Four teachers at Pleasant Grove Middle School recently received $2,600 in grants from the E-Z Mart Jim Yates Foundation.
Robyn Hatridge received $800 for "Let's Do the MANGO," for hands-on math lessons to help students learn and practice essential skills. MANGO is an acronym for the different math strands: measurement, algebra, number sense, geometry and odds/order. The program will also teach critical-thinking skills that makes students life-long learners by teaching them how to think analytically and conceptually.
Sylvia McElhany received $204.10 for "Vamos A Leer (Let's Read)" to purchase 25 copies of "The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano" by Sonia Manzano to teach the culture of a Spanish-speaking country. The fictional novel is based on the heritage of Puerto Ricans and explores multicultural aspects of America.
Jeanna Morris received $869.95 for "Crazy for Genetics." The module is designed to enhance students' learning about genetics and evolution through a series of games and activities and helps them to learn that the traits people and animals inherit from their parents are based on chance. It covers concepts such as traits, alleles, genotypes and phenotypes.
Jenifer Thomas received $743.18 for "Exploring Space with STEAM." The grant will allow the school library to purchase 28 science, technology, engineering, arts and math nonfiction books focusing on space, the planets, space exploration, the International Space Station and the future of space exploration.