Using Music to Teach Mathematics Grants

"I would say that this professional development experience has launched our math instruction to a whole new level. This is just the beginning!" 

            ~ Dawn Straith, 2016-17 Awardee   

The purpose of this grant is to incorporate music into the elementary school classroom to help young students learn mathematics. For 2020-21, grants with a maximum of $3,000 each will be awarded to persons currently teaching mathematics in grades Pre-K-2 level. This award is for individual classroom teachers* or small groups of teachers collaborating in one grade or across grade levels. Any acquisition of equipment must support the proposed plan but not be the primary focus of the grant. Proposals must address the following: the combining of mathematics and music; the plan for improving students' learning of mathematics; and the anticipated impact on students' achievement. (*The definition of a classroom teacher is an individual who spends half or more of his/her work time teaching in the classroom.)

 The applicant must be a current (on or before October 12, 2019) Essential or Premium member of NCTM or teach in a school with a current (on or before October 12, 2019)  NCTM PreK-8 school membership  and currently teach mathematics or collaborate with teachers of mathematics in grades PreK-2. Activities are to be completed between June 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021. Past recipients of this grant are ineligible to reapply. No person(s) may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year.

Interested teachers are invited to submit a proposal. The Proposal Cover Form must be completed and serve as the top page of each copy of the proposal. The proposal must be typewritten, double-spaced and single-sided (please organize as outlined below), with margins of at least one inch on 8.5"x 11" paper. Font size must be no smaller than 10-point (Times Roman suggested), and the width between characters should be normal (100%).The proposal (as one PDF document) is to be submitted electronically to metgrants@nctm.org by the deadline date. No mailed or faxed copies will be accepted. Duplicate or revised applications will not be considered. Lack of an applicant's signature will automatically disqualify the proposal. No indirect costs.

Note: This grant is awarded to an individual teacher. The award must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service, and it is subject to federal income taxes. A Form 1099 will be sent to the grant recipient at the end of the calendar year. If you have any questions about your own income tax liability, you should contact the Internal Revenue Service or your tax counsel. These sources can advise a recipient on the proper way to report project expenses.  

View the scoring rubric. This rubric is used by reviewers to rate proposals and determine which proposals will be selected for funding.

Proposal Requirements

I. Proposal Cover Form (Microsoft Word)
❏ Complete all requested information.
❏ Must include NCTM member number or, for PreK-8, school's membership number.
❏ Must be signed.

II. Proposal (Three pages maximum)

Plan
❏    Describe plan in detail addressing what, who, how and why.
❏    Must address the combining of mathematics and music.
❏    Must address the plan for improving students' learning of mathematics.

Outcome
❏   Explain anticipated impact on students' achievement.
❏    Explain how you expect to assess the project's impact on students' learning of mathematics content.

III. Budget (Two pages maximum; table format)
❏ No Indirect Costs.
❏ Include itemized budget, presented in line-item table format.
   ❏ If the total budget for a proposed project is greater than the grant maximum, indicate clearly what the grant funds will cover and what additional funding sources might be available to complete the total budget.
❏ Be specific and justify line items. (Acquisition of equipment must support the proposed plan but not be the primary focus of the grant.)

IV. Background and Experience
❏ One-page maximum, outline format preferred.
❏ One for each applicant.
❏ Formal education: institution, type of degree, major, minor, date each degree was granted.
❏ Teaching experience related to this grant proposal.  Indicate the school(s), teaching assignments, and other pertinent information, including continuing education and professional activities.

V. Letter of Support from Principal
❏ One-page maximum.
❏ Must be on official school stationery and signed by the principal.
❏ Confirm the teaching status of the applicant.
❏ Indicate strong support for the proposal and the applicant's ability to accomplish it.

Final Report Requirements
❏ The awardee will be required to submit a brief report (two to three double-spaced pages) and an itemized report of expenses.
❏ Two-thirds of the approved budget, not to exceed $2,000, will be paid at the beginning of the project; the remainder will be paid on receipt of a final product and verified expenses (with receipts) related to the proposal.

The Mathematics Education Trust was established by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.