Western Governors University Missouri recently surprised a Cedar Hill Elementary School teacher with a $500 grant as part of its "Fund My Classroom" initiative.
Joane Cash, who teaches fifth-grade math, will use the grant to purchase educational math games to give students interactive learning opportunities.
One of Cash's goals as an educator "is to continue finding and facilitating instructional activities that help her students understand the concepts behind math problems, which include games that motivate them to find creative solutions and take an active part in accelerating their own learning," according to a WGU Missouri news release.
While there are many online math games students can play, Cash said hands-on math games are more important now than ever, according to the news release. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, students have focused on technology-based learning, and children have missed important social interaction. These activities will help students learn necessary math skills that are lacking because of missed learning from the COVID-19 pandemic, and it will allow students to engage with each other and work in teams.
WGU staff surprised Cash on May 7 with a virtual check presentation for Teacher Appreciation Week.
The project is one of 55 across Missouri chosen by WGU Missouri to receive funding. The nonprofit, online university issued a call in March for Missouri K-12 teachers to nominate proposed classroom projects for the opportunity to receive funding through its "Fund My Classroom" initiative. Cash's nomination is one of almost 400, according to the news release.
In the news release, WGU Missouri Chancellor Angie Besendorfer said she was happy to read about the projects teachers have planned and is excited to bring so many of them to life.
"This past year has been a challenging one for both teachers and students as they were forced to adapt to new styles of teaching and learning," she said. "This initiative is an opportunity for WGU to celebrate teachers and thank them for their dedication to educating and positively impacting their students, while enhancing learning for students - both in and out of the classroom."