Elementary Teaching Scholarships

The purposes of this scholarship are to provide financial support for (1) completing credited course work in the history of mathematics, (2) creating and field-testing appropriate classroom activities incorporating the history of mathematics, and (3) preparing and delivering a professional development presentation to colleagues. A scholarship with a maximum of $3,000 will be awarded to an individual currently teaching mathematics at the grades 6–12 level. Proposals must address the following: identification of the credited agency offering the course(s), a complete description of the course(s), an outline plan for field-testing created activities, the anticipated instructional improvements and the expected impact of the shared created activities on colleagues and on student learning outcomes.The applicant must (1) be a current Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM; (2) have taught school mathematics for at least three years; and (3) intend to remain in teaching. Teachers of grades 6–12 satisfying (1)-(3) who have taken a course previously in the history of mathematics are eligible to apply. No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year. Past recipients of this scholarship are not eligible to reapply.

The purpose of this grant is to provide financial support for improving teachers’ understanding of mathematics by completing graduate course work in mathematics. Scholarships with a maximum of $2,000 each will be awarded to persons currently teaching at the grades 6–8 level. Primary emphasis is placed on appropriate mathematics content courses. Mathematics education courses may also qualify if a suitable rationale is provided by the applicant. Proposals must address the following: rationale for the coursework, anticipated instructional improvements and expected impact on student learning outcomes.The applicant must (1) be a current Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM or teach at a school with a current NCTM PreK–8 school membership; (2) have taught school mathematics at least three years; and (3) intend to remain in teaching. No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year. Past recipients of this scholarship are not eligible to reapply.

The purpose of this grant is to provide financial support for action research conducted as a collaborative by university faculty, preservice teacher(s), and classroom teacher(s) seeking to improve their understanding of mathematics in PreK–8 classroom(s). A grant up to a maximum of $3,000 will be awarded. Primary emphasis will be placed on collaboration by a team of researchers consisting of university, elementary/middle school teachers, and preservice teachers from the undergraduate ranks. The action research should be designed, implemented, and completed with a focus on enhancing the teaching and/or learning of mathematics in Grades PreK–8. Proposals must address the following: rationale for the research project, the expected impact on teaching/learning in the school setting, and anticipated improvements in preservice student learning. Grant funds should be used to support project expenses to plan and carry out the action research.The applicant must be a current Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM or must teach at a school with a current NCTM PreK–8 school membership. The participating preservice teacher(s) must be in an initial licensure/certification program at the undergraduate level and, at some point during the term of the grant, must be engaged in some form of practicum experience or student teaching. No individual may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year. Past recipients of this grant are not eligible to reapply.

The purpose of this grant is to provide financial support for teachers seeking to improve their understanding and appreciation of mathematics by completing course work in school mathematics content and pedagogy working toward an advanced degree, and taking an active professional approach toward teaching mathematics. The proposal may outline a study plan for a one-year, a two-year, or a three-year program. The plan may take several forms, such as a multi-year sequence of summer(s) and evening course work, institutes, graduate programs in mathematics education, or leaves of absence. A program grant with a maximum total of $24,000 will be awarded to a person currently teaching mathematics for at least 3 years, and teaching at least 50% of the time in classroom(s) at the grades PreK-6 level.Proposals must address the rationale for the coursework and professional activity, and the expected impact on teaching and student learning. The grant will advance funds to cover tuition, books, and other direct costs. The balance of the funds will be issued as a stipend upon submission of receipts and of an official transcript that demonstrates successful completion of the proposed mathematics course work. The intent of the balance of the grant is to provide funds so that the grantee can have the time to concentrate on this course work and professional activity. The grant may reimburse professional dues, conference attendance, childcare and such expenses pertinent to the proposed program.The applicant must be a current Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM or must teach at a school with a current NCTM PreK–8 school membership. The applicant must be presently teaching mathematics in grades PreK-6 and intend to continue teaching in the next school year. No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year. Past recipients of this grant are not eligible to reapply.

