Schools and Tools For All

by Hayley B., Friendswood Junior High student

During our trip to the George R. Brown Convention Center for the NMSA conference, I encountered some unique children. I was walking around watching the numerous attendees flock from one area to the next in a small group. My phone started to chime, though it took me a few minutes to realize it. It was my supervisor and current language teacher, Mrs. Wilkes, and that was definitely a good thing since I had absolutely no lead on what to do at that point. She beckoned me over to a group of children from a private school called the Monarch School. She then told me that these students have neurological differences.

I followed her to the people that were dressed in dark jade polo shirts with the school crest embroidered on to it. Mrs. Wilkes pulled a boy who was at or close to my age named Michael Zimmerer. He was very polite and willing to share what he knew, though it seemed he had a hard time remembering. I learned that their daily routines consist of the normal classes such as, mathematics, science, and language arts. But the interesting part is that they have a class called Executive Functioning. In this class they set goals in various areas like, of course, academics, but also in their relationships with others. My personal favorite thing was hearing about their "jug band," a program where the students create instruments from junk-like cans and such. This was quite similar to a competition I had taken part of for the last three years.

Another, named J.J. Smith, who seemed a few years older than me, confirmed all the above and that the kids also write for the Web site on a special committee. He said that at this school the teachers teach the kids and the kids teach the teachers by sharing ideas. Seeing these kids only confirmed the fact that this convention reaches out to all sorts of schools no matter what the background is or the level of technology used.

An example of a technology that can really change the way the average classroom is run is the Digitarium Planetarium System. This remarkable device has over 100 deep space stars, nebulas, and of course, the planets and their satellites. The software also includes artwork of famous constellations, which make telling their stories easier to tell. You can also start from any point on the earth giving equally accurate projections of both hemispheres.

Before I move on, the very best aspect of the system to me was the detailed star map, but to most it would be the fact that you walk into it, which would make it a kid magnet.

Schools don't only focus on academics, though the exhibit hall's items were mostly books, which is why they showcased products other than educational equipment. At the back of the hall was the ultimate gym toy. The almighty rock wall stood before me. In my mind, angels sang out with holy grace. My initial thought was that it was there purely for fun. But no, they actually sold these to schools. If we had one of these, every kid would never want to leave the gym. Ever.