TROPICAL ELEMENTARY TEACHERMEASUREABLE RESULTS

UsesGRANTSwith

Amy DeCelle, a second grade teacher at Tropical Elementary, has used her more

than $7,000 in grants over the past four years to transform her classroom intoa hands-on environment that helps young learners enjoy school and improvetheir FCAT scores. Evidence of her investments are visible throughout her colorfulclassroom, from sticky notes to help students learn how to use lists as reminders tofun books individualized to each reading level. Every corner of her room explodeswith hands-on opportunities for her students to learn. In one area, students usecomputer games to hone math skills, while in another bean bag chairs in a readingnook allow kids to enjoy quiet times with level-appropriate books they choose. Flipbooks that teach vocabulary, posters that promote positive character traits and checklists that help each student remember clear expectations for performance abound inthis haven of learning and sharing.As a national board certified teacher with a master’s degree and a doctorate degreein progress, Amy could easily pursue a higher-paying administrative position. Herpassion, however, remains in the classroom, where she sees measureable resultsevery day.“The Broward Education Foundation grants allow me to teach outside of the box,”she said, pointing out that all of her projects are research-based and allow her tocarefully track each student’s progress.Correlating books to current events is one project Amy has been able to accomplishthanks to the grant support. Duck for President and Bad Kitty for President, forexample, helped her second graders relate to election time.Perhaps her greatest source of pride is the behavior of her students. While otherstudents dash in mass to the cafeteria line, hers move in step quietly and orderly.Words of respect and politeness, never outbursts, are heard in her classroom. Herbehavior modification program, also funded with grant dollars, applies a rubricsystem of expectations whereby students earn or lose points daily based on theirbehavior.“Everyone deserves to learn from choices,” Amy explained. “In my classroom theytake control of their own behavior. Incentives directly correlate to positive behaviorand the responsibility is put on the child, not the teacher.”Whatever project grant funds support, according to Amy, the key is to createsustainable activities and hands-on learning.“It’s not about just one amazing project,” she said. “Good effective teachers knowhow to use items to benefit more than one group of children on an on-going basis.“BEF grants allow us to buy materials for hands-on learning and allow students totake ownership of their own learning. I am so grateful for this support.”