Tempe Diablos reward "Excellence in Education"

The Tempe Diablos, a charitable organization that works to enhance the Tempe community, has announced the Excellence in Education awards for outstanding classroom innovations developed during the 2006-2007 school year. The following teachers were recognized at their 19th annual Excellence in Education awards banquet on February 27, 2008:

• Sanju Barua of Arredondo Elementary School with “Stretch That Mind!”
This program uses a variety of different techniques to help second-grade students process and retain information more effectively. Using what Barua calls “strategy instruction,” the teachers use innovative methods to help students learn. An effective practice is to use acronyms as a way of helping students remember steps in math or even to remember the names of oceans and planets. Other methods include having students: self-monitor their progress in class, chose modes of expression that fit their learning style, as well as act as future designers, scientists, authors, artists, and paleontologists.

• JoAnn Hopper of Connolly Middle School for “Ancient Egyptian Mummification Simulation”
This program educates sixth-graders on Ancient Egyptians and the ritual of mummification in a hands-on way. The students work to mummify pheasants and gizzards in much the same way that the Ancient Egyptians did. Students greatly look forward to this activity that improves their knowledge of social studies.

• Anna McWhirter of Evans Elementary School for “We’ve been Caught Reading…And We’re Hooked”
A school-wide movement to increase reading, using a theme to get students more interested, worked wonders at Evans School. McWhirter used the theme to decorate cozy rooms where students could read in comfort. Themes that they have used in the past included camping and underwater. Incentive to read included stickers, pencils, certificates, guest reading programs, book give-aways, and the chance to be represented on the principal’s bulletin board if goals were met. In Addition, assemblies held throughout the year to promote the theme helped students become motivated and excited about reading.

• Kristin Miller from Fees Middle School for “ Go West, Young People”
Fourth and fifth-graders are able to have their own pioneering experience with this project, in which they simulate the journey taken by many during the Westward Expansion. They are split into family groups, given the average amount of money a family had in those days, and told to buy enough supplies to last their trip. After the students research what the conditions of their travel will be and what supplies will be most useful, they take a two-mile trip through the surrounding neighborhood. Not many students make it back to school without being given a red card that signifies they have starved, contracted malaria, or died of some other cause. This project gives students a tangible way to understand the suffering and hardships that were endured by the pioneers.

• Kelly McClory Chessie Ross, and Susi Huffaker from Meyer Elementary School with “A Day in the Life of a Third Grader: photography and writing project”
This project creates a way for third-graders to use the visual aid of photography to improve their writing. The students take turns taking disposable cameras home and snapping pictures using photography skills that they learned during this program. The students write stories based on the pictures they have taken, which gives them an interest in what they are writing. The students greatly improved their writing abilities as well as gained knowledge of photography.

• Dianna Dohm and Shelby Hobart from Meyer Elementary School for “Mustang Medical Minutes”
Students from first to fifth-grade who are in the Gifted program create PSA’s to be shown to the entire school. They decide what issue they would like to talk about, write the script, direct, film, and act in the PSA. This not only gives the creators a wonderful experience in filmmaking, but also allows for leaders in the school to tell others about important topics. The films covered topics regarding germ protection and sun safety.

Video and descriptions of past winning projects are available by clicking on the link below. You will need to have the QuickTime plug-in to view the video. Click here to download it for free. (For the best viewing experience you need a high speed Internet connection.)

View the Winners