“A Taste of Olathe” D.E.A.F. Sunday Grant Awards for 2004
- Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader, better known as AR, is the world's most popular reading management software available to schools. Accelerated Reader provides the tools and information needed to dramatically improve reading achievement for every student. Grant money has been used to add to the books in both of the KSD libraries.
- Digitizing Functional Language
A digital camera was purchased for use with the elementary and secondary Speech and Language Therapy Departments. Students are able to take pictures of real food in a grocery store, survival signs in the community, restaurant vocabulary, community buildings, etc. In addition, taking pictures of the younger students acting out vocabulary for verbs, adjectives, and prepositions has personalized their therapy materials and aided in increasing comprehension of these concepts.
- Pilot Viewing ASL Room
The Kansas School for the Deaf follows the frameworks and methodologies developed by the Center for English and ASL Bilingual Education Research [CAEBER]. The three frameworks are as follows: literacy, oracy and signacy. These three are the guiding force in the methodologies of bilingual education for the deaf. This framework consists of two aspects necessary to make complete the acquisition and learning processes of ASL; these two aspects include viewing and storysigning. To make these aspects more available to KSD students, a Viewing Room has been set up.
- Reading for Meaning . . . And Having the Tools
Franklin Electronic Dictionaries were purchased for sixth grade students for the purpose of putting into use, a vocabulary study system. This system includes a method for word collection, identification of parts of speech, a space for writing sentences for each definition of the word, space for synonyms and antonyms, multiple meanings, and finding ways to make the word meaningful to students.
Shared Reading Support System
An LCD projector was purchased to better utilize shared reading in the classroom (literal and free translation). This aids in increasing students’ common underlying proficiency skills in both English and ASL by improving interaction with the text.
- English Literacy Development
An English-rich classroom environment was established to promote English language skills in students who demonstrate competency in ASL and are ready to develop printed English Skills.
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