Why Should Teachers Learn to Write Grants?

Grant Writing is a great way to increase funding for the classroom. Teachers can benefit and develop their knowledge while students can be enriched by better instruction and materials.

Teaching is no longer just imparting subject matter. It has become a concept of a much larger scope where teachers are expected to equip students for rapidly changing environments and help them develop skills of collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and the use of technology. With such goals in sight, teachers are constantly in pursuit of tools and methods that can help expand instruction and engage students.

While innovative teaching has become an essential aspect of educating, some teachers may feel held back due to the expenses of procuring innovative resources. In such a setting, the relevance of Grant Writing cannot be overemphasized. Grant Writing refers to the act of writing a proposal to approach foundations, philanthropists, banks or other funding bodies to seek grants in order to pursue training and skills, or obtain other tools that will add value to instruction.

Why should teacher learn to write grants?

Three of the main reasons teachers should become fluent in Grant Writing are as follows:

1. Technological integration

Author Marc Prensky says that as a result of the ubiquitous digital environment and the constant interaction with it, “today’s students think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors.” Students are used to receiving instant information, parallel processing, multi-tasking, networking, instant gratification and graphics among other things. To keep up with this, schools are emphasizing technological integration in education, which could mean the use of tools such as smart boards, virtual trips, videos, classroom chat forums, online journaling, etc. It is important that teachers stay current with technology and that their classrooms are fully equipped to teach students using that technology. Many grants are available to bring needed technology into the classroom.

2. Teacher Development

There are thousands of grants available for schools and teachers for educational initiatives. Of these grants, many are meant specifically for the professional development of teachers. Being competent in Grant Writing means that teachers are able to explore funding options for professional development experiences. These include summer institutes, educational travel, action research or workshops for new teaching methods and strategies. This further opens a breadth of opportunities for teachers to build their experiences and better their instruction.

3. Classroom Enrichment

While money is an obvious goal for writing grant proposals, its motivation is anchored in implementing classroom projects that will have a positive impact on the learning environment as a whole. This might involve using digital tools, purchasing software, special laboratory equipment, taking students on field trips, organizing workshops or lectures, etc. Teachers may choose to request grants to fund specific projects beyond what is available through their regular classroom budget. For example: Teachers can apply for grants to buy iPads that students can use in the classroom, to purchase certain books for a particular unit or acquire funds to take students on a trip.

Grant Writing in extremely beneficial to teachers and students alike. Taking the time to learn the grants that are available and apply for such grants can make a big difference in the learning process for teachers and students.

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