Success Stories
An MTEF Success Story:
Making Music the SMART Board Way
As printed in the 2011-2012 Annual Report
Mary Clark, Elementary Music
We all remember singing “This land is your land, this land is my land” in elementary school music class. But with the implementation of SMART Board and document camera digital technology in the MTSD elementary music rooms, children are able to view and hear Arlo Guthrie actually performing “This Land Is Your Land” with the Boston Pops Orchestra while they read about his father, Woody Guthrie, in the text book that has been flashed on the screen. These exercises make the experience "real" as well as provide reinforcement to the curriculum that is laid out in the student’s textbook.
Donges Bay Elementary Music Specialist Mary Clark uses SMART Board and document camera technology to impact the breadth and depth of music experiences her students have in her classroom. With the help of MTEF grants, all elementary school music classrooms are now equipped with SMART Board technology.
The use of technology and multimedia resources to deepen the curriculum is itself a symphony of working parts with Mrs. Clark as both conductor and concertmistress. As Mrs. Clark says, “In the past, I could not necessarily be certain whether an insecure reader was following along and keeping up with the pace while reading or singing a music selection during the lesson. The Doc Cam that the MTEF has purchased for my classroom has changed the way I teach. Using the Doc Cam I project a piece of music on my SMART Board directing the students to focus their attention to the same place in the music score assuring me that they are collectively experiencing the same place in the selection. The outcome is that I have the child’s attention where I want it and learning is happening more efficiently.”
Donges Bay Elementary Music Specialist Mary Clark uses SMART Board and document camera technology to impact the breadth and depth of music experiences her students have in her classroom. With the help of MTEF grants, all elementary school music classrooms are now equipped with SMART Board technology.
The use of technology and multimedia resources to deepen the curriculum is itself a symphony of working parts with Mrs. Clark as both conductor and concertmistress. As Mrs. Clark says, “In the past, I could not necessarily be certain whether an insecure reader was following along and keeping up with the pace while reading or singing a music selection during the lesson. The Doc Cam that the MTEF has purchased for my classroom has changed the way I teach. Using the Doc Cam I project a piece of music on my SMART Board directing the students to focus their attention to the same place in the music score assuring me that they are collectively experiencing the same place in the selection. The outcome is that I have the child’s attention where I want it and learning is happening more efficiently.”
An education in the Mequon-Thiensville School District has long included a comprehensive exposure to art and performing arts from kindergarten through graduation. Homestead High School boasts the only school orchestra in Ozaukee County. The Highlander Band, Choirs, and Orchestra are recognized as among the strongest programs in the state. These results are not possible without the commitment to music education to all students in the elementary schools.
The Mequon-Thiensville Education Foundation is pleased to strategically strengthen these programs. By providing educators with the necessary tools, teachers like Mary Clark are able to incorporate a 21st century component to the daily experiences of the students.
The Mequon-Thiensville Education Foundation is pleased to strategically strengthen these programs. By providing educators with the necessary tools, teachers like Mary Clark are able to incorporate a 21st century component to the daily experiences of the students.
An MTEF Success Story:
Donations Lead the Way to Future Success for Students
As printed in the 2010-2011 Annual Report
The role that the Mequon-Thiensville Education Foundation played in Emily Jakubiak’s education is unknown to her but through your donations MTEF has enabled Emily to pursue her dream. Emily, HHS Class of 2011 and now a student at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, was always interested in architecture so she enrolled in both Introduction to Engineering Design and Principles of Engineering classes at Homestead. According to Emily, “Project Lead the Way classes really cemented my ideas of what I wanted to do. After taking these classes I knew I wanted to study Architectural Engineering.” Emily received a scholarship for having successfully completed these PLTW courses.
MTEF granted $91,000 in 2009-2010 as seed money for the Project Lead the Way Program (PLTW). These donations, matched by school expenditures, were used to begin implementation of the PLTW program in Lake Shore and Steffen Middle Schools and Homestead High School. Without this seed money, the robust and nationally recognized PLTW classes would not have been as effective or even possible.
Emily Jakubiak, HHS Class of 2011
What is Project Lead the Way? PLTW focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum in middle and high schools across the United States while preparing students for post-graduation study and careers in these fields. Due to recent PLTW certification, students may obtain college credit from associated universities upon successfully completing PLTW courses.
Adam Meyer, HHS Class of 2015
Adam Meyer, Class of 2015, experienced PLTW courses at Lake Shore Middle School
in 6th through 8th grade. Winner of the 2011 Golden Hammer Award at Lake Shore
Middle School, Adam participated in the middle level offerings of Design
& Modeling, Magic of Electrons, and Flight & Space because he
enjoys “creating things and learning how things work.” Adam plans on continuing
in the PLTW program at Homestead to help reach his goal of someday becoming an
engineer.
You can see for yourselves that the seed money is already
reaping rewards for Emily, Adam, and many other students that benefit from the
community’s generosity and a strong science, math and technology curriculum.
With your help, MTEF and MTSD will continue to collaborate to improve and expand
the college and career readiness opportunities for all our students.
in 6th through 8th grade. Winner of the 2011 Golden Hammer Award at Lake Shore
Middle School, Adam participated in the middle level offerings of Design
& Modeling, Magic of Electrons, and Flight & Space because he
enjoys “creating things and learning how things work.” Adam plans on continuing
in the PLTW program at Homestead to help reach his goal of someday becoming an
engineer.
You can see for yourselves that the seed money is already
reaping rewards for Emily, Adam, and many other students that benefit from the
community’s generosity and a strong science, math and technology curriculum.
With your help, MTEF and MTSD will continue to collaborate to improve and expand
the college and career readiness opportunities for all our students.
