Creative approaches engage students

Sheep and Wool Fiber

The 2009 NYSCA Arts & Education Grant with Roanoke Avenue School focused its curriculum on the country of Australia, which is one of the countries 3rd graders study as part of their social studies curriculum. Roanoke third graders explored Australia's agriculture, art, culture, climates, economy, food, fiber, geography, and populations. The heart of Australia's economy is wool.
Teaching artist Peggie Ehlers demonstrated and instructed students
in the ancient art of hand spinning, sheep breeds, and fiber.

In May and June, as part of their regular social studies unit on Australia, the third graders at the Roanoke Avenue Elementary enjoyed a unique study of Australia as taught by Riverhead resident Peggie Ehlers, who, through a grant from the New York State Council of the Arts by way of the East End Arts Center, enabled the students to study Australia through the learning lens of “Sheep and Wool Fiber”.

This special learning experience began with the shearing of a goat and a llama on the side yard of the school and ended with each class spinning its own special fibers into yarn on spinning wheels in the auditorium.

“Mrs. Ehlers was amazing,” stated third grade teacher Kathleen Horn. “The students learned so much about Australia in such a unique way. Sheep are central to much of the cultural life and economy of Australia, so it was a wonderful vehicle for learning.” >More

Dinosaur Unit at Phillips Avenue


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A few students from the High School AP Biology class travelled to the Phillips Avenue School to teach kindergarten students about dinosaurs. Each of the AP Bio students coordinated the studies in a series of learning stations.

Dinosaurs sparked the imagination of kindergartners at the Phillips Avenue School in this special unit taught by RHS students taking AP Biology. This science unit had several stages that started with reading and learning about dinosaurs in the classroom and culminated with a hands-on event in the cafetorium. Kindergartners went from station-to-station where they put together huge dinosaur and small dinosaur puzzles, went on an archeological dig for dino bones, listened to stories about dinosaurs, did dinosaur math, and more.

Peggie Gaare's Wax Museum at Riley


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Mrs. Gaare’s fourth graders at the Riley Avenue School shared their
“Biography Book Club Celebration” with their parents and the rest of the classes
by hosting a “Wax Museum.”

Each student read a biography about a famous personality in American culture and history, gathered artifacts and props, wrote a report, and finally took on that person’s persona, appearance and appropriate apparel, made a banner and froze, wax-like, in front of their banner. Students visiting the museum could bring the wax figures to life by pushing a button on their chests.

The figures included: Presidents, American Heroes, Early Americans, Singers, Aviators, Entertainers, Authors, and Inspirational Americans.

"One of the students in Mrs. Gaare's class was also one of my students," shared special education teacher Collene Richardson. "This special learning unit speaks volumes for the importance of differentiated instruction. The student we share was captivated by this approach to biographies. He read the biography eagerly, researched enthusiastically, memorized his museum presentation instead of reading it, and just did an outstanding job. I was really proud of him."

Poetry Slam at Pulaski Street School


(This will be linked when Mr. Sardelli uploads it.)

At the Pulaski Street School, students in Pat Jordan-Cowley’s class concluded their poetry studies by hosting a “Poetry Slam” videotaped by poet Darren Sardelli for his website. Mr. Sardelli was a poet-in-residence at Pulaski Street in April.

The Poetry Slam was very imaginative and had one presentation that featured rhythm and meter that was amazing.

Eighth Grade Vision Boards


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There are so many innovative programs at the middle school--a Latin program that is unparalleled, field trips and units of scientific and creative studies at area beaches, a creative filming unit in ESL, the tagging of monarch butterflies, and so many efforts like Council for Unity that make a huge difference in the lives of our middle school students. One program that stands out each year is the room design project in Mr. Malanga's tech class. It has received many well-deserved accolades.

Another end-of-the year program that dominates the main bulletin board in June is entitled "8th Grade Vision Boards," and was initiated by RMS guidance counselor Judy Arnone. Each of the 8th graders made their own "vision board" as a way of guiding and shaping their future choices. It's very visual and has a lasting and important impact on these young middle school students, who will be faced with many difficult choices as they head into high school. A text entitled The Vision Board: The Secret to an Extraordinary Life by Joyce Schwarz (Author) guides this creative effort.

9th Grade Honors English Class Shares Books


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Many, many programs have been highlighted from the high school throughout the year. Innovative programs like a visit from a Hell's Kitchen competition chef, high school students learning to make and use a "poi," and many more were just touched on throughout the year. Other events like the design competition for the cover of the 2009 student handbook, or the water bottle design display, both of which appeared briefly in the display case by the auditorium, can be seen on the new graphics design website. In addition, I featured the resurrection of the RHS radio station, the many accomplishments of Mr. Barona's Living Environments class (featured in Newsday), the Shakespeare in the classroom unit that brought Hamlet and Julius Ceasar alive, but there are many other programs by innovative teachers that just happen in the course of the day that only the students witness.

One of the last programs I witnessed (at the very end of the school year) was carried out by the Ninth Grade Honors English class. The students in this class authored and illustrated children's books as part of their class work.

"It was a good way to emphasize the importance of grammar and usage in their writing," stated English 9H teacher Stephanie Piraino, who was formerly in public relations. "The students researched early childhood literacy, wrote press releases for their books and videotaped min-public service messages about the connection between early childhood literacy and long-term achievement in school."

At the very end of the school year, several members of the class traveled to the Roanoke Avenue School and read their books to the children. The high school authors fielded questions about rewriting and illustrating and had a great time sharing their stories.

This class also collected over 500 gently used children's books. They gave almost 400 of the books (plus the books the class authored) to the Roanoke Avenue students, and the remaining books, which were at a higher reading level, were given to the Pulaski Street School.