Key Takeaways:
Expansion of Project TAB - The $2,000 HancockREADS grant allows Mrs. May to continue and grow Project TAB, a choice-based art curriculum for third, fourth, and fifth graders.
Development of 21st-Century Skills - While the students are making art, they are actually practicing real-world skills. The program is designed to foster critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and resilience.
Integration of Modern Digital Tools - The use of the grant funds go beyond just paint and paper; they support digital literacy by providing access to modern artistic platforms like Canva and tools like a Liene sticker printer and cutter.
Van Buren Elementary School is proud to announce that art teacher Mrs. Jordan May has been awarded a HancockREADS grant for $2,000 from The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. This is the second consecutive year she has received the grant, and she will use the funds to continue growing Project TAB.
The focus of Project TAB is to bring more creativity to the art room by giving students in third, fourth, and fifth grade the opportunity to create choice-based art projects. May will use the grant to purchase essential supplies, allowing all students to engage in hands-on, innovative projects. These supplies will give every child, regardless of ability, opportunities to be creative, think critically, solve problems, and collaborate with peers. These skills—creativity, collaboration, communication, and adaptability—are essential to 21st-century success.
TAB centers will expose students to different art mediums, as well as materials that they will be able to choose to use and explore based on their own personal interests. Students will explore new ideas, build confidence, and gain a deeper understanding of design and problem-solving by choosing their own art projects. They will learn to experiment, take risks, and refine their ideas, much like working artists. These experiences foster curiosity, perseverance, and resilience, key traits for growth in academic and real-world contexts. Additionally, students will develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills, essential for tackling complex challenges.
Through TAB, students will also enhance their digital literacy, learning how to use different artistic platforms like Canva and Liene (a sticker-making machine that allows May to turn her students’ artwork into stickers they can take home to their parents) to create artwork and solve problems. Collaborative projects will allow students to work together, strengthening their communication and teamwork skills, which will serve them in their future careers.
May’s goal is to provide students with a safe, creative, and inclusive learning environment where all students have the tools and opportunities to succeed. By providing access to high-quality art materials through the HancockREADS grant, she can support diverse learning styles and help students express themselves meaningfully.
We appreciate Mrs. May for putting in the time and effort to apply for this grant and providing her students with opportunities to develop their artistic talents!