Teachers Impacted: Jackie McNeel, Andrea Whisenant, Natalie Sasser, Kylie Shirdon, Sharon Bridges, Jake Papaioannou, Brooks Nelson
Grade Levels Impacted: 6th
Students Impacted: 450+
Description: This grant will significantly support and enhance authentic learning experiences in FISD by creating specialized learning environments that align directly with the core tenets of the Marcia Kish blended learning model and the district's Strategic Goals. The horseshoe tables are a strategic resource (Goal 4) that fundamentally changes instruction from whole-group lecturing to targeted, small-group facilitation. This physical structure allows teachers to implement data-driven, differentiated instruction, pulling small groups for focused lessons while other students engage in self-paced digital content or collaborative projects. This rotation-based model mirrors real-world professional environments where individuals shift between independent work, digital research, and focused team meetings. By providing immediate, targeted feedback during these small-group sessions-the key benefit of the horseshoe setup-teachers optimize engagement (Goal 2), ensuring that instruction is personalized and that every learner actively applies skills through relevant, project-based activities, which is the definition of authentic learning.