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Have you ever written a grant application before? If so, give some brief details including if you were successful.

No, I have not.

Now think of your classroom, is there a particular student or group of students that needs to be advocated for? Perhaps there is an initiative you need to advocate resources for.

As a school counselor, I’ve been working on integrating outdoor learning into my practice. I strongly believe that getting students outside can be a powerful way to build connections, develop social-emotional skills, and make counseling more engaging. Since this isn’t something counselors typically do, I’ve personally purchased some materials to support outdoor activities and community-building lessons. Having access to additional resources would help me expand this approach and make it more sustainable.

What is one piece of educational technology that you would like to receive if you were to write a grant proposal?

I think I would be able to find a lot of ways to use digital cameras or an iPad in counseling, whether for capturing student projects, facilitating reflective activities, or using apps to support emotional regulation. A grant would be a great way to obtain these resources without having to cover the cost myself.

Resources for grant writing:

https://charityvillage.com/mastering-grant-writing-essential-tips-for-securing-funding/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/about/school-tech-grants/blt435b1a6205497079?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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Mastering grant writing: Essential tips for securing funding | CharityVillage

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Check out this article by DoGood Funding to learn how to master grant writing as a Canadian nonprofit professional. Learn more.

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Have you ever written a grant application before?

I have written a few grant applications in the past for my business (with moderate success), but never for my classroom.

Now think of your classroom, is there a particular student or group of students that needs to be advocated for?

My classroom has, like any other, quite a variety of abilities and past experiences. I do feel that there are tech resources that would benefit all my diverse learners.

What is one piece of educational technology that you would like to receive if you were to write a grant proposal?

It's hard to choose one. iPads would certainly go a long way as there are many apps and programs that can support varying needs.

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Diverse voices, personalities and cultures are what make learning exciting at any grade level.

There are ways to protect this experience for all students - no matter their race, gender or need - and it can start with taking action in your child's school.

As an advocate, it is important to help your child or other families in their classroom come together to overcome challenges when it comes to discrimination in a school or education system. There are many ways to accomplish this - writing to your local government officials or participating on the school board.

All students, including your child, have the right to be treated with respect and deserve an equal access to a quality education.

You can also take action with the National Education Association. At NEA, we support advocacy by engaging and mobilizing activists in the fight for racial, social and economic justice in public education through our NEA EdJustice initiative. The mission is to:

Highlight member voices on equality and offer resources and tools for activism

Build and grow a community of activists committed to advancing equal rights in public education

Connect and engage education activists to support opportunities for all students

NEA EdJustice focuses on the following key issues that help us to deliver on our charge:

Bully-Free: Shockingly, a student gets bullied every seven minutes, and bullying isn't always handled properly. Students need people to speak up on their behalf and protect them when their safety is being threatened.

English Language Learners: Many educators are not trained to meet the needs of English Language Learners (ELL) and are not aware of how to deal with them. Because of the language barrier, many ELL students are underserved.

Immigration: Students have the right to learn without being concerned about the impact of unfair immigration policies on their education. Educators support commonsense immigration reforms that include addressing the students who were brought to this country by their parents, preserving family unity and creating a realistic path to citizenship.

LGBTQ: LGTBQ students are at high risk of being harassed or bullied in school. This can lead to declines in performance, dropping out, and even homelessness.

Voting Rights: In order for democracy to continue thriving, it requires participation from all of us. Unfortunately, states have passed laws that make it hard for some Americans, including students, to exercise their right to vote.

Opportunity: Learning belongs to educators, students and parents. Having access to a great education should not be limited by zip code, charter lotteries or the affordability of private schools.

Racial Justice: While the education system is intended to provide equal opportunity to all students, it often fails to do so. In order for all students to gain a fair access to education, people need to stand up to fight institutionalized racism.

Ending the School-to-Prison Pipeline: Unrealistic discipline policies are influencing the ability for some students to continue their education. The "school-to-prison" pipeline demonstrates the unfortunate correlation between the gap in education and incarceration rates. Educators can use positive approaches to discipline to change this narrative.

How You Can Get Involved
All students, including your child, have the right to be treated with respect and deserve an equal access to a quality education. Talk to your child about these important issues and let them know that you are there to support them along the way should they ever experience harassment or discrimination.

You can also protect other students by standing up for their rights and advocating for educators, students, families and communities. Learn more about ways to get involved with NEA EdJustice here.

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Advocating for All Students' Rights | NEA

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Diverse voices, personalities and cultures are what make learning exciting at any grade level. There are ways to protect this experience for all students - no matter their race, gender or need - and it can start with taking action in your child's school.

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Adriana Ritcey

Have you ever written a grant application before? If so, give some brief details including if you were successful.

I have never written or applied for any kind of grant application.

Now think of your classroom, is there a particular student or group of students that needs to be advocated for?  Perhaps there is an initiative you need to advocate resources for.

