Lots of excitement this week at a local elementary school. Students cheered wildly as Jennifer White approached the stage at Timberwood Park Elementary in the
This Fifth grade Language Arts teacher takes a different approach in her classroom to help her students succeed.
As soon as students are seated in class, Jennifer White reminds them, "You know you are responsible for your own learning."
In White's class, the students are in charge.
"It's important that kids learn at an early age that it's not someone else's responsibility to make sure that their work is turned in or their work is done," said White.
Hers is a non-traditional classroom.
"This classroom is designed around these kids. I take a lot of time and effort to tailor it to each and every child. I don't like standing up in front of room disseminating and being only one with knowledge. I want to make sure my students know that not just for fifth grade but forever
," said White."said Fifth grader John Mamalakis.
"My goal is to get better grades on the Sign of the Beaver, I missed one on vocabulary last week
Jennifer White is a mother or two who feels blessed to have been given the gift to teach. She helps her students set high goals by sitting down with them one on one every day.
and I'd like to do better, " said Fifth grader Andy Doyle.
"She helps me learn in every different way i can imagine," said Fifth grader Lillie Nowak.
While students work together in small groups, jennifer white works with each to set goals. Every goal is different, tailored to individual students.
"She doesn't baby us," exclaimed Fifth grader Ava Weissgarber.
"Every day we set goals and tell each other what we are going to do to succeed in those goals,"
