Published: July 09, 2008 06:50 pm            

Environmental teacher workshop

By Trent Moore

trentm@cullmantimes.com



SIMCOE — Third-grade teacher Pam Deberadinis had no idea she would be dissecting a regurgitated, undigested owl pellet when she signed up for a teacher workshop; but she said it’s all for the sake of becoming a better teacher.

“I’ve learned lots of great things I can take back and use in the classroom, and now we’re learning about pellets,” she said as she turned up her nose and prodded a small, grey owl pellet picking tiny mouse bones out with a pair of tweezers.

The St. Paul’s Lutheran School educator was joined by 12 other local teachers from the city and county, taking part in the three-day environmental education program held at Camp Meadowbrook.

Director Deb Widner said the program is meant to inspire teachers with more involved approaches toward teaching about agriculture and the environment.

“We’re very hands-on,” she said. “Anything to get kids interested. It’s the visual things that trigger learning.”

Widner said the Cullman County Soil and Water Conservation District has been sponsoring the workshop for over 10 years. The workshop is offered for free and counts toward a teacher’s required summer hours.

Participants learn how to utilize books, props, posters and visual elements to try and get students more involved when learning about nature, the environment and agriculture.

The teachers are also given various free learning aides to take back and use in their classrooms in the upcoming school year.

Home-school teacher Valerie Williamson, who also works at Falkville School with the summer enrichment program, said she was really enjoying the workshop.

“Just anything I can do to teach my kids and make learning more exciting,” she said.

As for the owl pellet idea, Williamson said she believes her kids would enjoy it more than her.

“Oh, they’ll love it,” she said.

Deberadinis said even though the experience may have gotten a little gross, the workshop was definitely worth her time.

“It’s been awesome,” she said. “There are just so many activities and resources.”

In addition to the summer workshop, the Cullman County Soil and Water Conservation District also goes into local schools to teach students the basics of agriculture.

“It’s so amazing that some kids don’t know where their food even comes from,” she said. “You ask them where their food comes from and they all say it comes from Walmart. They think everything comes from Walmart.”

Anyone interested in more information about the workshop should contact the Cullman County Soil and Water Conservation District.

        

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