Teaching in a French Immersion classroom is interesting in a sense because I don’t have any EAL students or IPP’s. However, my students’ French proficiency levels are all over the place. Some students are francophones, who speak and write impeccably well. Others really struggle to communicate or write their ideas. I’d be interested in trying to level-out the “playing field” for students who are behind in their speaking and writing skills.

What is one piece of educational technology that you would like to receive if you were to write a grant proposal?

This is a bit random, but there are Online French Dictionaries and Becherelles in app form that are available for purchase. While there are free resources that exist, different students are using different online dictionaries. Some are better than others, and I think it could be beneficial to have everyone using the same platform to check definitions, spelling and conjugations. I would want my students to have the same app downloaded onto their personal laptop or Chromebook.

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Meghan Andrea

Have you ever written a grant application before? If so, give some brief details including if you were successful.
No, I haven’t written a grant application before.

Now think of your classroom, is there a particular student or group of students that needs to be advocated for? Perhaps there is an initiative you need to advocate resources for.
Yes, I have quite a few English language learners in my class, and I really feel like they need some extra support. They work hard, but it’s tough for them to keep up sometimes when there’s a language barrier. Whether it’s vocabulary, reading, or just trying to express themselves confidently, I can see how much they’d benefit from having more tools to help them feel successful.

What is one piece of educational technology that you would like to receive if you were to write a grant proposal?
If I were to apply for a grant, I’d love to get a set of tablets for my classroom. I think they’d be such a helpful resource for my English learners. With tablets, they could use translation tools, practice vocabulary with pictures and sounds, and even work on their speaking and listening skills in a way that feels fun and low-pressure. I just think it would open up a lot more opportunities for them to learn at their own pace and build confidence without feeling overwhelmed.

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Mary

Before I begin, I did try out the Canva and Me slides with my students. I have never assigned a canva task to students before so the experience in how to share and post it was learning as I went in the lesson. (After a student accidentally changed the colour on everyone's copy). They did enjoy the activity for sure but I have a few more things to work on there. I have discovered the classroom set up page on Canva now so hopefully the next go will be smoother.

Grant Writing Experience:

I have not applied for a grant before. I know other teachers who have before and the outcome was beneficial to their students. For example, a teacher at my school applied for Make-Do kits for her classroom with Brilliant Labs. I have been a little intimidated by the process so I haven't done one myself yet.

Who would I advocate for?

I would really love to be able to advocate for updated technology or for additional resources to support the students who would benefit from a boost but are not receiving any in school supports. I would also like to advocate for resources for students who may benefit from extension tasks. I'd love to be able to set up a space for them to independently explore. Perhaps in the form of a class makerspace.

What would I advocate for in my proposal?

I think that in narrowing these ideas down, I would like to advocate for some STEAM starter kits to help me set up my makerspace with materials such as Make-Do's, Lego or KNex sets. As I already have some access to school chromebooks, advocating for individual tech would be something I may advocate for later in my classroom.

Resources I found for Advocating or for information:

This first link I found is a blog post about starting up a makerspace. In it, the author details the benefits, some supplies that would benefit, organization ideas and places to find supplies. Several ways to set it up as a designated Maker time or other ways to fit it into your schedule are also detailed. While this link doesn't go into grant application, the information could be used to help write your grants. https://teachoutsidethebox.com/so-you-want-to-start-a-makerspace/

This second link is to Brilliant Labs. This is a place where you can apply for project funding in Nova Scotia. I know teachers who have received funding for their projects with them and would be a great place to start. https://www.brilliantlabs.ca/funding

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***This post contains affiliate links for hand2mind, Walmart, and Creative QT. By purchasing an item on these site using this links, I will receive a small commission.***

My most frequently asked question in emails and blog posts is how to start, schedule, and manage an elementary Makerspace. I've had a Maker area for K-2nd Grade in my classroom for the past five years, and for almost two years, my room has served as a full blown Makerspace for two days per week, serving close to 300 early childhood students. (Our sweet full day Pre-K babies have also recently joined our Makerspace time!) I've learned A LOT about how to organize, manage, and schedule effectively, what to do, and what not to do. I'm also always seeking out new strategies and experimenting with new materials to make our space and time as engaging as possible, which means I'll be updating this post regularly with new materials, tips and tricks. So whether you're a classroom teacher, media specialist, STEM teacher, or specialty teacher, I hope the following suggestions can help you get your Makerspace rocking and rolling!

First thing's first....What is a Makerspace exactly? And more importantly, how can it benefit my students?

If you've been following me for awhile, you know that I'm BIG on purposeful play, hands-on learning, and the engineering design process that accompanies STEM challenges. A Makerspace supports and nurtures all of these philosophies and promotes exactly the type of creativity and growth mindset that are so critical for our students. Whether you choose to structure your Makerspace as more open-ended or more teacher-guided, student choice is key as their multiple intelligences are nurtured and new passions are discovered.

There are FIVE key areas to keep in mind as you envision your Makerspace.
This post has a section for each of these five main areas, so feel free to scroll to the section that best applies to you!
When you consider a space for making, you have to work with any place you might have available. It's what teachers do best, am I right?! Some of you may be blessed with an entire room, while others may have a section of a room, closet, or even a small shelf, cabinet, or cart. Keep in mind that student access is of optimal importance, so it needs to be somewhere where they can easily move in and out. Keep plastic trays near the materials so that students can easily bring creation materials to the floor or other tables in the room.

Here are some examples of some amazing options for Makerspaces from Instagram. Check the captions for some awesome teachers to follow!

Left: @njstinson
Top right: @classin_it_up
Bottom right: @mcgarra

I know that it can be a bit overwhelming to walk into a fully stocked Makerspace that has been up and running for awhile. I often have visitors at my school, and I always make a point to emphasize that it takes a LOT of time and patience to fully equip a full Makerspace. Case in point:

Many of the materials you see above were left over after 10 years of teaching in the general education classroom. Many of them were also scraped out of the back of cabinets and even my home pantry. After LOTS of grant-writing, scavenging, collecting, and utilizing funds from PTA, district, and state, this is what my Makerspace looks like today:

The Maker Shop furniture piece and play table in the center has become our favorite part of our Makerspace! It has interactive panels on the sides, consumable arts and crafts materials on the interior shelves, engineering materials on the lower shelves, and STEM Bins along the top. My amazing husband built it for us last summer, and I'm excited to share that we've recently partnered with an educational furniture company to produce and sell our design. More info to come soon!

Ellie and I created these jumbo Makerspace letters together last year. They are paper mache letters from Hobby Lobby that we painted black, and we hot glued a variety of Makerspace materials to the surface.
The left shelf contains a variety of math manipulatives as well as LEGO, LEGO Baseplates, and Alpha Briks on the top, and the right shelf contains a variety of engineering materials and robotics.

The posters above the shelves are specific to our Makerspace expectations for our school. On the right poster, I add new apps, mini lessons, and project ideas for the students throughout the year.
GRAB FREE POSTERS HERE
The LEGO Wall in the center has baseplates that we hot glued to a piece of plywood, and Andy added a silver frame before we drilled it into the wall. I printed the Maker Mat above it poster sized and switch it out each month with different creation ideas. Some of the items on the right shelf that we love are Snap Circuit Jr., Botley the Robot, Gears, Code and Go Mouse, KEVA Bot Mazes, Sumblox, and Lakeshore Engineering Kits.

This is a view of the right side of our Makerspace. I made the giant "PLAY" letters using building brick clip art from Photoclipz. I enlarged the bricks in PowerPoint, printed on Astrobrights paper, and taped them together to make letters. The small table on the left is our Osmo station. The lap trays on the right are from Target Dollar spot and the "Think Big" tub is filed with cardboard rocket tubes and jumbo pipe cleaners for big engineering. The turquoise cart and and black shelf house STEM materials and projects that are still in progress.

To invent, you need a good imagination, and a pile of junk.
Thomas Edison

There are three main categories of materials that I recommend for a Makerspace:

More specifically, here are suggestions for materials within each category AND where to find them. I HIGHLY recommend Donorschoose if you're interested in writing an easy grant! Check out my list of all my favorites:

That last point - Start small and build over time - is very important to keep in mind! A room full of "stuff" does not guarantee engagement. I have absolutely loved growing our Makerspace right along with my students over the years, and I get just as excited as they do when we have a new robot or engineering material to explore together. We've also learned a lot - through practice and discussion - about being resourceful with consumables and reusing materials whenever possible.

Here are some options for Arts and Crafts materials. Many are consumable, which is why I limit these sections to only ONE grade level per month in order to conserve supplies. During our first year of Makerspace, I figured out very quickly that they would be gone within a week if all grade levels used them. I do allow them to bring their arts and crafts creations home as long as they're not being wasteful with supplies.

Students use our monthly Maker Mats for creation ideas:

The pack above also includes a variety of blueprint options for students to document their creations, as well as a parent supply request letter.

One of my students' favorite creative materials is paper! Best of all, it's readily available and easy to reuse. Here are just a few ideas. The chart shown is from my friend, Ashley's, Makerspace (@teachingwithashley on Instagram).

Engineering is the second "big area" of a Makerspace (and also happens to be my personal favorite!) My STEM Bins are one of the easiest, space-saving ways to get creative engineering materials into your kids' hands. We use them for everything, from early finishers to STEM challenges to Makerspace time. They also include task cards for creation ideas and blackline masters for student recording sheets.

Here are some more of our favorite go-to engineering materials:

Here are a few more engineering areas in our classroom. The magnetic roller coaster and LEGO wall are big favorites! Snap circuits are also perfect for teaching beginning electrical engineering.

Here are some of the technology and robotics options in our Makerspace. I store these on the counter tops underneath my cabinets because we have plenty of outlets on that side. We have 8 iPad minis for my students to share.

We LOVE coding with apps, unplugged coding, and robotics and my students have lots of options to choose from during Makerspace:

Check out the blog post below for information ALL about Robotics!
Also, check out my Bot Basics for simple Robotics challenges to set up in your Makerspace.

Green Screens are an excellent resource for movie-making and student presentations. You can create an inexpensive Green Screen backdrop for the characters using a green plastic table cloth, green fabric, or even an empty pizza box with green construction paper taped inside. The Do Ink app is very kid-friendly and Anita Goodwin on TpT has an AMAZING bundle of themed resources that make Green Screen movies a snap!

We also love creating Stop Motion videos with Stik Bot robots using the Stik Bot Studio app.

Alright, so you've hopefully got a space, and you've gathered some stuff! Now what?! Let's talk about fitting Makerspace into your already very busy schedule. There are three ways that I recommend squeezing it in:

In our Makerspace, each class visits for 45 minutes per week and chooses from a set of activities. In between sessions, I teach new skills, design challenges, apps, and robotics that students can extend and practice during their Makerspace time. Here is our current schedule:

Here are a few other scheduling options you might consider. Perhaps you might keep only one area open per day, or you might rotate small groups and keep one group with you for a specific skill or app. If you have only a small group of students in Makerspace each day, you might have specific choices or materials available to them.

All of the scheduling charts shown above and more are found in my Makerspace Starter Kit. They're also EDITABLE to best suit your needs!

To begin the year with Makerspace, I hold 30 minute orientation sessions with each class that visits. During this time, we review procedures and expectations, go over material options, and discuss key "Dos" and "Don'ts." I use this PowerPoint to guide our discussion. ( Expectations Poster found here.) I will say that now that we're in the SECOND year of Makerspace instead of the first, this process is much easier and our space stays much cleaner than in the beginning. Students view their Makerspace time as a privilege (as they should!) and teachers will hold them accountable for their behavior in order to visit.

Here are a few simple management tips to keep in mind to keep things running smoothly:

Makerspace time can be structured in a variety of ways, from open-ended explorations to simple design challenges to skill workshops. Whenever I receive new materials, here is the structure that I prefer:

Introduce and Explore (student-driven)

Teacher Guided Challenge (teacher-driven)

Makerspace Extension (student-driven)

For example, I might have an exploratory session with Dash robots, then a series of Bot Basics challenges before opening them up during Makerspace. Because the element of student choice is important, all sessions should not be teacher-guided and students should be given ample time to choose activities that cater to their interests and learning styles. This is also an ideal opportunity for kids to collaborate and teach one another new skills.

The case for student-driven learning and purposeful play in Makerspace cannot be overemphasized. Consider the fact that every great idea, new app, or innovative invention started out with someone, somewhere, playing around with a bunch of "stuff!" The element of student ownership in a Makerspace is paramount as they grow in their problem solving and collaborative skills. Here is a simple organizational method to allow that choice within a set of parameters that you, as the teacher, can decide:

The Makerspace choices are outlined by the teacher on the left side of the chart (photo cards are used for the littles.) Student numbers (or names) are randomly drawn out of a baggie and students may put it in the chart next to their first activity. Some activities may have a limited number of spots, for example, I only had 3 Pre-K students at a time with me at the Bee Bot station. They also have an expectation that they must clean up at their current activity before moving to a new one. This system promotes fairness because names /numbers are drawn randomly and the same students don't get the same first choices each time. This also encourages students to branch out and try new activities if there aren't spots left at their first choice.

So...are you ready to start a Makerspace?! I certainly hope the answer is a big, enthusiastic YES and I hope this post makes it a little easier! To save you some time, check out my Makerspace Starter Kit with schedules, challenge cards, posters, and more!

***This post contains affiliate links for hand2mind, Walmart, and Creative QT. By purchasing an item on these site using this links, I will receive a small commission.***

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This post contains affiliate links for hand2mind, Walmart, and Creative QT. By purchasing an item on these site using this links, I will receive a small commission.*** My most frequently asked question in emails and blog posts is how to start, schedule, and manage an elementary Makerspace.

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Grant Experience:

I have never applied for a grant, but a fellow teacher of mine has applied for grants and has been able to provide her students with some amazing learning experiences through it.

Who would I advocate for:

If I were to apply for a grant, I would like to secure funding for more up-to-date technology, as my Chromebooks are very old and sometimes cannot properly access online learning. In addition to advocating for my students' learning experience, I would also like to explore options for bringing in someone to lead workshops with teachers. I feel that integrating technology into the classroom can be very intimidating, but with proper support and training, it would remove hesitation and help educators feel more confident in using technology effectively.

