Themes such as Columbus Day used as part of learning process
By Bob Robinson

GREENVILLE – “So could he take pictures with a camera?” asked Kim Ruhenkamp. “No.” There were no cameras in 1492 when Columbus ‘sailed the ocean blue.’ “Does that sound familiar to you?”

The students agreed as they waited to see what their teacher would say next.

Oct. 14 was Columbus Day and while most government agencies took the day off, Ruhenkamp was teaching her first grade students at Woodland Heights Elementary School about Christopher Columbus when he discovered the New World. It was a long trip and he kept a diary. He wrote about his ships (The Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria), the islands he saw, the people he met… and the parrots. He used a quill pen.

Columbus was only one of the lesson requirements scheduled for Monday but many of the standard lessons, such as geography, language arts and science, tied as much as possible to a common theme.

Each day is a busy day at Woodland. Ruhenkamp spends three to four hours on weekends working on her lesson plans for the coming week, then ‘tweaks’ them throughout the week, making changes as necessary for lessons that could be improved.

At 10:45 the students took a bathroom break, walking orderly in single file to the bathrooms. When they were finished they got a drink of water and lined up quietly against the wall until all were done, then returned to their room.

They read a book out loud called “Can I?” “Can I have a dog?” “No.” “Can I have a dog? Can I? Can I?” “No No No” Then she pointed out the calendar in the last picture… it showed a date in December close to Christmas… then turned the page.

The students read… “But you CAN have a puppy!”

Five minutes later they were lining up for lunch. Ruhenkamp took them to the cafeteria, then went to her next assignment: recess duty. After the playground she returned to her room to work on materials she needed for a student who needed extra help.

Each week, in addition to the daily routine of language arts, math, social studies and science, the students have “specials” in gym, music, library and art. “It isn’t a special but we also have two computer labs now,” she said, noting they go twice a week. The students also have daily “centers” which can include rainbow writing, pumpkin decorating and other scholastic-oriented activities designed to teach as they entertained.

Ruhenkamp has been teaching since 2005; at Woodland for the past six years. She has taught some kindergarten and some first grade. Her favorite grade? “They all have their benefits,” she responded.

Kids sometimes teach and entertain as much as they learn…

“They will tell funny stories about their home life that I’m sure the parents wouldn’t want them to share… they do it anyway,” she said, smiling.

What she appreciated most was their creativity, which typically requires correcting.

“When they’re learning to write they can be very creative, depending on how they hear the words.”

Published courtesy of The Early Bird