Carroll Education Foundation's Grant Recipients and Sponsors 2009

We work with students in 5th through 8th grades as the counselors, special education teacher and speech-language pathologist in a secondary school setting. All students at this age are developing and refining their social language skills. Students do not need to qualify for special education or counseling services to benefit from social language intervention. In fact, some of the most successful social groups are those that include both general and special education students. Through this grant, we hope to take learning out of the classroom and take it into the community where real living occurs for these students. This proposal supports our current plan by providing additional materials to the curriculum and activities used for social skills development. The video, software and text materials requested can be used in the special education setting, an inclusive classroom, the general education classroom and on community outings. The materials enhance the goals and objectives of already existing social groups/lunch bunches/ resource classes by providing hands on activities, role plays, social games, and interactive exercises. This proposal extends the groups by allowing us to differentiate and enrich the activities with all students and to provide real learning activities. We hope to add to our lunch bunch program and introduce new programming through breakfast clubs and after school groups. By initiating before and after school activities, we can encourage our DMS and EIS students to interact together, creating leadership and new learner roles. It also allows the opportunity for interested staff to participate and for us to incorporate the Friends of Rachel and Kindness/Compassion Clubs into activities. Curriculum materials support the Rachel's challenge program, campus initiatives, the CISD values of relationships, character & integrity, and open & honest communication as well as the district mission of encouraging each student to reach his or her social potential.