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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Lifestyle
Monday, January 7, 2002
Education program given by school teacher
The Modern Study Club met recently for an Educational Department program
in the home of Bobbi and Ron Lang, 1301 Iowa. The program was planned by
Education Chairman Juracy Ray and presented by Alice Wein, Outstanding Elementary
Teacher of the year for 2002 from Region 18 of the Texas State Teacher's
Association.
Paula Fuller, a longtime Pecos school teacher, introduced Mrs. Wein, who
is the mother of three children, two of which are also teachers. Mrs. Wein
holds a Bachelor of arts degree from the University of Texas Permian Basin.
She has enjoyed teaching Pecos children since 1972, first as an aide for
eight years and then as a fourth or fifth grade teacher up to the current
time. Wein hopes to contine teaching for several more years.
Wein's topic was teaching fourth grade students how to be successful writers.
She began by telling how much she enjoys teaching and how cooperative the
parents are and how loving the students are. She read a poem by Hyme Geno
about the importance of a teacher and stated that this was her belief.
She then discussed the "text" of fourth grade writing which is based on
the essential skills of the TAAS. The TAAS tests writing skills for the first
time in fourth grade. Mastery of the TAAS essential skills is a requirement
to graduate from high school. These essential skills include grammar, spelling
and the principal of writing. It has been said "that we just teach to the
TAAS but as you can see the TAAS essential elements are basic principals
of writing."
She told that the needs were so great and the time element so short that
the Bessie Haynes teachers started a team effort to cover all the material
in a school year. The first six weeks each teacher teaches grammar and punctuation.
The second six weeks all the students meet in the cafeteria and the lead
teacher writes, demonstrating a style of writing beginning with brainstorming
about the topic, writing an introduction and step by step demonstrates how
to write. Each class is sitting with their teacher who assists the lead teacher.
The second week the students help the lead teacher with each step, brainstorming,
writing the introduction, etc.
The third week the students write with the help of the teachers and the
fourth week the students are in their classrooms writing.
Mrs. Wein continued telling that each six weeks the students are introduced
to a new mode of writing, always with correct grammar, punctuation and spelling
being reinforced. She announced that Bessie Haynes Elementary has been a
recognized school for the past six years, where last year 79 students passed
the TAAS, out of the 81 tested.
The program was concluded by the teacher reading a story written by a
student in her class who received a four which is the highest possible score.
The speaker was presented a gift and a card of congratulations signed
by members in attendance.
Catherine Travland, club president, presided during the meeting. During
opening ceremonies Bobbi Lang led the Club Collect and Joyce Morton led the
pledges to the United States of America and Texas flags, with all attendees
repeating with them in unison.
Mrs. Lang, treasurer, presented a statement of club finances and Mrs.
Morton, secretary, read the minutes of the previous meeting.
Correspondence was read from Mary Vongsavath, of Alpine, first vice-president
of Western District of TFWC, concerning a new member contest and a letter
concerning liability insurance from GFWC.
During committee reports, ways and means, community improvement projects
and reports on programs and projects to Western District of TFWC, were discussed.
Lena Harpham, Federation Counselor, reported on the Mentor Training Program
being created to compliment and support the officers and staff of the General
Federation of Women's Clubs throughout the United States. The need for mentors
has arisen due to fall in membership and other problems GFWC faces today.
The mentors will serve as consultants available to individuals GFWC members,
clubs, districts and states.
The Modern Study Club voted to give a memorial donation to the Alma Van
Sickle Scholarship Fund to honor longtime members and President Martha "Sis"
Slack, who served from 1982 through 1984.
Roll call was answered by naming one's favorite writer.
Projects emphasized for this monthly meeting was contributions to the
Count Your Blessings Fund and to contribute to the Western District Alma
Van Sickle Scholarship Fund. Plans were also finalized for the Christmas
gifts to be presented to lodgers of the Pecos Nursing Home.
Paula Fuller, Doris Moorman and Dorothy Barton joined Mrs. Lang with hostess
duties.
New artist and song search planned
Embassy Music of Nashville, Tenn., is conducting its New Artist and Song
Search. Now in its 8th year, the Ultimate Talent Search and Seminars
will offer over $50,000 in prizes, which includes a single song publishing
contract for the grand-prize winning song. The grand-prize winning artist
will have a single recorded and distributed to nationwide Christian radio.
Judges and panelists include Kent Coley, Forefront Records. Credits include
Rebecca St. James and dc Talk. Darwin Moody, Embassy Music. Credits include
Bruce Carroll and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Rendy Lovelady, Rendy
Lovelady Management Credits include Carmen and Jars of Clay. Jill Wright,
Mike Atkins Management. Credits include Point of Grace and Jaci Velasquez.
Entry forms are now available. All entries must be received no later than
Friday, Feb. 8.
To receive additional information, visit www.embassymusic.com , or call
the Ultimate Helpline at 615-345-2500.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail newsdesk@nwol.net
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 2001 by Pecos Enterprise
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