How is a rock climbing wall used for instruction?  The creative teachers at Mattison have used it to motivate, inspire and teach academics and physical education.  Second and third grade students climb across the wall, collecting and counting magnetic money placed there by the teacher as they go.  Students are also motivated to read magnetic words as they climb.  This is a great illustration of innovation in our schools, thanks to devoted teachers and a WEOF grant.

WEOF funded a grant in the amount of $1,731, for remotes and software to integrate them with Smart Boards used in classrooms.  Mrs. Theresa Deckebach, reading specialist at Shady Grove, uses these devices to reinforce skills.  According to Mrs. Deckebach, “The students find it motivating and they loving using it.”

The WEOF board of directors has awarded $600 to each elementary school and to the middle school for a performing arts assembly during school year 2009-2010.  Each school will have the opportunity to schedule their own assembly with their own schedule and content needs in mind.  The middle school has already scheduled Quiet Riot to perform in October of 2009.  This group will use the performing arts to convey their anti-bullying message.  

Mattison Avenue Elementary School is also working on scheduling their assembly, Got Character – Cool Tunes for Kids, for May of 2010.  We look forward to hearing from the other elementary schools with their selections.

WEOF funded a grant submitted by Gus Baldassano and Ericka Leslie of the Wissahickon Middle School for a library of activities  that emphasize team building among the students.  Fun and comaraderie resulted at field day in June of 2008 as students learned to work together!