From left, sixth graders Tessa Sigler, Flor Simon-Hernandez, Jesse Schroeder, David Chapin and Emma Verburg water their beans, radishes and onions. The harvest will be delivered to Flat River Outreach Ministries - a local community support organization that will in turn provide for families and elderly in the community in need
Lowell — Summer learning looked a lot like having fun outside for students at Arrows Learning Camp recently.
The camp, which focuses on reading and math, brings together students to maintain and develop their skills all summer long and prepare them to return to the classroom. About 120 students met at Alto and Cherry Creek elementary schools.
“The goal of summer programming is meant to allow students to have fun while learning,” said math coordinator Carmen Tawney.
From left, first-graders Grace Zachwieja, Vivian Pnazek and Mica Carlton play Corn Hole
From left, second-grader Case Phillips watches closely as first-grader Kolden Eickhoff tries to score in the game of Ladderball
From left, first-graders Vivian Pnazek and Grace Zachwieja play Corn Hole
That happens naturally during outdoor games that require math skills such as numbers and operations, algebraic thinking, measurement, and geometry like Ladderball, Yardzee, Farkle and Corn Hole. “These games have a lot of math concepts that the students do not recognize they are learning,” she said.
The district also offers Math on the Move, a summer camp for students transitioning to middle school in sixth grade which includes math and STEM components.
Math coordinator Carmen Tawney helps lead the fun while learning
From left, third-graders Keegan Licht, Lennon Cobey and Mera Walsh sound out words and write them in phonics class
From left, support staff member Barb Vogel, first-graders Mica Carlton, Grace Zachwieja, Thea Callihan, Reagan Marcus, Ezra Johnson, Vivian Pnazek and instructor Heidi Munson explore the reading theme of confidenceFrom left, instructor Dave Strejc, helps sixth-graders Margaret Colley and Lilia Kurzhals work with Legos in the fraction lab
Third-grader Mark Fullerton writes his word on the board in phonics class
Third-grader Dean Faurot problem solves in phonics class
Third-grader Keegan Licht writes his word on the board in Phonics class
From left, Kristin Parsons, math interventionist, watches fourth-graders Preston Juarez and Tommy Stanton play dice
Dianne Carroll Burdick has worked as a photojournalist in the West Michigan area since 1991. A graduate of Western Michigan University, she has photographed for The Grand Rapids Press, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Detroit Free Press, Advance Newspapers, Grand Rapids Magazine, BLUE Magazine and On-the-Town Magazine. She has been covering the many exciting and thought provoking stories of K-12 public education for School News Network since 2016.
To celebrate our 10th anniversary, your School News Network team is re-publishing some early stories from each school district. This story, originally published in February 2015, talks to fathers who are discovering the ins and outs of public education thanks to the WATCH D.O.G.S. program.
