Grants boost classroom learning - and fun

POST FALLS — Who said learning can’t be fun?

Not second grade teacher Sarah Triphahn. Triphahn has received three grants from the Post Falls Education Foundation during her nine years of teaching at Prairie View Elementary School.

Using the funds to enrich her students' classroom experience, Triphahn purchased three engaging math games to help her students this year.

”It’s fun. It feels like we’re just playing,” said second grader June Laos, with a big smile as she played “Math Noodles.”

“Math Noodles is a hard game, really geared towards students nearing the end of second grade,” said Triphahn. “The games I got for the classroom get them thinking differently, moving their bodies for example, to help solve the problems. They are more engaged and learning in different ways.”

Part of Triphahn's intention is to get her students all working together as they learn math. They help one another solve the problems rather than only working individually in traditional ways.

“These are community games,” Triphahn

said. “They work together and help each other learn.”

Her students' happy faces were evidence that they saw this learning more as "fun" than work.

Another grant recipient was Kevin Hauck, a sixth grade teacher at River City Middle School. Hauck said he's applied for and received numerous grants during his 16 years of teaching.

As a computer lab, science, woodshop and yearbook teacher, Hauck has used the funds over the years to purchase iPads for his students, erect a 50-gallon saltwater aquarium, purchase a miter saw, obtain a Canon Rebel camera and most recently acquire robotics kits.

“We don’t have fun here,” said Hauck, facetiously.

The 12 students in his classroom recently were excitedly playing with robotic creations they'd built and programmed to operate via Bluetooth, using their iPads.

Twelve-year-old Dylan Rounsville, whose favorite subject is coding, spent four days constructing his robot. Dylan is using his coding skills in his robotics work, he said.

There are about 200 students at River City and about 100 of them cycle through Hauck’s classroom each year.

The Post Falls Education Foundation grants are funded solely through the annual Wine, Stein and Dine fundraising event. Though it was canceled last year due to COVID-19, community support came through nonetheless, said Val Wilcox, a foundation board member.

Despite the event cancellation, the foundation was able to distribute 103 grants to local teachers.

Hauck, who also volunteers for the fundraising event, said grant funds are a great way to get something extra for the classroom.

“Not that we’re not provided with plenty, but it’s great to be able to supplement (students') education more,” Hauck said.

Grant awards vary in size, depending on the needs and desires of the teacher’s request.

“The grants aren’t large, but they support the requests that teachers and counselors have,” Wilcox said. “The board meets and reads every grant before we approve them. Many times board members know where to find various items that could be donated or purchased at a lower price to help the grant money go further.”

Started over 30 years ago, the Post Falls Education Foundation began with a group of moms who held bake sales and sold sweatshirts to earn funds and support the teachers. In 1995, Wilcox, her husband, several Post Falls parents and local business owners really got serious with the foundation.

“The school district was growing and we wanted to support the classroom teachers,” Wilcox said.

The first Wine, Stein and Dine event was a big hit, Wilcox said. With about 250 attendees at the first event, they now usually host about 400 guests.

They will host their 25th event in March. In the past 19 years, the foundation has raised over $700,000 in support of Post Falls educators, and most importantly, the students.