Outstanding Educator Joanne Carter Creates a Magical Environment for her READ 180 Class

READ 180 Community Newsletter – Winter 2008

Joanne Carter

Joanne Carter, READ 180 Outstanding Educator Honorable Mention, is a fourth and fifth grade READ 180 Teacher at Wilsonville Elementary School in Wilsonville, Alabama. For three years, Joanne has taught READ 180, inspiring students to "think outside the box" by bringing rBook workshops to life and motivating students about reading. Joanne has celebrated her success on WIAT Channel 42 News as the "One Class at a Time" recipient, receiving $1,000 for her classroom. WIAT Channel 42 News also featured Joanne on "Wake Up Alabama" where she was interviewed about her READ 180 class. Most recently, Joanne was recognized at the READ 180 National Summer Institute in San Diego, California as the Outstanding Educator Honorable Mention.

In Wilsonville, many students in Joanne's READ 180 classes had never traveled to the places they were learning about in the software and books. It was after one student showed great interest in Stonehenge that Joanne applied for a grant to travel to England and France, in an effort to bring these faraway places to life in her classroom. Joanne traveled to the places that inspired authors to write the classic children's books from the READ 180 Stage A collection such as The Mystery of the Spotted Band, The Red-Headed League, and The Wind in the Willows to name a few. Throughout her travels, Joanne took pictures and videos to document each place. After returning to her classroom, Joanne used the materials she collected to create a "magical bookcase," which contains adventure-packed suitcases with the book, memorabilia from each place she visited, a photo/video journal, and information about the author. According to her Instructional Aide, Angel Harris, "Joanne's goal is to not only spark the children's interest in reading, but to also to empower the reader in every child and make them want to travel through the pages of a good book every day."

Joanne Carter's READ 180 classroom

Joanne's dedication to her students is portrayed throughout the halls leading up to her classroom. By showcasing students' work, Joanne is creating an environment where students feel a special connection with reading and her READ 180 classroom. According to Joanne, "the students love to be in our READ 180 classroom because they are made to feel like stars that are given the opportunity to shine bright in a positive, motivating, hands-on, fun and exciting environment." Joanne's commitment to turning struggling readers' lives around is to be commended. Congratulations Joanne!

To learn more about how you can nominate a READ 180 Outstanding Educator from your district, visit: www.scholastic.com/read180educator.

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