Glendale, Az (April 2018)
As part of the Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow initiative, each quarter Ombudsman will recognize educators who take learning to the next level by engaging their students in a 21st century hands on or collaborative manner. These are educators who strive to make learning meaningful by pushing students to be inquisitive and work beyond the basic curriculum.
First Place Winner – Katherine Crooks, Valencia Charter (Tucson, Az)
Knowing students prefer different ways to express their creativity, English teacher Katherine Crooks provided students with alternative ways to demonstrate their understanding of the plot and characters in The Great Gatsby. The more visual-minded students made a scrapbook showcasing memorabilia from the era. Students who preferred to express themselves through writing developed a newspaper that included articles written about the novel. Students had the option to submit the scrapbook and newspaper in print or digital form.
Runner Up – Yaneli Barrientos, Ombudsman Parker (Parker, Az)
Yaneli Barrientos, also an English teacher, used the power of video to increase excitement about American literature. As her students read William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” they engaged in class discussions about the plot, theme and portrayal of women in the novel. Students created several one-minute movie trailers highlighting the various themes throughout the book and students had the opportunity to view and critique each other’s work.
Thank you Ms. Crooks and Mrs. Barrientos for your commitment to our students!
For more information about Ombudsman’s Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow initiative, contact Associate Superintendent Michael Goto at mgoto@ombudsman.com .
