Building a Spanish Library
Research has shown the best way to build literacy in any language is through reading. Just as students engage in literature circles in English class, this grant would allow me to build up a library of Spanish texts of various levels and themes that students can use to build up their literacy and fluency.

Fitnessgram Improvement
The middle school students fitness test twice a year in Physical Education using the Fitnessgram standards. I would like to purchase a sit-and-reach fitness box. This will allow for more accurate flexibility testing. I would also like to purchase a hand grip strength tester. This is an additional test I can use to give students a more well-rounded picture of overall fitness. The Fitnessgram program tracks students' progress from year to year and test to test.

Classroom Library Project
The classroom library project plan is to expand my high school classroom library. Independent reading novels from a variety of genres are needed in my classroom. These include graphic novels, young adult fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, and mystery books. The goal is to build a large library that contains titles that appeal to many students' interests. Purchasing books related to sports, the outdoors, relationships, and music, though these are only a partial list of topics, can help achieve this goal. Students read when they are interested in what they are reading, and their interests are wide and varied. Part of the grant money would also be used to purchase foldable reading chairs to create a comfortable reading environment. This project will develop students' reading skills that will prepare them for post-secondary schooling and the workforce. Undoubtedly, it will also help develop empathy in our youth, which will help students become good citizens in our communities.

Hispanic Heritage/Latino Cultures Trunk
The objective is to develop a Hispanic Heritage/Latino Cultural Trunk filled with realia, artifacts, and educational materials. This resource will educate our EL students about their cultural heritage and be available for district-wide checkout by teachers, enabling them to incorporate lessons about Hispanic and Latino cultures into their curricula. We have a Hmong Heritage Trunk, and since we have a growing number of Latino students, we would like to create a Trunk for their cultures, too. The objective of this project is Cultural and Historical: To develop a comprehensive Hispanic Heritage Trunk that will include a curated collection of pictures, books, lesson plans, and realia. This resource is designed to affirm the cultural identities of our Latino English Learner (EL) students while simultaneously educating all students about the values and unique characteristics of Latino cultures and their contributions to our nation and community. Additionally, the trunk will encompass historical information highlighting the significant and positive influence of Latino individuals and communities in the United States throughout history. By integrating these educational materials, we aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Latino heritage among all students, promoting inclusivity and cultural awareness within our schools.

Technology Updates for the Science Classrooms
Pre K-12 Public Education - Our Mission Statement: The School District of Menomonie Area by embracing the unique needs and using the strengths of our diverse community, is dedicated to preparing all students to become lifelong learners, caring individuals, and responsible citizens. With our society's continuously growing and changing technology, we want our students to be on the front edge of using the newest and latest. This will not only allow them to receive the most accurate data but will increase engagement in the classroom and prepare them for the workplace and/or secondary education. Students coming out of physics who have had a chance to use this technology will be prepared (and possibly at an advantage) for college science classes because they will have experience with the equipment and technology.

Focus on Easy Fiction with Interactive Shelving
Imaging that you are an elementary student, and you want to check out books, or look for some of your favorite books, but you can't SEE the book? Right now our Easy Fiction section (the picture books) are all alphabetized by author. This is a great system, but not for elementary, because our littles can only see the spine. Some are unable to read, so they can't tell one book from another. With no cover to look at, they are unable to identify their favorite characters or see something that might interest them. Having these bins will allow for books to be displayed face-out to more easily engage our young students. Our K-1 students love picture books but often struggle finding their favorite books and characters. We tested a clear bin at each school last year, and it increased the circulation of the books on display. When students can look at the books, they are more likely to check them out and read them! This will not only increase our circulation, but help with their reading! Our goal is to get the entire Easy Fiction (picture book) section at each library forward facing using these clear bins. Since they are so expensive, we are getting them a few at a time. As they come, we will begin putting the Easy Fiction books into the clear bins by popular categories, such as unicorns, princesses, Lego, Disney, etc.

Just Breathe: Enhancing Learning Through Classroom Mindfulness Breaks
The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages teachers to incorporate mindfulness training into their lesson plans and mindfulness breaks in their classrooms to help students function more effectively and clearly. As the Behavioral Interventionist at Oaklawn Elementary School, I am seeking funding to add a mindfulness device to classrooms to give students an opportunity to regulate their emotions and focus on their learning. My plan is to purchase Zenimals for individual classroom use at the kindergarten, first, and second-grade levels. A Zenimal is a mindfulness device for children ages 5–12 that comes with nine guided meditations. The device is shaped like a teal turtle and has a soft silicone cover. It's designed to help children develop mindfulness techniques, such as breathing techniques, coping skills, and emotional regulation. The teachers will be able to add the Zenimal, along with a pair of headphones, to the calm corner of their classroom where students can go to regulate when their stress response system has been overloaded. The objective of providing this mindfulness device in the classroom is to help students cultivate self-management skills, reduce stress and anxiety, enhance empathy and compassion, and improve attention span. In the past, it has been common practice for emotionally unregulated students to leave the classroom when they needed a space to reset and regain calm. With the help of a Zenimal, the student can stay right in their classroom for a mindfulness session and avoid the often lengthy process of leaving and missing valuable learning time. I would order the Zenimals for kindergarten, first grade, and second grade classrooms (9 total devices) as soon as the grant money was received and they would continue to benefit students in their classrooms for several years in the future. I will use both formal and informal ways to measure the effectiveness of the mindfulness devices (Zenimals). At Oaklawn Elementary, we use the Satchel Pulse universal SEL screener to assess students' self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship, and responsible decision-making skills. We already gathered baseline data this fall, so I will be able to analyze the results from the next screening survey yet to be completed this spring to assess the impact of the meditative devices on improving student social and emotional well-being. In addition, I will interview teachers and gather their observations on how effective the mindfulness devices are for increasing learning time for students by helping them regulate their emotions, reduce their stress/anxiety, and increase their focus. The outcomes will be given to district administrators to determine if more mindfulness devices might be purchased for grades 3-5 at our school and possibly all district elementary schools.

