|
 |
Jennifer Martin uses the Flip camera to keep parents and her students involved in reading education. The Flip lets Martin record 60 minutes
of video, which she can then put on DVDs to send home. |
A Rockbridge County reading teacher is striving to boost children’s motivation by using technology that she bought with federal grant money.
Jennifer Martin, the Title I reading teacher at Mountain View Elementary School, bought a Flip video camera with part of the $500 she received from the Virginia Association of Federal Education Program Administrators. She initially intended to use the money to increase parents’ involvement in their children’s reading education, but she says enhancing her students’ motivation quickly took priority.
“Once they hit about the third grade, those kids aren’t quite as fond of spending time with books,” Martin said. “They’ve got their Nintendo DS and their Wii — so many things that seem more interesting.”
Martin teaches 43 students from kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Title I reading program at Mountain View. Her students range from kindergartners who simply need help with letter recognition to children with more serious speech difficulties or special education needs. Title I is a federal program for students who need additional assistance with reading.
Martin says using her video camera is a good way to get the students’ attention back. She has tried using MP3 players and webcams in the past, but she says she has had the most success with the Flip. The small video camera, produced by a company called Pure Digital, has been touted in publications including Business Week for its low price and ease of use.
Martin uses it to record students’ regular classroom activities, and she says they really respond to the camera.
“With some of the kids, it's amazing,” Martin said. “When you bring this camera out it's like their whole persona changes.”
In Martin’s classroom, students work on everything from reading comprehension to fluency. She uses traditional teaching tools such as flashcards, but also some less common ones. Among Martin’s less common techniques is Reader’s Theater, an activity in which students read parts in texts they have already studied in class. Martin says it is like putting on a play without costumes or props. It’s one of the activities she often tapes.
The Flip also helps Martin meet her original goal of increasing parent involvement. After she records the students, she makes DVDs of the footage, which are sent home with the students for their parents to watch. At the end of the year, Martin will give each student a DVD of the year’s activities.
 |
| Mountain View Elementary School is one of more than 90 percent of schools in the country to receive Title I funding. (ERIN GALLIHER/The Rockbridge Report) |
She says she has invited parents to attend class before, but many people cannot take the time off from work to come. But the Flip now allows parents to stay connected with their children’s reading education, even when they cannot be there in person.
“I was speaking to one parent who was really excited to see the DVD, really excited to see how her child put forth that extra effort when she was in front of the camera,” Martin said. “We want it to be not just ‘we're over here in this building and they're over there at home and the two places are so separate.’ ”
With budget cuts looming, programs like Title I could be affected. But John Reynolds, superintendent of Rockbridge County Schools, says some of the federal stimulus money Virginia is receiving for schools has already been designated to support programs such as Title I. And Martin thinks grants like the one she received can help offset costs so that programs can continue without school districts having to cut funds in other areas.
Under the Title I program, the U.S. Department of Education gives annual grants to each state. According to the Department of Education's budget, Virginia received about $236 million to distribute to localities for the program in fiscal year 2009.
And although Martin worries a bit every spring when budget decisions are made, she says she is confident the county schools’ administration recognizes the importance of the programs currently running under Title I. FIX
“I would say that they would move heaven and earth to make sure that the programs continue at the schools,” Martin said.
Produced by
Washington and Lee
journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Indira Somani
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Lisa Tracy
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd