THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505050176
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 127 lines
How does a parent get a child interested in books and reading in this distracting age of videos, electronic games and cable television?
No problem, just move to the Butts Road Intermediate School district and make sure the child is assigned to Roxanne Mills' fifth-grade reading class.
The 41-year-old teacher was recently named by the Chesapeake Reading Council to be its 1995 ``Reading Teacher of the Year.''
Mills will be recognized at a Chesapeake Reading Council annual spring banquet Wednesday at Oscar Smith High School.
``It was very exciting to be named,'' Mills said. ``It was a total shock and certainly the highlight of my teaching career.''
Mills transforms children with little interest in books into bibliophiles who view the library as a research tool, a wonderland and an amusement park, all rolled into one.
How does Mills succeed in the classroom?
``Well, I don't really know,'' the Northern Virginia native said after some thought. ``I just do it. But I guess, if I had to think of one thing, it's because I read to my students every day. I read anything and everything I can out loud to them. I share lots of books with them.''
When she reads aloud, Mills makes her students feel part of the story. She draws them in with high-charged expressiveness, love of words and sunny personality.
``I read to them with a sense of wonder,'' Mills said.
A parent agreed when she wrote, ``Roxanne Mills shows her love of language in her expressive reading style. Her students say she can make a story come alive. To Mrs. Mills reading is a priority, and her enthusiasm over books is contagious.''
Mills never met a book she didn't like.
``There's no such thing as a book you can't read,'' she said. ``If you read a particular book and can derive meaning and enjoyment out of it, then it's worthwhile.''
Mills said she doesn't even discourage older readers from reading what may be considered ``baby'' or ``children's books.''
``I tell my students that even easy books aren't just for babies,'' she explained, as she quickly showed off several books intended for younger readers.
According to Susan Serra of the Chesapeake Reading Council, it's that enthusiasm, along with her teaching style, dedication, classroom success, community involvement and sharing of expertise with other teachers that clinched the award for Mills.
Mills, who has been teaching for 20 years, earned her teaching degree from Old Dominion University and now holds a master's degree in school administration. She began her student teaching in Chesapeake and has been with its public school system since.
She is president of the Great Bridge Woman's Club and is active at her congregation, the Chesapeake Community Church.
The ever-modest Mills also credits her success to the work and involvement of her principal, Dr. Cynthia Sparks, along with her school's dedicated teachers, strong Parent-Teacher Association and active parental involvement.
In a nominating letter to the Chesapeake Reading Council, Sparks lists Mills accomplishments and qualities as a teacher.
They include: providing a variety of instructional techniques, allowing for individual differences, using innovative and creative ideas to make reading fun and exciting, sharing her expertise with other teachers, getting parents involved, promoting literacy projects in her class as well as in the entire school and dedication to her profession.
Each year, Mills engages her students in exciting and clever projects involving not only reading, but comprehension, research, writing and wonder.
Last year her students wrote to all 50 U.S. governors, asking each for his or her favorite recipe. After receiving responses from 44 out of 50 queries, her class compiled the letters and recipes into a cookbook her students published, entitled ``A Taste of Cuisine from the Governors' Mansions.''
``They had to research to find the names and addresses of each governor,'' Mills said. ``They had to write to each one and wait for a response. We received lots of nice letters from the governors, some sent photos and facts about their states, so we learned history and geography. Each letter we got back just increased their enthusiasm and wonder.''
This year, Mills has her class operating its own in-school postal system modeled after the U.S. Postal Service. Students had to take a literacy/spelling exam in order to qualify for postal jobs, and the school was divided into different postal zones named after Virginia cities and locales.
Her students regularly sort, proofread and carry mail throughout the school, with each classroom sporting its own street name.
Besides developing and implementing special student projects, Mills regularly attends conferences and conventions on education, reading and literacy and presents workshops and classes for her school, her colleagues and the Chesapeake school system.
In partnership with Debbie Armistead, the school's media specialist, Mills is an adjunct professor at ODU, instructing other teachers on the use of resource-based units to enhance reading instruction. Mills and Armistead have presented workshops on resource-based teaching at Deep Creek Central, Butts Road Primary, Butts Road Intermediate and Chittum Elementary schools.
``I cannot emphasize the strengths of this teacher too much,'' Sparks wrote. ``She is an integral part of this staff and is one of the leaders in reading instruction. She is highly qualified to be Chesapeake Reading Teacher of the Year.''
One parent wrote, ``I am very fortunate to have a child in Roxanne Mills' class this year. Not only has she given him a strong foundation in reading, but she has instilled in each one of her students a love of words.''
``Roxanne's teaching methods have produced knowledgeable and enthusiastic students,'' Armistead said. ``She emphasizes academic achievement and expects all children will achieve. She makes herself available to other faculty members, lending a hand when possible. Roxanne is an extraordinary educator who has always put forth a wholehearted and selfless effort. I feel very fortunate to have worked with her.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Roxanne Mills goes over a story with Butts Road Intermediate School
student Kevin Boyer.
URGE TO READ
How should parents encourage reading in their children?
It's very easy, said Roxanne Mills, the Butts Road Intermediate
School educator who was selected Chesapeake's ``Reading Teacher of
the Year'' by the Chesapeake Reading Council: As a family, turn off
the television set and read.
``It's neat when the entire family can read the same thing.'' she
said. ``After that, families can talk with each other or play a game
together, that creates conversation and thinking.''
Mills also suggests that parents and family members give books
for presents and rewards.
She suggests parents teach by doing. Don't just sit staring at
the boob tube. Turn it off and read. Your children will follow your
example.
by CNB