Hmong History Month Guest Author/Artist
I am an ELL (English Language Learner) teacher at River Heights Elementary School. Our school has approximately 70% of our students that receive free and reduced lunch, additionally one in five students are Hmong American at our school. For the last two years at River Heights I have organized and hosted a Hmong Author Visit for the whole school during April, Hmong Heritage Month. This visit benefits all students, but especially my Hmong American students who see themselves represented in our author. Our school food service has made pho (traditional Hmong soup) for lunch both years. Students are able to use chopsticks and my ELL students are kitchen helpers at the condiments table and teaching students how to use chopsticks. Last year 19 staff members wore traditional Hmong clothing that my paraeducator graciously let us borrow. Additionally I fill our main hallway display case with Hmong Artifacts of the past and present. Last year author/cartoonist Dua Her was our author and the previous school year was award winning author V.T. Bidania. Dua is a Wisconsin native and V.T resides in St. Paul. In 2022, Hmong Author V.T. Bidania was so impressed with our school that she dedicated one of her newly released children's book to River Heights Elementary, "Astrid and Apollo and the Cutest Canine Contest". The PTO has been generous to fund the cost of these visits, which were $1.200 and $1,000 respectively. I would love to offset their cost with a grant. I have photos that speak for themselves how much excitement, pride and joy these author visits, pho lunches, and main hallway display case bring our students. Please consider awarding River Heights Elementary a grant to bring a Hmong author/artist to our school.

Xylophone Grant for Knapp and Downsville Elementaries
The materials we are hoping to get in our music classroom are a set of xylophones for students to explore different concepts of music in grades K-5 at Knapp and Downsville elementary. We would be using them to explore high and low sounds, and provide accompaniments to the songs we will be singing, and develop improvisation techniques.These xylophones would provide a fun and engaging way to learn music!

Classroom Chrome Book Clean Up
Requesting a chrome book charging cart to help organize and keep our chrome books safe in the classroom.

Meeting Technology Needs in the Art Room
Using iPads to teach and create artwork in contrast to traditional materials, paint, colored pencils, and markers can offer a unique aesthetic experience. An integrated and balanced art curriculum that includes iPad art as a complement to traditional media is the most effective way to introduce iPad art and design. iPad art can be the final product, or it can be just part of meaningful art-making processes. With a wide range of possibilities, students can be guided to efficient and effective visual communication. This grant will allow students to utilize the known benefits of learning digital design programs. With the introduction of digital equipment into the art room, students will also practice digital responsibility and learn digital literacy. Students will use these design programs to create posters for the annual spring events our school hosts. These events are open to the community of Menomonie. Another program students will utilize is an online digital gallery, Artsonia. Students are able to photograph their artwork and write artist statements about their work. Artsonia allows the student to share and document their traditionally made artwork with others. My class sizes, on average, are around 12 students. I can successfully service students with four iPads. Through time limits, sharing will be enforced. I am requesting 4 iPads at $349 each. Ideally, I will be striving to reach the goal of twelve, at least, so each student can work at length on their individual research and projects. The addition of iPads in the art room will allow students to research online; students could quickly research an artist and share what they discovered with their class. If working groups, students would have more opportunities to study art history and contemporary artists. It also adds to their ability to become digitally responsible and literate. Students will become more familiar with design on a digital platform and equipped for their future as high school students and adults.

Spanish Written Materials
Our project is to purchase additional Spanish written books for our Spanish speaking students to have access to and be able to bring home for their Spanish reading families to read to them. We have limited resources to use and there are Spanish speaking/reading families in our district that are requesting these. Also, an opportune time to learn Spanish written language is to start when children are very young. We would be able to use resources purchased to help begin to teach this to the multi-lingual families.

Cooking Experiences and Flexible Seating Opportunities
I believe that incorporating cooking and baking into our curriculum can significantly enhance our students' learning. This approach not only provides real-world experiences but also allows us to integrate essential skills such as math, reading, writing, and language communication. By applying concepts taught in general education through hands-on activities, we can make learning more relevant and engaging. Additionally, I propose we utilize flexible seating arrangements to help students stay on task and maintain regulation. Creating sensory bottles could also serve as a valuable tool for helping students self-regulate during these activities. Thank you for considering these ideas.