The purpose of this grant is to increase the breadth and depth of the mathematics content knowledge of one elementary school teacher who has a demonstrated commitment to mathematics teaching and learning. The applicant must have the support of the school principal in becoming a mathematics teacher-leader within her or his school or district. Grants with a maximum of $6,000 each will be awarded. Only one teacher per school may receive the award. The desired outcome of the funded project is the development of an elementary school mathematics teacher with mathematics content expertise.The grant recipient will be expected to provide ongoing professional development to teachers within the school or district to strengthen their mathematical understandings and instructional practices. The professional development must include sustained in-service programs focusing on improving the content knowledge of the elementary teachers within the school or district and working with teachers in their classrooms through demonstration teaching or co-teaching. The applicant will be expected to select, in collaboration with the school principal and other teachers, specific mathematics content aligned with the Content Standards of Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 2000) and develop expertise in this mathematics content. The grant applicant must be a current Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM. The applicant must (1) be a classroom (elementary school) teacher* with at least three years of experience and (2) have mathematics as a regular teaching responsibility. (*The definition of a classroom teacher is an individual who spends half or more of his/her work time teaching in the classroom.)No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year. Past recipients of this grant are not eligible to reapply

The purpose of this grant is to support professional development to improve the competence in the teaching of mathematics of one or more classroom teachers*. Grants of a maximum of $3,000 will be awarded to person(s) currently teaching at the grades PreK–5 level. The proposal must delineate the professional development plan and address how the proposed project will improve the teacher(s)’ competence and affect students’ learning. Any acquisition of equipment must support the proposed plan but not be the primary focus of the grant. Recipients must have three or more years of teaching experience in grades PreK–5. Proposals must address the following: the professional development plan, how it will enhance the applicant(s)’ mathematical knowledge, and its anticipated impact on students’ learning. (*The definition of a classroom teacher is an individual who spends half or more of his/her work time teaching in the classroom.)The applicant must be a current Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM or teach at a school with a current NCTM PreK–8 school membership. No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year. Past recipients of this grant are not eligible to reapply.

The purpose of this grant is to incorporate music into the elementary school classroom to help young students learn mathematics. Grants with a maximum of $3,000 each will be awarded to persons currently teaching mathematics in grades PreK–2 level. This award is for individual classroom teachers* or small groups of teachers collaborating in one grade or across grade levels. Any acquisition of equipment must support the proposed plan but not be the primary focus of the grant. Proposals must address the following: the combining of mathematics and music; the plan for improving students’ learning of mathematics; and the anticipated impact on students’ achievement. (*The definition of a classroom teacher is an individual who spends half or more of his/her work time teaching in the classroom.)The applicant must be a current Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM or teach in a school with a current NCTM PreK–8 school membership and currently teach mathematics or collaborate with teachers of mathematics in grades PreK–2. Past recipients of this grant are ineligible to reapply. No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year.

The purpose of this grant is to develop activities that will enable students to better appreciate and understand some aspect of geometry that is consistent with the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics of NCTM. Grants with a maximum of $4,000 each will be awarded to persons currently teaching at the grades PreK–8 level. The project should include applications of geometry to, for example, art, literature, music, architecture, nature, or some other relevant area and may integrate the use of technology into the teaching of geometry. The activities may use published materials. Any published sources must be documented. Any acquisition of equipment or payment of personal stipends must be critical to the grant proposal and may not be a major portion of the proposed budget. Proposals must address the following: geometry content, the appropriateness of the application, the link between the Geometry Standard and the project’s activities, and the anticipated impact on students’ learning.The applicant must be a current Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM or teach at a school with a current NCTM PreK–8 school membership. No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year. Past recipients of this grant are not eligible to reapply.

