Press Report on Results

Looking for a solid investment tip? Meena J. Singh has a sure winner.

"When you invest in a child, it's always a sound investment."

The fourth-grade teacher at Lakewood Elementary School has witnessed the rewards of business investment in her classroom. She's seen how a few dollars wisely spent can excite and motivate students of all learning levels to reach their potential.

For the third consecutive year, Singh received a seed grant from the Huntsville Association of Technical Societies through the HATS STEDTRAIN (Science and Technology Education and Training) program. Grants were given out on Aug. 15 at the University of Alabama m Huntsville.

Last year her students explored "Spatial Sense Sequencing," building geometric models "created through their spatial sense of balance and efficacy," she said. The project combined art, engineering and elements of physics, such as balance, weight and proportion.

"It's an interactive process between students, teachers, materials," Singh said. "It promotes higher thinking, critical thinking."

This year, they will experiment with geometric fields ranging from simple polygons, angles and cubes to exploring three-fold symmetry through Zome System frames and bubble solutions. Additional hands-on explorations will include angles, shapes, areas, volume, etc. Students will even be able to model DNA strands.

Singh said her students gained confidence in themselves and their abilities last year through the trial-and-error building project, which each child pursued at his or her own proficiency level.

"It takes the fear of learning out of students," she said. "They create their own goals. It accommodates all levels of learning. Some students go farther than others, but no one is a failure."

Lakewood jumped off alert status last year, and Singh believes the excitement generated by the projects is one reason her students are performing at a higher level.

The best part of the HATS STEDTRAIN grant, Singh said, is that the initial investment continues to offer a good return on the dollar, year after year.

"The beauty of the grant is that it's not consumable in that year. We continue to use the materials we buy," she said.

A past STEDTRAIN grant bought Lakewood a digital camera, which will be used this year to help second-grade teacher Stephanie Cole implement her first grant-winning project, "Hyperstudio in Action."

Cole's students will take pictures of various hands-on science experiments/projects. Then they will use Hyperstudio Computer Software to transfer the pictures onto the computer, which will also be used to create summaries and presentations.

"Students can make presentations in science and math and show the development of a butterfly from cocoon to butterfly," Cole said. "I let them do a lot of experiments where they make their own discoveries."

After seeing the fun Singh and her fourth-graders have had in past years, Cole and her second-graders are eager to work on their own project.

"It's really changed the kids' attitude toward learning," Cole said. "When my students see the things the students in Mrs. Singh's class are doing, it makes them excited about going into third and fourth grade."

None of this would be possible without HATS grants.

"This gives us teachers the discretionary money to develop these projects," Singh said. "We are extremely grateful. It would be wonderful if other businesses would get involved. This is an investment that comes back with optimum returns."