
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 18, 1990                   TAG: 9005180516
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: TRACY VAN MOORLEHEM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

KIDS SHINE AT ACADEMIC GAMES

Some kids are turned on by academic pursuits and others by athletic competition. Roanoke City Schools use Critical Pursuit to allow kids from both camps to shine academically.

Grade-level winners from 26 Roanoke schools competed this week for trophies in reading and mathematics games at the second annual Critical Pursuit District finals.

One math problem the third-graders encountered Tuesday was to "round 961 to the nearest hundred." A reading question asked whether a paragraph about soccer was meant to inform or entertain.

Four rounds of competition Tuesday through Thursday consisting of oral and written math and language arts questions determined which four-person team was the district winner in each grade level.

Vella Wright, mistress of ceremonies for the competition and supervisor of mathematics for Roanoke City Schools, said the questions are intended to emphasize critical thinking skills as well as general knowledge and recall.

"I think we've hit upon an instructional method that is generally appealing to all students," Wright said. The individual champions are not always the students who shine brightest academically in the classroom, she said.

Nine-year-old Allison Hurt from Fishburn Elementary was on the winning third-grade team. She said she wasn't nervous taking the tests and answering oral team questions in front of an audience.

Her mother, Jeannie Hurt, said she thinks the competition is good for the kids. "It's healthy, friendly competition. It gave everyone a fair chance," she said.

The following teams won the citywide elementary competition:

Grade 2 - Ajanet Hampton, Northwest, Shannon Doss, Fairview, Adam Padgett, Raleigh Court, and Liza Smoker, Highland Park.

Grade 3 - Allison Hurt, Fishburn, James Lang, Hurt Park, Lindsey MagerKurth, Wasena, and Seth Davis, Westside.

Grade 4 - James Saunders, Northwest, Todd St. Clair, Fairview, Aaron Peck, Raleigh Court, and Jackie Martin, Highland Park.

Grade 5 - Bill Speas, Fishburn, Revonda Barber, Hurt Park, David Stavola, Wasena, and Stephanie Burroughs, Westside.

Middle Schools - Kris Carter, Madison, Melissa Evans, Addison, Angela Simpkins, Jackson, and Ayisha Whitenack, Woodrow Wilson.

by CNB