The purpose of this grant is to support and encourage classroom-based research in precollege mathematics education in collaboration with college or university mathematics educators. Grants with a maximum of $6,000 each will be awarded to classroom teachers* currently teaching mathematics at the grades PreK–6 level. The research must be a significant collaborative effort involving a college or university mathematics educator (a mathematics education researcher or a teacher of mathematics learning, teaching, or curriculum) and one or more grades PreK–6 classroom teachers. The proposal may include, but is not restricted to, research on the following topics: * Curriculum development and implementation * Involvement of at-risk or minority students * Students’ thinking about a particular mathematics concept or set of concepts * Connection of mathematics to other disciplines * Focused learning and teaching of mathematics with embedded use of technology (any acquisition of equipment must support the proposed plan but not be the primary focus of the grant) * Innovative assessment or evaluation strategies(*The definition of a classroom teacher is an individual who spends half or more of his/her work time teaching in the classroom.)Involvement of preservice teachers is encouraged but not required. It is hoped that this research will lead to an article suitable for publication in the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education or in one of the NCTM school journals. Proposals must address the following: research design, the plan for collecting and analyzing data, and the anticipated impact on students’ learning.The applicant must be a current Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM or teach at a school having a current NCTM PreK-8 school membership. The college or university mathematics educator must be a member of the NCTM. No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year. Past recipients of this grant are not eligible to reapply.

The purpose of this grant is to provide financial assistance to first-time attendees at an NCTM annual meeting and exposition. The Mathematics Education Trust will fund travel, subsistence expenses, and substitute teacher costs of up to $1,200 + Meeting Registration to attend the Indianapolis Annual Meeting and Exposition for classroom teachers* in grades PreK–12 who have never attended an NCTM annual meeting and who are current Full Individual or E-Members of NCTM or teach at a school with a current NCTM PreK–8 school membership. Applicants must: * have a full-time teaching position for the school year; secondary school teachers must be teaching mathematics for at least 50 percent of their schedule; * have earned at least a bachelor's degree; * be teaching at the time of the application and anticipate teaching during the following school year.(*The definition of a classroom teacher is an individual who spends half or more of his/her work time teaching in the classroom.)Special consideration will be given to teachers of underserved and rural students. Any air travel arrangements must be made through the designated NCTM travel agent so NCTM can pay directly for the travel. Hotel arrangements will be made by NCTM.No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year.

The purpose of this grant is to incorporate middle school classroom materials or lessons that actively engage students in tasks and experiences to deepen and connect their content knowledge. Grants with a maximum of $3,000 each will be awarded to persons currently teaching mathematics in grades 6–8. Materials may be in the form of books, visual displays, slide shows, videotapes, or other appropriate medium. Materials may not be calculators, computers, or related equipment. Although such equipment is essential in today’s classroom, this award is not intended to purchase such equipment. The focus of these materials should be on showing the connectivity of mathematics to other fields or to the world around us. Proposals must address the following: one or more of the Content Standards: number and operations, geometry, measurement, algebra; plan for developing and evaluating materials; and the anticipated impact on students’ learning.The applicant must be a current Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM or teach at a school with a current NCTM PreK–8 school membership and currently teach mathematics in grades 6–8 at least 50 percent of the school day. Past recipients of this grant are not eligible to reapply. No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year.

The purpose of this grant is to incorporate middle school classroom materials or lessons that will improve the achievement of student groups that have previous records of underachievement. Grants with a maximum of $8,000 each will be awarded to persons currently teaching mathematics in grades 6–8. This award is for individual classroom teachers* or small groups of teachers collaborating in one grade or across grade levels. Proposals must address the following: the mathematics content as defined in the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics of NCTM; the plan for improving achievement of the targeted students; and the anticipated impact on their achievement. (*The definition of a classroom teacher is an individual who spends half or more of his/her work time teaching in the classroom.)The applicant must be a current Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM or teach at a school with a current NCTM PreK–8 school membership and currently teach mathematics in grades 6–8 at least 50 percent of the school day. Past recipients of this grant are ineligible to reapply. No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year.