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Jacalyn Warner
Teacher of the Month
By Jenn Director Knudsen
Warner tells of one now 7-year-old first grader who at the beginning of this school year could barely sound out letters to make words. Now, six months into the academic year, this child is a "strong, average reader," ready for the second grade. "Basically, it's been working with her every day in small group instruction," she says.
Whether in reading or other areas, parents agree Warner is terrific with and for their children. "She encourages Christopher to draw and enjoys his pictures," says Dotti Winski, 38, mother of 7-year-old triplet boys (one of whom is Christopher) and a 6-year-old. "She also praises him on his writing skills and handwriting."
Warner says nothing tests her resolve more than kids who show disrespect, either to her or another student. And of course some of her students act inappropriately, but she credits a creative system of positive motivators to keep her kids on track.
Take her "Good Deed Beads," for example. These are bracelet-like devices strung vertically with 10 beads – each child gets one string at the start of the year. For a good deed – say, pushing in a fellow student's chair – a child gets to move one of his beads to the top of the string. When all 10 get to the top, the student gets to rummage through a treasure chest filled with "all kinds of little trinket things you get at the dollar store," she says. All Warner does for her kids and the school takes time – more than is allotted in the school day. According to Shorter, she has been on the school's Campus Advisory Team; has been the first grade team leader; the school representative on the district's Katy Improvement Council; and a member of the school's safety/security committee.
