THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601260208
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
THE ``BLIZZARD OF '96'' may have put a freeze on the travel plans of some Luxford Elementary School students, but it didn't cancel them.
In fact, 10 ``vacationing'' children in Anna Swain's classroom embarked on a sailing trip around the world just hours after the storm passed. Their adventure was the basis for Swain's recent two-week-long activity on sailing.
Using borrowed life jackets, rain coats, a buoy, ocean dingy, sail and other donated nautical props, ``Captain'' Swain, learning disabilities resource teacher at Luxford, turned Room 2 into an ocean of possibilities, bringing to life lessons in everything from scuba diving to hurricanes.
``I really wanted to hit geography and teach it in a way they could understand and hold on to,'' Swain said, explaining the sailing theme. ``Latitude, longitude, bodies of water - that's all very hard to grasp in bits and pieces.''
With a world map posted on the blackboard, the class set sail on the SS Lightening Blue Jan. 10. Their travels took them through a few independent projects - from personal ``ship's logs'' to researching nautical heroes - as well as group activities with staff and community members.
They learned signal flag message making from teacher's assistant Lisa Sisson and how to sing sea chanties from music teacher Anne Glenn.
Capt. Tim Dull from the aircraft carrier Enterprise visited to discuss celestial navigation and his sailing trip to Bermuda, while retired reading resource teacher Jane Reuter stopped by to model and talk about diving equipment.
``She was pretty cool,'' said 10-year-old Ron Sanderson. ``She gave us tips on how to dive.''
``I couldn't have done this without them,'' Swain said of her guests. ``These people see the possibilities, and they supported me. Enthusiasm and interest is equally as important as what's being taught.''
The students were also treated to a dramatic, interpretive reading of Swain's comic vignette, ``The Tale of Two British Sailors,'' when she performed it with Larkspur Middle School's Les Fortune.
Although all of these activities were planned according to her students' Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Swain also invited other students from the school into her room during the ``trip.''
While mainstream students found out just what goes on in a self-contained learning disabled classroom, Swain's students had the chance to practice their social skills in a safe, controlled environment.
``I think it was the right time to do it this way,'' Swain said of her class. ``They were comfortable enough in this room to be more accepting of other kids coming in. If you're comfortable, something new is not threatening.''
A ``typhoon'' in the Pacific Ocean was the culminating activity with students role-playing, simulating the sounds of wind, rain and waves. ``First Mate'' Sisson said this was a perfect way to wrap up a ``long, fun and adventurous journey'' since the students had built up enough confidence to sail through a storm.
``It brought everything together,'' she said. ``It made them realize they can depend and rely on each other. We sailed around the world without losing anyone . . . that says something about teamwork.''
Swain plans to do something similar next year and will have her students vote on a theme: either a jungle safari, desert caravan or a week on Mars.
But there is one thing she's sure of: ``A classroom like this isn't the end of the road. It's the beginning of possibilities.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by HOLLY WESTER
``Captain'' Anna Swain, learning disabilities resources teacher at
Luxford Elementary, shows her class the next stop on their ``trip''
around the world. Her exercises bring to life lessons in everything
from scuba diving to hurricanes.
Rachel Aschnewitz, 6, a first-grader, was of many visitors to
Swain's Room 2, where she colored a picture of the SS Lightening
Blue.
Graphic
WORLD TRAVELERS
The following Luxford Elementary School students traveled around the
world: Jill Campbell, Steven Kilcrease, Michael Ligon, Rohan
McMillion, Tony Morrisey, Anthony Mulhearn, Ray Riggs, Ron
Sanderson, Tracy Turpin and Kyle Weber.
by CNB