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Monsanto Grant Awarded
The math department is very grateful for the community support that was needed to make this $10,000 grant happen. The project, titled “Building Skills and Tackling Authentic Problems: Cooperative Math Laboratory”, will put laptops in the math classroom and pay subscriptions to various math materials that will help Ballard’s students build the math skills needed to become better problem-solvers.
Pictured right from the check presentation held September 10 between volleyball games are (from the left) Jon White, Asgrow & Dekalb (a Monsanto company); Steve Lincoln, KMT Services; Raelynn Kershner, Ballard math department; Jake Schlitt, Lewis Hybrids (a Monsanto company); John Siebeneck, Superintendent Ballard R-II; Lawanda Engelhardt, Trent Callahan, and Jacque Porter, all nominating farmers; and Tyler Lincoln, KMT Services.
Why did we push for this grant?
This project is important to the district because the math department is doing everything it can to reach each student at his/her point of need in mathematics. Having highly-motivational materials and tools that help pinpoint the needs of the students and then assist the teacher in instruction and reinforcement will help our district reach that goal of raising each student's math performance. Better math means more open doors to success for every student. Ballard pushed for the funds to make the project happen because Mrs. Kershner sees the changing culture in how students learn. She knows that reaching all the students' needs can be amplified by current technologies. Technology can't replace sound teaching and good relationships with the students, but it can help bridge the gap when the students' skills are spread over several grade levels. Ballard's need has become more and more apparent over the past few years, so this project was designed to address the problem in grades 7-10 while other measures are being taken in lower grades.
What benefits are expected?
In addition to improving skills with 21st century technology, each student will be able to use a variety of adaptive learning software to improve math understanding. The technology makes it possible to engage every student on-time--without having to wait for the teacher to get to him for help. Having the technology in the math room makes it possible to get the most out of instructional time. As students improve their math skills, the pride and excitement will spread to other grade levels as well, improving learning throughout the school.
Raelynn Kershner, Ballard math teacher and project coordinator says, “Ballard is family, and I am proud (from the top of my head to the tip of my farmer's-daughter toes) to be a part of this community that does so much to help its young people and school. Thank you, thank you, a thousand times, thank you!”