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EES Teachers Use Grant Funding to Support Innovation in their Classrooms

Elkton Elementary students in Sarah Pritchett's and Julia Bair's classrooms listen to iPod Nanos every day during school. But instead of songs, these students hear their teachers' voices through headphones as Ms. Pritchett and Mrs. Bair lead them through pre-recorded individualized word study exercises. Mrs. Bair and Ms. Pritchett worked to achieve NETS*T certification to secure funding for the iPod Nanos employed in these Language Arts lessons.

EES 2nd and 3rd grade teachers (left to right) Julia Bair, Sarah Pritchett, Doug Frankish, and Ben Markel display some of their SOL content-centered books they've teamed to produce for their students.

 

 

Teaming with colleagues Doug Frankish and Ben Markel, Mrs. Bair and Ms. Pritchett obtained an Innovative Idea Grant through the Rockingham Educational Foundation to purchase color printers and supplies to support their Science and Social Studies efforts, as well.

The four teachers have combined their talents to produce nearly 40 books written at 2nd and 3rd grade reading levels to help their students more easily learn and understand key SOL material. The books use digital pictures the teachers have taken as well as carefully selected graphics to supplement the text.

At the October 8 inservices, Mrs. Bair and Ms. Pritchett will share some of their ideas in a session titled "Individualizing the Language Arts Classroom: Teaching Literacy through Feedback and Accountability."

They explain, "We will present a different way organizing reading, writing, and spelling instruction in the classroom. In small groups, students rotate through academic stations and reading groups. Their individual progress is closely monitored in all areas with an emphasis on immediate feedback. Ideas shared will include writing activities, book clubs, read-aloud responses, word study using CD players or iPods, supplemental reading group fluency activities, and integrating Accelerated Reader into the language arts rotation."

View a 5-minute video clip to see and learn how they implement the iPods into their classroom instruction! (Clip narrated by Joe Showker, RCPS ITRT)