Mrs. Amy Prenatt

Mrs. Prenatt works hard to help everyone reach the curriculum and understands that sometimes the most important lessons that need taught are not included in the curriculum and that we need to look for those teachable moments to get that done.

Mrs. Amanda Hoover

"When the teacher sneezes, the whole class catches a cold. This is neither good nor bad, it is just the truth. Our impact is significant because our focus becomes the students' focus. If we have great credibility and good relationships, students work to please us. If we lack credibility, students work against us. Students come to class each day wanting and expecting us to set the tone. If the tone we establish is positive and professional, they'll match that tone. If our attitude is negative and confrontational, they'll respond in kind.

Whitaker, pages 58-59, What Great Teachers Do Differently

I received a $100 grant from Federal One to support my students with drum therapy. Drumming is a great way to integrate music and the arts into the classroom/therapy setting. Recent research indicates that music and drumming improve cognitive levels and academic performance. Drumming encourages engagement and participation, social interaction and social language skills. It also targets cognition (specifically improving left-right hemisphere activity strengthening the pathways of the corpus collasum), fine and gross motor movement, hand-eye coordination and sound discrimination. Drums can be used to provide sensory awareness, improve memory and develop sound production. It is also suggested that drumming improves concentration and focused attention, impulse control and confidence. Also, it is a great incentive that can be used year-round with students of every age and every ability level!

ONE Federal Credit Union granted wishes to classrooms, during their 12 days of Christmas Classroom Cash contest. Teachers submitted an essay on how they would use $100 to inspire their students. Mrs. Baker's essay was about how she would inspire her students through the love of reading. She is using the $100 to purchase more leveled reading books for her classroom library. The students will have more choice and variety of books to read during class reading time, and at home with parents.