From Storytime to Sewing: RHS Students Creatively Connect with Kratz Elementary Students
Gabby Kuhn, a rising senior at Ritenour High School, found a creative way to connect students across grade levels this spring by blending her cadet teaching role at Kratz Elementary with her Student as Mentor role in an RHS sewing class.
As part of a yearlong course, Working in Education, Kuhn learned about the art of teaching, creating effective lesson plans and during second semester, began cadet teaching at Kratz. As part of a lesson in Helena Ward’s second grade class, Kuhn read, “Don’t Touch the Button,” by Bill Cotter. This fun, interactive story features Larry the monster and his wild adventures.
As an added activity to the reading lesson, Kuhn invited the young students to draw their own imaginative monsters inspired by the book.
The next phase of Kuhn’s project was in her role as a Student as Mentor in Denise Schindler’s beginning sewing class. The sewing students got busy creating one-of-a kind stuffed monsters that mimicked the drawings from the second-graders.
“I thought this would be fun to do with my second grade class so they have something to remember me by and to make that class special for them,” said Kuhn.
Toward the end of the school year, the finished stuffed monsters made it into the hands of their young owners.
“The kids were so surprised and just loved them immediately,” said Kuhn.
Ward said the project was a tremendous success, and that the cadet teaching program exceeded her expectations.
“I was already so proud of Gabby beforehand, but to see her design such a creative and engaging lesson has been one of the highlights of my time here at Ritenour,” said Ward. “This program sincerely showed me how having a connection between older Ritenour students and younger students can have a positive impact on both. The students loved having Gabby and missed her when she wasn't in the classroom.”
Kuhn said her experience as a cadet teacher has reinforced her passion to get a degree in elementary education to become a teacher.
