An educator who has taught the gamut of subjects and grade levels in 36 years in the classroom has seen a strong impact of La Porte Education Foundation grants on her students' ability to learn.
"The La Porte Education Foundation has certainly impacted learning in my classrooms," explained veteran teacher Lynne Moore who teaches at Lomax Elementary.
Over the years, Moore has had several of her classroom innovations supported by the La Porte Education Foundation, including literature, games, books on tape, home book bags and various teaching resources.
"One of my first grants was when I was involved with a looping, three-year program," Moore said. "In other words, I had the privilege of teaching the same children for three years as they progressed through third, fourth, and fifth grades. Quite obviously, I needed innovative resources to maintain high-level instruction."
When the grants began, La Porte ISD was experiencing financial changes and teachers were encouraged to put their creative ideas that needed funding on paper in applications to LPEF, Moore said.
"The foundation generously funded my needs, and since then has graciously provided funding for other grants as well."
During the 2008-2009 school year, Moore received funding for two new programs. The first was titled, "Fluency Promotes Comprehension."
"In 2000, the National Reading Council identified fluency as a key ingredient to a successful reading program, and recognized two major ways to teach fluency in the classroom," explained Moore.
"One is by modeling of good reading, and the other is the student practicing the reading. This grant provides the resources for my students to experience both of these. Through fun read-alouds, cheers, chants, songs, limericks and readers’ theater, my students are developing reading fluency and confidence as they learn to read with expression, intonation and a natural flow."
In her second grant application for 2008-2009, Moore chose to focus on "Seeing through New Eyes."
"Having this grant funded gives me the opportunity to strengthen the Writers Workshop in my classroom," said Moore. "The funded literature provides wonderful opportunities for my students and me to share how writers write. Students are being taught how to collaborate as writers and thinkers.
"Emphasis with this program is on developing the writer, not ‘fixing’ the piece of writing. The students are being published through our ‘Writer’s Lunch Bunch’, author share, Family Writing Night, contests and portfolios.
"This grant is allowing my students to see themselves as authors."
