What LME Is Saying About the Schoolwide Enrichment Model

Teacher, Parent and Student Testimonials

With our country and the world the way it is, the thing that strikes me as great about enrichment clusters is that children and adults work together to investigate a common interest. Through the process, a product or service is created to help the community or the world. I feel like we have a moral and ethical obligation as teachers and parents to develop people that think of others and our planet. Through this model we can develop human beings with passions and interests that may become a career and last a lifetime. Pam Jackson, 3rd Grade Teacher

"Through this model we can develop human beings with passions and interests that may become a career and last a lifetime."

I work with students who struggle in particular areas of the curriculum. Some spend an enormous amount of time in remediation and seldom have the opportunity for enrichment. This year, for the first time, some of my students participated in Light Bulb Projects and enrichment projects. These students felt so "cool" and just radiated light when they shared their project experiences with our group. The enhanced self esteem and confidence gained was absolutely INCREDIBLE! Sheri Marshall, SAIL Teacher

Two friends and I made a website to teach little kids about the metric system. We did this because we got over 95% on a pre-assessment. I enjoyed doing this project because it didn\u2019t have very many restrictions. I just had to make a website about the metric system for younger kids. I like just doing the project, not the worksheets also, because I would have already known all the information on the worksheet, so I wouldn\u2019t have learned anything. 5th Grade Student

"The enhanced self esteem and confidence gained was absolutely INCREDIBLE."

At the end of the Robo Lab lesson in a 3rd grade classroom, a student walked up to me and, not saying a word, gave me the biggest hug. I immediately knew the reason. I knew that this student has struggled in school. On that day, however, this student was not struggling. He and his partner completed their project in record time and proceeded to work their way through the room helping others who didn\u2019t "get it." When it became apparent to me that this student\u2019s expertise was far greater than mine, I began recruiting him to help the students who were appealing to me for help. By the end of the hour, it was clear who was in charge...and it wasn\u2019t me. As I packed up to leave, this student didn\u2019t have to tell me what that time meant to him. I knew. Tissie Elliott, TAG/Enrichment Teacher

"Their energy and excitement was contagious!

One 1st grader was so excited about our "block city" that we constructed in our investigation math lesson that he said he wished he could build cities all day. He asked, "When I grow up, can I be a designer and a builder, or do I have to pick one?" 1st Grade Teacher

Camp Write Along was a week long writing program that focused 4th grade writers before the February Writing TAKS test. The reluctant writers were heard saying, "When will I get to finish my story?" and "I think this is the best story I have written!" Their energy and excitement was contagious! 4th Grade Teacher

An incredibly talented student wanted an opportunity to highlight her artistic talent. She worked with two other students and me to create a permanent mural depicting friendship. First, each student drew their own version of the mural. Next they collaborated to choose the best parts of each design for the mural. A template for the mural was developed, and the design was transferred to a 4' x 5' piece of oak plywood. Then the students worked together to paint the mural, which is now hanging outside my classroom. Finally, the students also created a step-by-step PowerPoint that was featured on KPAW. Phuong Lien, Speech Language Pathologist

"Enrichment program such as these which have such diverse opportunities will help us raise balanced kids."

To my child and me, enrichment is all about having an opportunity\u2014to discover one's interests, to enrich one's talent and most importantly conquer one's weaknesses. One such opportunity was Ms. Elliott's Reader's Theater program for my child. I had expressed concern to my child's 1st grade teacher, Ms. Hagood, on the lack of self confidence on my child's part. Ms. Hagood arranged for my child to attend the Reader's Theater program conducted by Ms. Elliot, where my child got an opportunity to do enact characters from a book, which helped her gain self confidence. Enrichment programs such as these which have such diverse opportunities will help us raise balanced kids. Hema Ramaswamy, Parent

"Thank you for letting me have a life-changing experience.

When our teacher said that we were going to work outside I was really excited although I didn't know anything about saving animals and their habitats. When the time came to start working on the habitats, I had no idea where to start. I asked my teacher which job I should go to first. I was directed to the erosion crew. This was my favorite job. I worked to fix the stream so if it rains heavily it won't destroy animal homes. The second job I had was to help make homes for birds in the area so they can have protection from bad storms. Thank you for letting me have a life-changing experience. 5th Grade Student

One enrichment program we did was the nature trails. We went outside and did a lot of stuff like building erosion channels, birdhouses, and planting flowers and trees. It was much more fun to actually see and experience erosion, weathering, and deposition rather than reading from the old boring textbooks where there are only pictures and words. We also learned about life science by researching what certain animals and plants like to eat and where they live. Then, we made the trails as close to their natural habitats as possible. It has kind of worked and a lot of animals have come. We are currently trying to get the Golden Cheeked Warbler to come so we can report the sightings to the Austin Park and Wildlife Association. Then it can be a nature preserve, nature trail, and animal habitat all in one. 5th Grade Student

"Enrichment will extend your knowledge into new areas and give you a sense of excitement, like a new toy. It will make you eager to tell everyone about what you learned."

It is important for the school to provide learning materials and enrichment. Our whole class has benefited greatly by presenting many real-life skills. It is also fun to do these kinds of projects. We got to pick our topic. We researched and we did not have preset topics. We learned much about getting and collecting information at school using encyclopedias and computers. We developed good presentation skills by giving presentations to our class and experts from the community. It has benefited me greatly and helped me develop skills that I can use in the future. It also gives you a sense of pride knowing you have completed a major project. Enrichment is good and can help kids become more successful instead of doing the same boring old projects. Enrichment will extend your knowledge into new areas and give you a sense of excitement, like a new toy. It will make you eager to tell everyone about what you learned. 5th Grade Student