What would I advocate for?

In addition to advocating for my students' learning experience through technology, I would like to receive more tablets for students to use in the classroom, particularly for filming ads and using green screens as part of creative projects. Additionally, at my school, we have many ESL students, but we do not have enough tablets for them to use for translation. Having access to more tablets would allow these students to communicate more effectively with their teachers and peers, ensuring they can fully participate in classroom discussions and learning.

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Leanne

Have you ever written a grant application before? No

Who would I advocate for?

Those students who appear “disengaged or unmotivated”, potentially due to low reading and writing levels, being English second language students or students who are working below grade level (IPP).

What is one piece of educational technology?

A combination of assistive technology software and tablets to support struggling readers and math learners through interactive, adaptive instruction. I would specifically like to have a class set of tablets over laptops as we have lost access to some apps with the new cell phone policy.

https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/education-advocacy/

This article is basically about how education advocacy helps make sure all students, especially those who face extra challenges, get the support they need to succeed. It talks about how teachers, parents, and other advocates work together to push for better policies, funding, and resources in schools. The whole idea is that when people step up and fight for change, it leads to more inclusive classrooms and better opportunities for all students.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyAeMYNeZpw

​In the video "How to Write a Grant Proposal: 4 Golden Rules," the presenter shares essential tips for crafting successful grant proposals.

1. Who do you need to convince? Know your audience

2. Clearly define the problem

3. What are you going to do?

4. You’re the expert! Be confident!

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The Importance of Education Advocacy | American University

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What’s education advocacy, and how does it benefit students? Learn more about the importance of education advocacy and how advocates drive positive change.

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The Importance of Education Advocacy

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Have you ever written a grant application before? If so, give some brief details including if you were successful.

I never tried any grant application. To be honest I didn't know about grant application, and I was used to address issues with whatever the materials I have. I applied regular classroom materials reinbursement from school often for junior high science lab. I am very interested to explore any available resource I can apply for my students in need.

Now think of your classroom, is there a particular student or group of students that needs to be advocated for? Perhaps there is an initiative you need to advocate resources for.

I recently experience some difficulties in dissection lab in Biology class. Some students had mental and physical resistance of dissection due to allergy reaction of smells mammal eye balls. I would like to have virtal dissection lab for these students on technology device to experience the dissection experiment.

Also, I had a student in my math class in past year can performance much better on technology device than typical paperwork in class since he is more interested at technology. I believe if I have applied a tablet for his math study, he would had a much better math learning experience and mental support in class.

What is one piece of educational technology that you would like to receive if you were to write a grant proposal?

I would like to receive educational support tablets in classroom. Tablets can run different apps for visual, verbal, writting, listening, and modeling support. It is also similar to smartphone as the routine technology students carries.

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Libby

Grant writing experience:

I have no experience writing grants. The only experience I have with grants was in 2020 I was a summer student and I worked at a community recreation centre. A large part of my job was to research and source grants that we were eligible to apply to throughout the winter for funding for next year. The grants were all related to some kind of community active living programming.

Who would I advocate for?

In particular, I would advocate for more up to date technology in order to have a one on one ratio of students to technology. Many of my students do not have access to technology at home which makes it difficult when it comes to finishing their work, doing research, or even checking to see what they are missing on Google Classroom. Additionally, many of the Chromebook I have in my room do not work well and are unreliable for students to use.

Something else I would advocate for is better wifi in our schools. Often times, when there are 25 students trying to get on the wifi in my classroom it just doesn't work. This can be frustrating and is harmful for the students who rely on adaptive technology such as read and write or speech to text in order for them to complete their work. These two issues together often make me nervous to opt to use technology as it is so unreliable.

What would I advocate for?

As an ELA teacher reading is a large part of the curriculum. To make reading more accessible in the classroom I would love to see more resources for audio books and reading including reliable headphones. Additionally, I think it would be great to have access to e-readers like a Kobo or Kindle as I often struggle to keep students focused when they are reading on programs like SORA. When students use computers to read they can get distracted so I think that having E-readers would allow students to listen to audio books and without having the distraction of the internet.

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I just wanted to start by stating that I had my students use Neal.fun in one of my lessons. They were asked to research three individuals throughout history and answer specific criteria based on the bios. They used the Who was Alive When? app which they seemed to enjoy.

Have you ever written a grant before?

No, I do not have any experiencing writing or preparing a proposal for a grant.

Advocating for Students

As part of my job assignment, I work with two sections of students that are in the Extended Support Program. All students are on IPPs and many are on the spectrum. Each student requires a variety of specific support. It would be great to have each student have access to a laptop in school as well as at home. More EPAs in the classroom would truly benefit students as scribing services are a big part of my job and it's difficult when you are the only person in the room of 12-15 students.

