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

DATE: TUESDAY, April 16, 1991                   TAG: 9104130154
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: NF-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: TAMMY POOLE NEWSFUN EDITOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MAGNET SCHOOL TEACHER WRITES BOOK; PUPILS ILLUSTRATE IT

Dave Hurley, a teacher at Highland Park Magnet School, has written a book called "Chip's Fishing Rodeo."

The book is based on one of Hurley's jogging expeditions. While Hurley was jogging near the Roanoke River, a boy who was fishing snagged the teacher's shirt with a fish hook. In the book, the teacher's name is Mr. Bass, and the boy's name is Chip.

Chip enters a fishing tournament along with 99 other boys and girls. While he snagged the teacher's shirt, the other kids caught trash including a pair of pantyhose and an old boot.

None of the kids caught a fish, but they all received trophies for cleaning up the river.

Several pupils in the second and third cluster at the school illustrated the book.

The pupils used crayons and posterboard for their drawings. Hurley also used gift-wrap paper to look like fabric, as well as bulletin board paper for background.

"I've always loved to draw," said second-grader Pierce Lancaster, "but I've never gotten into something so big. I had a lot of fun. We started out drawing on a little sheet of paper and Mrs. [Sherlie] Doherty [the art teacher] told us to do a humongous poster. It took me two days to finish."

Neal Elliott, also a second-grader, said he had never done anything like this before. "It was pretty fun. My favorite part was drawing the school bully. The drawing started out as Chip, but turned into the bully."

This project "goes hand in hand with their reading," said Doherty. "They are immersed in reading daily. Before we started the project, I brought in books by well-known illustrators for them to identify with and to show them that they have to follow the written word."

Second-grader Sonya Lepper included shadows in her illustration.

"The students did a figure drawing lesson with shadows. Sonya's use of this shows her ability to transfer learning," Doherty said.

"I did a bookmark and won a contest," said Sonya. "I like to draw."

Greer Johnson, also in the second grade, said, "I think it was fun. I drew a picture with a lot of faces. I started drawing in the middle of the page. I got tired drawing so many faces."

The pupils were able to choose the illustration they wanted after reading the story.

The entire project took almost three years, Hurley said.