MASL Innovative Grant Opportunities

Innovative Grant Opportunities

for Maine School Libraries to Support Evidence-Based Practice

To be eligible, the school library must:

* be part of a public or private primary, elementary, middle, junior high or high school in the state of Maine;

* have a certified school Library Media Specialist (LMS) who is a member of MASL;

* consent to present her/his project or program at the 2006 Maine Libraries Conference

MASL is offering three $1,000 grants to Maine school libraries to support evidence-based practice.

Evidence-based practice is:

1. using current research to make decisions about what you do as a Library Media Specialist and the learning needs of your students; and/or

2. using assessment and evaluation of student learning by gathering evidence of learning.

In one typed page (of no more than 500 words) ... Describe your project or program idea. Explain how your project or program impacts teaching and learning. You must include at least one method (survey, checklist, rubric, conference, journal, video, etc) of gathering evidence showing how your project or program impacts teaching and learning.

On a separate page, submit your proposed budget. Do not exceed $1,000.

Applications must be received by 4:00 pm Friday, September 30, 2005.

All application materials must be delivered, mailed, or faxed to:

Kelley McDaniel / King Middle School / 92 Deering Ave. / Portland, ME 04102

207.874.8140 x 402 / 207.874.8290 (fax) / mcdank@portlandschools.org

Winners will be announced at the Maine Libraries Conf., October 23-24, 2006.

The innovative evidence-based practice grants awarded last year (2004-2005) were:

Ellen Spring from Rockland District Middle School will do a project called "Listen! *And Become a Better Reader." The project will provide audio books, print books and CD/cassette players for students. Ellen will collaborate with two special education teachers, one ESL teacher and an 8th grade English teacher. The books will be used in classes and include easier reading levels. They will study circulation figures, do surveys and read literature logs. They will also consider reading test scores to see if the books on tape affect test scores.

Jodi Breau of Messalonskee High School will collaborate with an English teacher in a project called "Messalonskee Reads." As a result of a literacy audit for the school the Messalonskee Reads club was formed to eat lunch and read together on Thursdays for 45 minutes. The goal is to increase student awareness of the variety of available young adult literature. Assessment will be through products, surveys, and adult observations.

Peggy Becksvoort from Falmouth Middle School will collaborate with a seventh grade science teacher and an English/language arts teacher on a disease unit. Students will research diseases and produce a product showing their understanding of a disease. Then, they will choose a fiction book or a biography. They will make an evaluation of the author's accuracy in the presentation of the disease based on their own research.

Susan Trott from Chelsea School will collaborate with a 4th grade teacher in a famous Maine person unit. The students will research a person, write reports and do presentations dressed in costumes. The grant will provide school video equipment to support this project.

Judy Wentzell is at Adams Elementary School one day a week. It is a small school with less than 200 kids. Judy and her collaborating grade 4/5 teacher are hoping to get a high school or college age Native American to be involved in their project on Native American History and Culture. They are planning to have students do week long activities and have a guest speaker for a day. Student journals and written products will be used in assessment.

MASL Evidence-Based Practice Innovative Grant Application

Title of Project or Program Idea _______________________________

________________________________________________________

Name of Librarian __________________________________________

Name of School ____________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Grades served by the library _____________

Number of students _________________

MASL member: Y N

I agree to present my project / program at the 2006 Maine Libraries Conference.

______________________________ Signature of School Librarian

______________________________ Signature of Collaborating Teacher

______________________________ Signature of School Administrator

Applications must be received by 4:00 pm Friday, September 30, 2005.

Application Scoring Rubric

5 = Excellent 4 = Very Good 3 = Good 2= Acceptable 1 = Needs Work

Creativity / Innovation

Clarity

Impact on Teaching and Learning

Quality of Evidence-Based Practice

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