ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 4, 1996 TAG: 9611070001
SECTION: NEWSFUN PAGE: NF-3 EDITION: METRO
Team teaching is nothing new in educational circles, but tune teaching just might be.
Cynthia Crise uses positive reinforcement, praise and "a lot of singing" to motivate her third-graders at Abingdon Elementary School. You never know when the 19-year teaching veteran might burst into song.
"You remember things better when they're set to music," she explained. "When I can, I set poetry to music, and if I know a song that goes with the curriculum, like a science or social studies song, I use that."
Incorporating song into her teaching comes naturally to Crise, who said she grew up loving music and now directs the children's music ministry at her church.
"She makes learning fun, especially when she sings to us," said her nominator. "And she's very nice. She's also very fun, and she has a lot of school spirit."
Crise, who said she loves teaching third-graders because "they're so easy to motivate," teaches all subjects, but language/arts if her favorite. The Indiana native is mom to two teen-age girls and enjoys piano, singing, walking and reading.
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Cynthia Crise\Third grade, Abingdon Elementary Schoolby CNB