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Show ' ; 4b n Martha Hefner, one of seven teachers conducting elementary summer liool classes, assists a pupil who is working on n Math skills worksheet. The students work on their problem areas nt their own pace, testing themselves to be sune they have mastered the unit. (Staff Photo by Beth Hfggeness) A whole bunch of kids involved in summer school Summer school is underway again in Ub this year -- with some changes, fnis summer elementary school students, Bell as middle and high schoolers, are participating in summer school. This year's summer program grew out two" needs: 1) the elementary and uiJjle school students" need for help ith either math or language skills as ioJk-ated by the minimum standards Itsis and 2) high school students' need fa credits for graduation. The program pliws emphasis on the basic skills of juth and language - as well as science ud social studies at the high school. Individual Approach The classes are individualized as much e possible so that students can be iillenged to progress from their starting level as far as possible tow ard a realistic goal. If they succeed here in learning to lid columns, for example, they'll go ijy with a new confidence in themselves that will increase their chinces of success in school this fall. Duane Wimmer, summer school principal this year, feels that individual-nng individual-nng is the best approach because it can restore self confidence in kids w ho may see themselves as failures in school. Kids lie to learn but they don't all learn at the same rate nor in the same way. bdhidualizing can compensate for their differences. Schedule Flexibility Southeast Elementary School is being . used for the elementary and middle school classes. The high school classes ire taught at the high school. There are seven teachers involved, including Martha Hefner, Diane Dravage, Paula Radcliffe, Pat Negley, Obid Hamblin, Doma Brownell, and Jim Hamilton. The session started June 13 and will run tough July 22. Classes are from 9:00 to 12:00. Some students come for only part of that time to work in one area, such as math. A typical "part time" summer school student might come to class at 9:00 a.m. He would look over his papers from yesterday and the diagnostic test he had Wen to show what he needed work on. He had started working on fractions, finishing 2 exercises. Now he needed the wt worksheet. No. 13, which he ob-toed ob-toed from Mr. Wimmer and would go towork. If he had trouble with anything uld ask for help before going on. "hen he had finished 2 worksheets, after t 45 min., it would be time to go tome. After completing all of the 'orksheets on a particular aspect of "actions the student will take another jt to be sure he has learned that part Wore going on. . For those who are in school from 9:00 to 12:00 their schedule is probably something like the one in Mrs. Hefner's room: math, spelling and grammar, listening and handwriting, and reading. Sometime during the 3 hours there is a 10 minute break or if the students finish one subject early, they may go to the bookshelves and read until the rest of the class is ready to go on with the next subject. Program Planning Superintendent Bill Meador said he had been thinking about incorporating the elementary students into the summer school program for a year or two. Beginning in January, Mr. Meador and the principals met to work out the actual program. Later, in the spring, Mr. Meador took the proposal to the school board where it was approved. Money to operate the summer school comes from state and local funds. This fall the principals and teachers will meet again with Mr. Meador to evaluate the summer. They will discuss recruitment of students, location, materials that were effective and those that weren't, what w ill be done again and what will change. And. next year's program should be better yet. Program to Expand Both Supt. Meador and Mr. Wimmer would like to see the program expanded. This year it was aimed at kids who were behind in some area. They were referred either by a teacher or by the child's parents. It is hoped to allow participation by any student wanting to improve his math or language skills andor pick up high school credits. There are many high school students who simply cannot fit everything into their schedules that they would like. After taking the ACT for college, students sometimes realize they need extra work in some area.And, often summer can actually get long and boring for kids. With the expanded summer school program in action, it could provide an answer for the different problems of some of Moab's kids. v ; I . ' i ' ' rj 1 ' ' v , '. V,; .s -tj , . ...... . .-' ,.- - " ft f 1 h". xiV .1'"' i I .Ji-Jul. ..ItL i""" L I liltle ouHvnmer' surnmer school principal, takes some j aytorp m his rounds to help demonstrate an easy emember the multiplication tables for nines . He waits for an answer from elementary summer schoc students for the problem 7x9. (Staff Photo by Beth Heggeness |