Educational Technology

Head sets for all of the students would also be an asset.

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Have you ever written a grant application before? If so, give some brief details including if you were successful.

In October 2023, I applied for the Teacher Wish List Grant from the TeachersPlus Credit Union. A month later, I was thrilled to receive an email confirming that I had been awarded $250. My wish list focused on acquiring a variety of math manipulatives to enhance instruction, promote exploration, and support a hands-on approach to learning. In my application, I emphasized how manipulatives foster inclusive classrooms by providing physical tools that accommodate diverse learning styles. These resources empower students to demonstrate their knowledge, deepen their understanding, and engage with complex mathematical concepts in meaningful ways.

Now think of your classroom, is there a particular student or group of students that needs to be advocated for?  Perhaps there is an initiative you need to advocate resources for.

In my classroom, I work with students of varying abilities, including those who are nonverbal or require additional academic support. Traditional instruction does not always meet their unique learning needs. A set of iPads or tablets would provide essential assistive technology tools, adaptive learning apps, and interactive educational programs to enhance engagement and accessibility.

What is one piece of educational technology that you would like to receive if you were to write a grant proposal?

Advocating for a set of iPads or tablets with adaptive learning apps and assistive technology features. These devices would support diverse learners by providing Speech-to-Text Apps, Text-to-Speech Tools and symbol-based communication for nonverbal students.

I would also advocate for additional Chromebooks to ensure that every student in my classroom has access to their own device. Currently, our Chromebook cart does not have enough for each student, which limits opportunities for integration of technology in learning. Ensuring each student has a device promotes digital equity, allowing all learners to engage with online resources, research, and collaborative tools without sharing issues.

How To Write A Grant Proposal Step-by-Step | Things Have Changed!

The video titled "How To Write A Grant Proposal Step-by-Step | Things Have Changed!" provides a comprehensive guide to crafting effective grant proposals, highlighting recent changes in the process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V0tYq3nCm8

Teachers Plus Credit Union - Education Grants

Offers funding opportunities for Nova Scotia teachers.

Website: https://www.teachersplus.ca

Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) - Grants and Resources

Provides funding resources and advocacy tools for teachers across Canada.

Website: https://www.ctf-fce.ca

Government of Nova Scotia - Grants and Funding for Education

Lists funding programs available to educators, including professional development grants and student support programs.

Website: https://novascotia.ca/programs

Canadian Grant & Funding Opportunities

The TeacherGeek Canadian Grant Funding Opportunities page provides a list of grants available to educators in Canada. It is designed to help teachers and schools secure funding for STEM, hands-on learning, and classroom innovation.

https://teachergeek.com/pages/canadian-grant-funding-opportunities?srsltid=AfmBOorWIfcSM7CyrtH0Ilc2j4UoGSfrgfzkLzILMhbVdQ10ea1EvgRX

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How To Write A Grant Proposal Step-by-Step 2022 | Things Have Changed!

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Digital Art

I shared the Digital Art project inspired by Vickers and Harrison with the Grade 7 team and we will be incorporating it into our Term 3 art assignments! Right now, we’re in crunch time wrapping up for report cards, but it’s on the docket for next term!

Grant Writing Experience

I wrote a grant application in 2018 to apply for the $500 available to teachers from the NSTU. I wrote the grant to ask for funding to purchase two camera's for the school - one a go pro, and a second camera for the broadcast news team. The grant was approved. In 2020, I went through the process again, completing a SEEDS grant application to purchase materials for students' Genius Hour projects, which was also successful. My biggest takeaway from these experiences? While I’ve had success, grant writing takes a lot of time! That said, with tools like ChatGPT and access to examples and resources, it might be a little easier moving forward.

Advocating for struggling math learners

In my math classroom, I have a lot of students who struggle with math facts, problem-solving, and confidence in their math skills. Some need extra support to break problems down into smaller steps, while others benefit from hands-on, interactive ways to engage with the material. I also have students who need support with organizing their thinking and staying on track with multi-step problems.

Proposed Ed Tech

I would like to apply for funding to purchase 10 iPads for my math classroom. The primary use of this ed tech would be to set up an interactive digital screen at each of the 10 vertical whiteboards in the classroom. Having iPads at each station would allow me to track student progress in math in real-time and use with formative assessment to support my struggling learners in math.

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Here is an article about how to advocate for students when administration and/or others are hesitant to support those students or incorporate new programs.

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Fighting the Good Fight: How to Advocate for Your Students Without Losing Your Job

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Teachers: How do you convince your principal, fellow teachers, and other school staff to help the student in your class who has a learning disability? Rick Lavoie, world-renowned expert, speaker, and author on teaching children with LD, tells you how to get your voice heard.

