Grants for Innovative Teaching 2008-2009 Application Tutorial

1. Grants for Innovative Teaching2008-2009 Application Tutorial Sponsored By

2. Grants for Innovative Teaching2008-2009 Application Tutorial This tutorial will help users better understand the process of applying for a grant and provide helpful tips for writing the Project Summary Document.

3. Grants for Innovative Teaching Purpose Grants for Innovative Teaching is a project of the Junior League of Dallas that is designed to encourage and support excellence in teaching. The grants will enable teachers to implement ORIGINAL and CREATIVE projects not funded by school budgets.

4. Grants for Innovative Teaching Funding • The JLD, thanks to the generosity of Chase, will be able to award at least $75,000.00 in grants to educators in elementary (including kindergarten), middle, and high schools in the DISD. • In 2007-2008, Grants for Innovative Teaching funded 97 projects with $110,000.

5. Grant Guidelines • Only one application per teacher will be accepted. • One teacher may apply for a grant up to $500.00 • Two teachers may apply together for a grant up to $1,000.00 • Three teachers may apply together for a grant up to $1,500.00 • Projects must be implemented between September 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009. • The Junior League of Dallas does not reimburse for sales tax. • Requests for food or refreshments will not be funded.

6. Grant Process • Grant applications will be available March of 2008. • Grant application deadline is May 9, 2008. The completed application and five paper clipped copies must be received by the Junior League of Dallas, Inc., 8003 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX 75209, by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9, 2008. Facsimile submissions will not be accepted. New this year, grant applications will also be accepted with the interactive online application. Applicants will complete the online form and upload their Project Summary document and Budget Worksheet. • Applications are reviewed by the GFIT committee during the summer. • Grants are awarded at the September ceremony. Funds are available through each school’s activity fund. • Follow-up evaluations are conducted by JLD committee members in January-April 2009.

7. The project Summary is a one to two page typed document that the JLD Grants for Innovative Teaching committee will use to evaluate the grant. It should provide both general and specific information about the goals, implementation, assessment, and budget of the project. To best meet the needs of the committee, use the following format when writing your Project Summary: Helpful tips for writing the Project Summary document

8. 1. Name of Project State the name of your project. 2. Project Summary: Describe the project in two or three sentences. Example: Impacting 550 students, “Faces of our School” is a school-wide art project. Kindergarten through fifth grade students will design and paint self-portraits on ceramic tiles. The tiles will be installed in a permanent location within the school and will provide students with a unique opportunity to create public art while improving their self-esteem. Helpful tips for writing the Project Summary document

9. Helpful tips for writing the Project Summary document 3. Goals and Objectives: Explain why you want to do the project. Describe the ways your students will benefit from the project. Will the project fulfill a particular need at your school? Will is increase reading scores, build better self esteem, improve communication skills, etc.? 4. Implementation: Describe how you will implement the project. Define the approach or method as well as any technical terms and/or teaching techniques. Define acronyms such as IRL, ARC, TAG, etc. How will you use purchased equipment (if applicable)? Will the project connect to curriculum?

10. 5. Assessment: Describe the measures for assessment you will use. Explain how you will know that your objectives were met. How will the success of your project be measured? Example: The project will track reading scores throughout the school year. Students will see a marked improvement of X% in test scores. 6. Innovation: Discuss what makes this project innovative, different, or special. How is it different from existing programs at the school? Example: Buying books for children may not appear “innovative” on first blush. Explain why your project is different and how the books will be used in innovative ways . Helpful tips for writing the Project Summary document

11. Helpful tips for writing the Project Summary document 7. Budget Fill out the Budget Worksheet and include the items, quantity, cost per unit, and the budget total. Remember the following guidelines: $500 is the maximum grant for one teacher. $1,000 is the maximum grant for a team of two teachers. $1,500 is the maximum grant for a team of three teachers.

12. Too Much Detail Tomato Seeds Melon Seeds Pepper Seeds Organic Mulch Cedar Mulch Organic Soil Regular Soil Azaleas Peonies Flagstone Limestone 14” Rake 16” Rake 22” Shovel Budget WorksheetHow Much Detail? Just Right • Seeds • Mulch • Soil • Flowers • Stone • Rake • Shovel • Tiller Too Little Detail • Plants • Tools • Misc Supplies Hint: We need to know what types of tools & supplies you will purchase to ensure project relevancy and age appropriateness. Hint: Provide enough detail about what is being purchased so the Committee is comfortable with the items chosen. Hint: Group items by category – this will make for fewer budget amendments.

13. Grant Submission Deadline Friday, May, 9, 2008 Grants Awarded September 2008 (date TBD) Project Implementation September 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009 Project Evaluations and Observations Throughout the school year Project Evaluation Due May 1, 2009 Timeline Review

14. The Junior League of Dallas is Committed to Improving Education for DISD Students For additional information, call Julie Bagley, Committee Chair, Grants for Innovative Teaching at (214) 357-8822, ext. 218 or email gfit@jld.net. Application deadline is Friday, May, 9, 2008. Sponsored By