Early Learning Teaching Tools
Every child should feel confident in his/her ability to learn! These teaching tools were requested/inspired by the classroom teachers and can be used for years to come.
Etch-A-Sketch Freestyle
Forget the two white buttons – that is now retro. The Freestyle Etch-A-Sketch comes with a handy stylus that’s easy to grip and move. Each kindergartener and first-grader can write/draw, shake to erase, and write/draw again. Teachers report this is an engaging way for kids to learn to hone their fine motor skills while learning their alphabet and spelling.
Every kindergartener and first-grader can now practice writing, easily erase, and practice again.
Kindergarten Initial Sponsor: CSX Transportation
First Grade Initial Sponsor: Dollar General Literacy Foundation
Yearly* Sponsors: Roger Mann and Linda Brunson, Board members
Bananagrams letter tiles
We converted the My First Bananagrams game into bananas for classroom use. We included just the right number of letters for first-graders to tile their spelling words. With the bananas less full, the kids do not spill them all over the classroom. But it wasn’t just a matter of removing tiles as we didn’t have enough of some letters. Tiles that come attached for game purposes had to be cut to have enough single letters. Every first-grader can now practice spelling with their own banana.
Initial Sponsor: Barbara Willson
Yearly* Sponsors: Roger Mann and Linda Brunson, Board members
3-D geometric shapes
Every first-grader now has three-dimensional shapes they can hold and explore when they learn about cubes, cylinders, cones, pyramids and prisms. Geometry is part of their math curriculum. Being able to hold and compare the shapes develops spatial sense.
Initial Sponsor: CSX Transportation
Yearly* Sponsor: Linda Brunson, Board member
Generation Genius science videos
All first-grade classrooms have access to science video lessons. Generation Genius videos were made in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association to engage, educate, and inspire kids in science. We are proud we could fund this subscription teachers were paying out-of-pocket.
Sponsor: General donations
Math manipulatives
All kindergarten and first-grade classrooms now have colorful, easy-to-interlock cubes! Each child has a set of ten colorful cubes to help them see and solve math problems. The teachers wanted – and received – the same two colors for all students in their classroom.
Sponsor: Sam’s Club, Busch Drive
*Every summer, these early learning teaching tools are cleaned and any broken – or missing – ones repaired/replaced.