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Have you ever written a grant application before? If so, give some brief details including if you were successful.

I have written a grant application for a business, to receive digital devices for my photography business when I started it back in 2012 when I qualified for 'youth' business funding. I was successful and received the funding for basics for an office startup (computer, etc.). The advice I received at the time was to be extremely specific about the questions and guidelines, to not skip any component, and to be incredibly thorough and detailed.

Now think of your classroom, is there a particular student or group of students that needs to be advocated for?  Perhaps there is an initiative you need to advocate resources for.

In my classroom, the students that need advocating for are the ones that have low-income status and cannot provide for themselves additional resources such as headphones and field trip costs. I could also require support for students that need hands-on learning opportunities such as in-class gardening opportunities.

What is one piece of educational technology that you would like to receive if you were to write a grant proposal?

If I could write a grant proposal I'd ask for a 3D printer so that students could have hands-on representations of what we are learning about, and also could design and create pieces to coincide with their Genius Hour projects.

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The only grant I have ever completed was one through brilliant labs for outdoor education. It was extremely easy and all completed on a google form. The whole process probably took me around 20-30 minutes. The grant was for 500 dollars towards outdoor learning materials. When I was awarded the grant, someone from brilliant labs reached out and helped me pick out materials that could help support my outdoor learning curriculum (items such as a microscope, magnifying glasses, wheelbarrow, gardening tools, ropes and more).

One group of students that I would like to advocate for is students with ADHD and other focus issues.

I would love to be able to offer these students quality noise canceling headphones with microphones attached for using speech to text. Noise canceling headphones will support my students to be more productive and their working memory.

I tried to link a website that I made through google sites with Selena Bannerman last year for our Elementary Math Certificate program. On the website there are resources and information about supporting students with ADHD.

Here are some more websites/ articles that has information about supporting ADHD learners.

1. https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/treatment/classroom.html

2. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/6-things-your-grade-schooler-with-adhd-can-say-to-self-advocate

3. https://caddac.ca/wp-content/uploads/Tips-and-Strategies-for-the-educators-and-parents.pdf

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Not your computer? Use Guest mode to sign in privately. Learn more about using Guest mode

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Here is the link to an article about Advocating for Your Nonspeaking or Minimally Verbal Child or Adult.

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How to Advocate for Your Nonspeaking or Minimally Verbal Child or Adult

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Amy Kelly, Devereux’s National Director of Family Engagement, dives deeper into ways to advocate for nonspeaking or minimally verbal individuals.

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I have never written a grant application before, but I see a strong need for funding to support accessible technology in the Learning Centre at my school, particularly for students with non-verbal Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These students require specialized communication tools to support their learning, engagement, and self-expression. If I were to write a grant proposal, I would focus on securing funding for assistive technology such as AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices or eye-gaze communication systems. These tools would provide non-verbal students with meaningful ways to communicate, participate in classroom activities, and develop essential literacy and social skills. By advocating for these resources, I would hope to create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment that meets the diverse needs of my students.

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I have written a grant for African Culture in the Arts (PDAF) and also a grant for small schools for choir jackets for my choir. I received both grants. I have also helped other teachers write grants for sensory paths in the school hallways, school gardens and outside play areas. In my music classroom sometimes it is difficult to get Chromebook for the students to work on. Sometimes activities in our music classroom are restricted by the number of instruments we have. A grant for computers in my classroom would largely benefit the middle school students in the variety of instruments they can use with virtual instruments. Students could also get creative when doing projects while using technology that makes it more engaging and provides adapted materials to help complete projects, such as using voice to text.

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I have never personally written a grant proposal, but I can see the need for this skill in the near future. It feels like access to classroom resources is becoming more scarce, and teachers need to take matters into their own hands when it comes to providing opportunities in the classroom. We often feel under the "threat" of losing our Chromebook ratios as older models are retired, and I am often searching the school and borrowing things like tablets for projects and stations. Having access to this kind of ed tech would make my classroom run more efficiently and would allow me to better accommodate diverse learning needs.

In my classroom, I have the need for tablets for my literacy stations and to make project work more accessible for students with adaptations. I try to use my own devices but then I am left with no computer or tablet to complete formative and summative assessment. A few tablets for my ELA classes would allow me to better support students who need audiobooks and the apps available on an ipad are far superior to the Chromebook for things like drawing, educational games or any other application that doesn't work well with a small trackpad.

Having one or two designated ipads to help support my curriculum and student learning needs is exactly what I need in the classroom!

I started my research with the basics of grant writing as the process is new to me.

https://www.adoptaclassroom.org/fundraising-guide-classroom-grant-writing/

This website is great because it gives examples along with tips like adding photos, etc.

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Classroom Grant Writing Tips for Teachers | AdoptAClassroom.org

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Our classroom grant writing guide gives teachers tips for making their grant application stand out. Find out how to write an amazing grant.

