2023 NCTA Grants

The NCTA rejoices in the successes of its members!

Below are examples of NCTA's 2023 Grant Recipients and information about their projects.

David Jacobs at Holbrook Middle High School, in Holbrook, MA:

As a newer teacher to my school, I used the grant to buy materials to spruce up my classroom. My classroom became a brighter, more engaging space after hanging over 17 posters!

Rachel Diamond at East Elementary School, in Sharon, MA:

Thanks to a grant provided by the NCTA, first graders were able to explore Makedo tools that allowed them to make various creations with cardboard in the library. Mrs. Phinney’s students were challenged to make a seat that could safely hold a child just from cardboard and the Makedo screws!

Dawn O'Connell at Roderick Elementary School, in Wrentham, MA:

Flexible Seating will benefit both my homeroom and the students who come in for my science lessons. It is a great way for students to relax and enjoy reading independently or in small groups n the classroom.

Michelle Fields, at Boyden Elementary School, in South Walpole, MA:

These materials will provide my Kindergarten students with more opportunities to engage in purposeful play that promotes conversation, problem-solving, cooperation, and turn-taking. Children at this age are developing many critical interpersonal skills. By giving them opportunities to interact through play, my students will be able to practice these critical skills.

Kelly Annunziato, at Clyde F. Brown Elementary School, in Millis, MA:

The "Take a Break Baskets" provide students with the opportunity to take a break within their classroom by using specific tools and resources. These allow students to cope with their feelings, regulate their emotions and return to their learning in a successful, positive and efficient manner.

Carolyn Corrente, at Gibbons Elementary School, in Stoughton, MA:

Students of all ages and abilities can use a variety of manipulatives such as color exploration, transferring sketches, tracing to develop fine motor skills, strengthening their design, and structure and engineering skills. While using manipulatives students cooperate while working with others. These sensory manipulatives can also be used as a tactils activity for dysregulated students that need a calming activity. These benefit the entire school population of about 365 students in kindergarten through grade 5.

Jennie Shiner, at Martin E. Young Elementary School, in Randolph, MA:

Having many students with learning differences of varying degrees, I find many of them need access to flexible seating to help them stay engaged in daily activities and focused during project research and end of module builds. Using a mixture of wobble stools, sensory cushions, lap desks, and chair bands I can give my students flexible seating options to enhance their learning experience in science.

Katelyn Clough, at Rodrick Elementary School, in Wrentham, MA:

I purchased flexible seating options for my classroom in order to accommodate my students' diverse needs during instruction. I've noticed how useful and helpful flexible seating is for my students. The large "Time Timer" visual clock for my students helps with pacing and staying on task. This also aids students so they can manage tasks by using the visual countdown timer.

Mary Hachey, at C.J. Prescott School, in Norwood, MA:

We invited the Windows on Wildlife presenters for a presentation on Adaptations. It included a visit from live raptors. The students had the opportunity to "explore the adaptations that make raptors the most efficient winged predators in the world." Our third grade students loved the presentations and interacting with all of the animals.

Kerri Pritchard, at John P. Oldham School, in Norwood, MA:

We are fortunate to have an incredible, diverse population at the Oldham School, and would love to encourage more family involvement with various events. The goal of STEAM Night was to encourage socialization of our Oldham families while having fun with some hands-on learning. The STEAM Night benefitted students in grades 1-5. We loved seeing the students and their families at STEAM night!

Christine Carter, at Edwin A. Jones Early Childhood Center, in Stoughton, MA:

Having a variety of activities and materials will foster independence in learning and support active engagement in academic learning. Obtaining a variety of math and language arts kits and materials that are hands-on, multi-sensory and developmentally appropriate will provide more choices for all of the students in my classroom. The students love these unique choice time materials.

Dy Ashwell, at Sharon High School, in Sharon, MA:

The core of the project involves students creating their own artwork inspired by the styles, themes, and techniques of Deaf artists. ASL high school students will have the opportunity to express their own perspectives and emotions through visual art while gaining insight into the Deaf artistic experience. In this artistic journey we celebrate the talent and creativity of Deaf artists, and inspire the next generation of ASL learners to explore the world of visual storytelling through art.

Kristina Keefe, at Ralph Talbot School, in Weymouth, MA:

There are lots of “unplugged” coding activities out there but to truly get children excited, put a robot in their hand! Younger children they will learn to make the Ozobots travel on lines they create and do tricks with codes they incorporate. Older children can write block code on their Chromebooks and Bluetooth the codes to the robot.

Samantha Sullivan, at Elm Street School, in Walpole, MA:

These soft start options allow students to calmly ease into their day with some creativity and problem solving with peers. The goal is for students to feel ready to learn, be successful in their day, and build more community. Just as we all like to arrive early to work to ease into our day, children should have the same opportunity.

Ellen Horton, at H. Olive Day School, in Norfolk , MA:

In order to make coding more meaningful and hands-on for the kindergarten students and special education students, they can use the Play Tray with Dash Puzzlets from Digital Dream Labs. My students love this hands-on activity!

Caitlyn Rupprecht, at Liberty Elementary School, in Braintree, MA:

The goal of this project is to meet the multi-sensory needs of my diverse learners in my specialized reading class. I would like to give students more kinesthetic, auditory, and visual learning options during my lessons. This project will contribute to the success and growth of my remarkable students in grades 1-4 that receive multi-sensory reading instruction.

Kayli Carter, at Anna Ware Jackson School, in Plainville, MA:

Kayli created morning tubs as an alternative for morning work. These provide students with a hands-on alternative by touching, creating, thinking, talking, sharing and engaging with their peers. The goal of this project is to encourage sharing between students and to build social and cooperation skills amongst students in the classroom.

Kathryn Hegarty, at Anna Ware Jackson School, in Plainville, MA:

Kathryn sponsored Bingo for Books Family Night. Students in grades Prek-2 and their families were given the opportunity to play Bingo to win a variety of books .The goal was to promote a love of literacy in the community.

Kaitlyn Werlich, at J.P. Oldham Elementary School , in Norwood, MA:

Thanks to the Norfolk County Teachers Association, Mrs. Werlich’s 4th graders get to enjoy many new options for flexible seating. Mrs. Werlich was generously given a grant for wobble stools and other flexible seating options to be used in her classroom. The students can use these around the room to help stay calm, focused, and productive. The kids are loving it! Thank you to NCTA!

Janine Neprud, at Avon Middle School, in Avon, MA:

Her vision for this project is to use rolling keyboard stands so students will have more direct, immediate access to the keyboards. These stands create a flexible workspace for students. Students work together in pairs or small groups throughout each class to collaborate and perform.

Allyson Storch, at Cottage Street School, in Sharon, MA:

These stools will help more wiggly students stay focused and help them reach academic content. My classroom follows best practices for differentiated instruction and makes learning fun!

Kate McCue-Day, at Maria Weston Chapman Middle School in Weymouth, MA:

PRIDE! The goal is to provide LGBTQIA+ books for all students. These books would provide much needed mirrors and windows to allow students to see themselves in books and from the point of view of others.

Nancy McRobert of Donald E. Ross Elementary School, Braintree:

The goal of my project is to implement multi-sensory and interactive instruction in various ways. Using sight, hearing, movement, and touch gives kids more than one way to connect with what they are learning!

Laura White of Delaney Elementary School, Wrentham:

Purchased Mindfulness Tools for her second grade class. Books such as Breathing Better and the Mindfulness maze Board are a few of the wonderful resources for her students!

Laurie Ellis of Delaney Elementary School, Wrentham:

Purchased hands-on math manipulatives to engage students in Kindergarten and Grade 1.

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