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San Juan, November 8, 2019 | The Puerto Rico Community Foundation (FCPR) today awarded 77 mini-grants to teachers in the public education system to reinforce literacy through active and creative learning for students.
The educators, who teach at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in 43 schools, received mini-grants of between $360 and $700. The total amount of grants awarded was $51,875 and the program was made possible by funds from the Central Florida Foundation and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
“Every contribution that we teachers receive is extremely valuable because we can put our efforts, talent and time, but in economic terms, it is difficult for us to buy equipment and materials. Unfortunately, what we have less access to in order to complement our work is materials and equipment that help students have a more innovative experience. This is, without a doubt, a great contribution to the country. If these contributions go to individual spaces, maybe they don't impact so many people, but when they go to public school classrooms, hundreds of children pass through our hands, so it is a great contribution,” shared the Spanish teacher. Astrid Cruz Negrón Luis Muñoz Marín High School in Utuado.
The campuses and centers are located in 20 towns: San Juan, Loíza, Vega Baja, Utuado, Carolina, Caguas, Bayamón, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Las Piedras, Patillas, Gurabo, Canóvanas, Aguada, Hatillo, Lajas, Las Marías, Cabo Rojo, San Sebastián and Aguadilla. All subjects will benefit from this economic support.
So far this year, this is the second delivery of mini-grants made by the FCPR. The first was awarded in May and $44,679 in grants were given to 92 educators from 37 schools, located in 21 towns. On that occasion, the call was aimed at implementing creative and innovative educational strategies to stimulate student learning. Between the two, 169 educators benefited from $96,554 in grants from the same donors.
“Reading and writing development is critical to every student's future. For this reason, the Foundation launched a second call for mini-grants focused on promoting the implementation of innovative literacy projects that aim to increase active learning and curiosity in students. In this second round we received 156 applications, a reflection of the commitment of our educators to the country's education,” said FCPR president, Dr. Nelson I. Colón Tarrats.
The strategy of Cruz Negrón proposes writing and reading activities from the curriculum map, related to films or documentaries. Upon entering the room where they will watch the audiovisual material, the students will receive a reflective journal similar to a “movie ticket office”; in it, they will write a reflection on what they have watched and make a presentation to the class, which will be recorded. With the donation, the educator will acquire a projector and screen, cables, bundle, webcam, printer, ink and sound. Another of the initiatives corresponds to the English teacher. Ibis Iraheta at Lino Padrón Rivera High School in Vega Baja. The educator will implement a listening comprehension strategy: students will use music to practice comprehension, vocabulary and pronunciation skills. The donation will be used to purchase a projector, a speaker system, a tablet and headphones.
This year's mini-grants are a continuation of the Mini-Grants Program to FCPR teachers, initiated in 1985 with the purpose of strengthening the teaching-learning process and the teaching-learning process and develop the potential of educators in the public school system. the potential of educators in the public school system. Since then, the following have been delivered $490,554 in donations to 969 educators.
About the Puerto Rico Community Foundation Rico |A not-for-profit entity that for 34 years has been advising individuals, families, corporations and foundations individuals, families, corporations and foundations on and off the island on how to channel their philanthropic concerns. and outside the island on how to channel their philanthropic concerns. The advice seeks that donors' contributions have an impact on the self-development of Puerto Ricans. Puerto Ricans. In addition, the FCPR's strategic plan promotes equitable and sustainable access to potable sustainable and equitable access to clean water, renewable energy, housing, economic development and education, economic development and education. The FCPR is the first foundation of its kind in of this nature in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, and today the only one in Puerto Rico.