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I have never actually written a grant application before. I think the idea has just gotten lost in the mountain of other things on the to-do list and honestly I just don't know where to begin. I'm certainly intrigued and interested to hear some suggestions and leads about where to look. In my current classroom, I'd say the biggest technological need I can think of would be assistive tech. I have several students with limited language skills and another with a physical disability that limits access to traditional resources and reduces their independence when using technology or completing classroom assignments. Designated devices with helpful resources would be beneficial, as would quality headphones and iPads or other touch-screen devices which would make things more accessible and manageable for this group of students. I think my students would also have a blast with the Lego tech kits. I have yet to explore them in person but my class loves to build and create and thrives with anything hands-on. I'm sure they would all be inspired by these kits!

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Of all the things I have written, I have not ever applied for a grant. I do have a student that I would love to get some technology for in my classroom. She is deaf. She hated going to music as there was no meaning in that class for her. Her music teacher and I asked for some equipment and it was all purchased. We got a huge light up speaker, so she can see the beats but the best piece is the Woojer. I have a small speaker she can feel the vibrations that she carries around, but the Woojer is worn so her hands are free. I'd love to have one for her in class so when we do brain breaks , O'Canada, and other activities she can feel the music and not just follow the screen.

Also, after using the Bee Bots this week I was introduced to Sphero's. These were super easy and fun to use. My colleague has her own set from a grant she applied for. I'd also love to have a set. The kids loved them and they are proving to be a great reward for a student with some behavioral challenges.

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I found another article from ISTE (similar to the one of the ones Chris posted for reading). This article however actually discusses how to best be successful in getting a grant and how to look for funding sources. "The key is to figure out what you need, develop an innovative strategy, look for the funding sources whose objectives align with your needs, and then demonstrate that alignment with your application".

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Need an edtech grant? Then get writing! | ISTE

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Edtech grants are available from government, corporations and foundations. And they can be fairly easy to get.

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I have previously written a grant application through the NSTU's Kings Local Professional Development Committee. My application did not have anything to do with Ed.Tech. I applied for $500 to enhance my classroom with boardgames focusing on Literacy and Critical Thinking. I was successful in my application and over the past two years, my students have benefited from these curriculum based resources in fun and inventive ways. My classroom has also become the spot where all other teachers and students from different classes come to borrow these games.

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Ashleigh Flemming - Grade 7 ELA/Sci/SS

I have not previously written a grant application; however, I am eager to advocate for student learning and technology that will directly support my diverse group of students. As a middle school educator, I recognize the significant impact that equitable access to educational tools can have on student success, particularly in literacy and cross-curricular learning.

In my classroom, I see a strong need for assistive technology that enhances accessibility for all students. Many of my students benefit from speech-to-text tools, but not all have access to high-quality headphones with built-in microphones. These devices would allow all learners—especially those with literacy challenges, language barriers, or fine motor difficulties—to engage more effectively in writing and comprehension tasks.

Additionally, some students struggle with fine motor skills, making the use of a flat laptop trackpad frustrating and inefficient. To support their learning, I would advocate for a supply of tactile, click-and-move computer mice to improve their ability to navigate digital platforms with ease.

Beyond hardware, access to engaging literacy apps outside of school hours is essential. While students currently have access to Epic!, access is blocked after 3:00 PM, meaning students cannot use it at home or even during the last 40 minutes of our school day. Since our school schedule is longer than most, this restriction limits opportunities for independent reading, particularly during Panther Academic Time (PAT). Securing funding to remove this access barrier would ensure that students can continue reading both at home and in school when it best fits their learning schedule.

Furthermore, while students have access to Sora, books are borrowed on a loan system, meaning they are not always readily available. Securing funding for additional literacy resources, such as an Audible subscription or a dedicated eBook platform for students who require read-aloud accommodations, would further support diverse learning needs.

By securing funding for these essential tools, I aim to break down barriers to learning, ensuring that every student has the resources they need to succeed, both in and beyond the classroom.

I lied, I actually applied and received the Indigo Love of Reading Grant from Indigo Books for $5000 in 2019, although not technology related.

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Yes, I have successfully written and received three grants through Brilliant Labs, securing a button maker, 3D printer, and knitting loom materials for my students. Additionally, I advocated for and secured DreamBox Math access for all students, enhancing their math learning experience—though this didn’t require a grant, it was a process!

In my classroom, I see a need to advocate for a Mimio to support my struggling learners. This interactive tool would allow them to manipulate content on the board, making lessons more engaging and accessible. It would also enrich learning for all students by promoting hands-on participation and interactive problem-solving.

If I were to write another grant proposal, I would advocate for a Mimio, as it provides a flexible, interactive learning experience that supports all students, especially those who need additional engagement and accessibility.