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Show I 4A Sun Advocate Price, Utah Thursday May 30, 2002 Education is not only fun and exciting, but also the top priority for local students It's all here As the old saying goes, the key to s good education is smaller dass sizes, because of personalized With smaller classes, no child gets left behind as the class moves attention and better one one subject to another. With smaller dass sizes, there are fewer chances for a student to daydream iritnc back of the class. What if that dreamer in the back comer and everyone in front of him had their eyes hands shootmg glued to the teacher as she led them through a wonderland of new ideas that kept their into the air at each question? What if every child in that dass is invited to partid pate and share their ideas? What ifa teacher could get the same kind of partidpation and interest out of a higher number of students as she could out of a small class? When this electric atmosphere of learning is led by teachers who are keenly interested in seeing children light up with the exdtement of discovery, a large dassc&n frn on-on-e. suddenly feel small as every child participates. Ibachers in the district teach classes with asmall class size philosophy, and from the waving hands and excited faces, one would swear that these kids dont know the difference. The teachers play a key role by preparing elementary age children for success by using modern educational methods and technology to help children start out right of technology The use I 'c? : p , ' if'.1.' iVK. advanced training developed by school district staff to sharpen '.v Lanice Rasmussen, an aide at the computer curriculum lab at Creekview Elementary, helps students sharpen their math and reading skills by using puter technology. "'V As students enter junior high, they build on the foundation that was gained in elementary school. The students begin the . The use of computer technology along with earphones which coach students through lessons, allow students to practice leading and math skills at the CCC lab. math and reading scores, this advanced training involves using computer software that adapts itself to each students learning need. The computer program known as CCC or computer curriculum corporation, is being pioneered, at Creekview Elementary where it has been a huge success. Along with CCC, Carbon District has benefited from the resources and training offered in the reading excellence act grant award of over $2 million. Benefits of REA are real REA is a federal grant that provides teachers with extra training and funding to supplement reading education efforts. In the time the REA program has been in Eractice, elementary jeachers Mrs. Hunt teaches a science lesson at Castle Heights, while a vast improvement in students reading abilities. These new instructional practices have also been used at the junior and senior high level. Ibachers have enjoyed learning techniques to help students improve comprehension of all kinds of read- students eagerly awair to answer her question. Pioneers in education Classrooms throughout the county are a sea of waving hands every time a teacher poses a question. The teachers know that all the technology in the world wont help these kids if they dont enjoy learning. One of the districts teachers of the year, Leslie Jewkes, is using an innovative teaching method. She begins a subject by brainstorming with the class about the subject, asking questions and getting students ideas and input, a process that builds interest. She thn introduces students to what she calls a literature connection, a hook about the subject that students can read in conjunction with learning. This extra resource which can be taken outside of class, builds upon the classroom activities in an entertaining way. The next step is learning by doing, using an experiment The experiments are set up with controlled variables that let students see and experience the subject they are learning. During each step of the learning process, the students take notes. After the experiments, students compile notes into paragraphs. If appropriate, the students also draw a picture of the concept they have learned. The writing finalizes students learning process and helps them internalize the new knowledge. With a love ing and the excitement of using that knowledge to make changes in the world, children are prepared for using technology as part of the learning process. ing. . Honesty is a character trait at Castle Heights. Students win were caught being extra honest had their picture taken and were rewarded for doing thermit thing. ' Students take writing seriously check students skills before the student leaves high school. These extra measures certify that students leaving the Carbon school system can compete with high school graduates from any school across the country. ation requirements for several years. Recently the state of Utah has followed the lead of the local school district by making the writing assessment a requirement in the sixth and ninth grades. The program allows the schools to double Beyond CCC and REA, the school district has also imple- mented a writing assessment test to gauge junior high and high schools students writing ability. The district has required students to pass the writing assessment as part of gradu Alpha Smart systems allow students to surf technologies digital wave Carbon schools have come a long way from where they 20 years ago. Teachers in the district are aware that todays children will need to with AlphaSmart personal keep up with the world as it computers, small laptop units comes increasingly digitized, that allow each child to learn Local schools provide children ..keyboarding skills and to become familiar with using a be-we- re , Children computer. use AlphaSmart to write papers, practice keyboarding and team spelling. They also use them to complete assignments. Since the district began using the AlphaSmart computers, the reading and spelling ability of elementary-ag- e boys has dramatically improved. The students enjoy typing on the computers, which helps them team to correct the misspelled words. The students also find that they can type a paper much faster than they could write one, and they get excited about the progress they can make using ..the AlphaSmart. Students ' begin" using:" AlphaSmart when they enter the third grade. The children have daily use of the computers through the fourth grade where they are introduced to e personal computers. Fourth-gradeget to use their new typing skills to work through educational software, surf the web for research topics, and email each other. In the fifth and sixth grades, students become more familiar with the wide world available to them through the internet Students look up research information, write papers about research and electronically beam the assignments to the teachers printer. Best of all, in . the digital age, they can email each other notes instead of past them down the row when the teacher is not looking. ss The Creekview Chief welcomes visihntD Creekview EkmentafyStudenbatthesc full-siz- rs The Castle Heights bright, Sir Learn ot stands lor school pride and spirit .. "jt x - ' Castle Heights students in Mr Ifi Vy Jewkes . dass, ... t Mesgivly iWy-'participate in a v . A hands-o-n condensation experiment f . |