Projects with Classroom Teachers

Klondike prospectors trying to make their way over the Golden Staircase, that led to the Yukon mines.

One of my responsibilities as an Enrichment Teacher is to bring the experience to as many students as possible. The formal program has grown dramatically in the last three years. I now have 165 students in the various classes. But that is not enough!!

I always make myself available to help classroom teachers to help them design lessons that broaden their students' experiences.
Here are some examples:

I coordinate the SNAPS program with the eighth grade Language Arts teachers. Through a grant from Kodak and other companies, single-use cameras are provided to the students. They take pictures of people, places, and things that are important to them. The film is developed, and the students then make collages from their photographs. They also have a writing assignment. They explain why these people and objects are important to them, and why they must avoid dangerous life styles in order to achieve their goals. The best photographs and essays are sent in for a regional display. All the entries are exhibited for a public showing in April.

I have teamed up with several teachers to prepare joint lessons. Sometimes it is very informal. I simply supply them with ideas for extended lessons, and they take it from their. Or, we teach the classes together. One such project is the Geography of the Call of the Wild. Darlene Cowles, an English-Language Arts teacher, and I created a series of lessons based on the famous Jack London novel. The students not only read the book, but they study different aspects of the Klondike: climate, population, landforms, and changes in daylight. Using ArcView GIS, they produce maps of the region and relate the geography of the Northland to London's classic novel.

Another responsibility I have is to be a resource person. In that capacity, I help out with preparations for National History Day. For example, some students wanted to submit a video of their research. I assisted in producing that video, cooperating with Mr. Matt Drooby, the District A-V person.