaar” with second grade students serving as the consumers.

Alison Clark, BA Secondary Education, Mathematics (2008)
Paul Public Charter School, 7th Grade, Washington, DC
Cooperating Teacher: Ms. Mia Abeles
Ms. Clark has found an engaging way to teach math to 7th grade students at Paul Public Charter School in Northwest, D.C. Students will learn songs to help them remember methods for solving different types of math problems. Integrating mathematics and the arts, students will create study guides by making CD versions of the songs and lyrics guides. Students will also track their use of the memory aides during tests and analyze how often remembering the songs allowed them to answer questions correctly.

Hilarie Shanley, MAT Elementary Education (2008)
Key Elementary School, 4th Grade, Washington, DC
Cooperating Teacher: Ms. Gwen Foster
Ms. Shanley will create a school newspaper for students in grades 2-5 at Key Elementary School in Northwest, D.C. Students will be given a chance to find their talent and use it towards the school’s paper as a writer, cartoonist, reporter, editor, columnist, manager or layout/production team member. The paper will allow the students to find an outlet for a variety of different talents and will be sent home to give parents a glimpse into what is going on at the school.

Fall 2007 Grant Recipient

Usha Chidamber, MAT Elementary Education (2007)
Burning Tree Elementary School, 3rd Grade, Bethesda, MD
Cooperating Teacher: Mrs. Kara Borg
Ms. Chidamber's project provides the opportunity for third graders to work collaboratively to investigate an authentic scientific phenomenon and serves 23 students in third grade at Burning Tree Elementary School in Bethesda, Maryland. The objective of the project is to enhance and deepen their comprehension of Plant Life Cycle and Growth (from seed to fruit) through a hands-on approach. Implement scientific procedures ---- observation, recording, interpreting, and prediction ---- through experimenting. The goal is also to build neural connections by contextualizing scientific theory with real-world experience. Additionally the project design draws on the talent of a local farmer and environmentalist who will provide guidance and knowledge to the students, and help cement community relations.

The Ganek Family Student Teacher Mini Grants for Innovation in Education

Text Only Options