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Show Thursday. December 34. 1972. THE HERALD, Provo, Utah-P- 5 age Orem Elementary New School Has Latest Teaching Innovations Nr.lMiN By VERN The new Orem Eieir.entary hs Schix)! 508 sudents. l"7 teachers and one principal who feels he's one vi the !uck:et school administrators around. The principal is Phil Buchanan and he said the reason is because he is in charge of Utah Valley's newest and most advanced school, which is using or planning to utih;e the newest in teaching methods. Orem Elementary is tucked out of view from busy State Street in Orem. at 4 West and East. 400 New Teaching La out The new building is designed to accommodate all the newest teaching methods on the education scene. "All the classrooms are centered around the library, or what is now called the media center." noted Mr. Buchanan, who before this year was principal at Geneva And m that concept lies one of new facility this fall. the strong points of the team "One of the things we were teaching idea, the principal worried about was the noise said the teachers are potential with the open rooms," teaching in front of each other Mr. Buchanan recalled. and where other teachers car. W hen school was started, the see them teah, they usually are teachers and students sat down on guard to do the best job they for a little talk and it was can to impress their out that there is a pointed colleagues." Mr. Buchanan possibility of extreme "noise commented. if Media Center The idea of the media center in the middle of the facility also is new. he noted. "The media center is easily accessible to individual students or student groups They don't need to go down there as a class, even though they do sometimes," he said. One of the reasons they don't call it a library anymore is because it isn't at least not h the traditional sense. "We don't have all the various teaching and st idy aids we are planning on yet; but when we do the center will feature individual study stalls with 8 mm film, film strips and projectors, tape recorders and record players Elementary School. The classrooms are open and enter right into the media center with a railing or balcony separating the classrooms and the center. "With the new team teaching all the latest teaching and concept, all the students are set learning aids," he said. up in one class according to grades, Mr. Buchanan said. "All the teachers for that particular grade will teach one section in Some Reservations The principal and staff had some reservations about the he new open room, team teaching concept before moving into the classroom," an open reported. Buchanan said. "They adjusted much better than we expected. "It's awfully hard for a youngster to understand he has to be more quiet and orderly because of his close relationship with others in the open I1 4 particular problem with B . j J ' ilIIno nH n n n n if Buchanan noted. Mr. Buchanan, who holds a master's degree ir education from BYU, has had years of experience in both teaching and administering in the elementary education field. After teaching at Hillcrest and Edgemont, he moved into - I his own. a student is having a something, he can go to the pollution." "The students were asked to media center and seek an try not to talk to a person if they answer," Mr. Buchanan wert morejhan 18 inches apart explained. Mr. Buchanan also pointed out in other words, no yelling across the room," Mr. that some of the staff members also have had to adjust to the Buchanan said. The children apparently have new system. "The teachers as well as the done very well in keeping the noise down and everyone seems students ae learning from the to be very pleased with the noise new system. We are all having to adjust," he said. level about the school. Another factor the educators Another Feature were concerned about was how Another feature of the well the children would adjust to the new school concepts. It's a elementary school not present in most schools is the facilities big step from the old classroom for arts and crafts shop in the method of learning to a building. completely new environment "We have the room and and new concepts, the principal observed. hookups for leathei .'raft, woodwork, ceramics and other Children Adjust Well crafts. And eventually we will "The children adjusted very be getting the equipment," Mr. well to the new scene," Mr. jTQYLwND jSANTA'S classrooms; but the youngsters did an excellent job of adjusting," he added. Educators feel that the open classroom, centered around the media center, gives the student more of an incentive to learn on baoHa: flnri , DLtafli Ibill a - hi j dp MivjvjlNslWBssswsi Sin 1 1 1,.,, u ,,m, .. in. j .Mull I mi j rr:"; t. f rJSSW. ii Si HUiKUfa, tm- TH ) ' - i 1 1 A - " J flt n$ . nJ lj JL i , THE OPEN ROOM CONCEPT, rooms located around the media center, is shown here looking from the media center into one of the classrooms. There are two levels of classrooms; this one is the top and the hallway is guarded by a railing. Educators feel the open room concept gives the students more freedom and initiative to use the media center for individual or group study. administration and was principal at Union for two years, at Edgemont for two years and five years at Geneva. KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS at the new Orem Elementary School are busy making projects for the holiday season. The new school, one of the most modern in the state, has 17 teachers plus a remedial reading teacher, a special education instructor and a resource program. Recreation Room He added the school also features a large recreation W I i c n &HMv STUDENT TEACHER Vicki Salisbury leads e students at Orem Elementary in singing Christmas carols. The new school I i - 4 ft $X !""' I nt for recess and physical education," the principal said. "This has worked out very well, v.mj. - y show-and-te- ll , a the kids have been very responsive and this has been a good lesson in self discipline," he said. Mr. Buchanan concluded by saying that he hadn't heard any negative comments about the school from either the students or the faculty. "We are very fortunate to have this new modern facility in Orem. When the school is properly equipped, it will be one of the most modern and schools in this part of the state," he said. team-teachin- g SECOND GRADE STUDENT Shauna Reisk shows her classmates "a pheasant my daddy shot" during a portion of school at Orem Elementary. Mrs. Jeri Ann - . being more quiet in the classrooms, they would have to exercise a little going in and out of the building features the open classroom, concept. All classrooms are located next to the media center. first-grad- " room with a stage. "We told the students when school started that along with A) hi ft! j j 1 1 te jf". j , I I j Bowman is the teacher in this portion of the second-grad- e class. o i t 1 THE AUDITORIUM is one of the many modern features of the new Orem Elementary School. Victoria Flandro, a student teacher, leads a portion of the sixth-grad- e class in rehearsal for the Christmas school play, by the class members. 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