TEACHER'S CORNER: TEACHING ONE SUBJECT TO FOURTH-GRADERS TO HER LIKING

Veteran elementary school teacher Jeannie McCord is enjoying her newest teaching method.

McCord, who teaches fourth grade at Jefferson Elementary School, is teaching in a departmentalized program for the first time this year. Departmentalization, which usually occurs in the older grades, allows elementary teachers freedom to choose a subject and teach all of the children on the grade level.

The benefit is great for teachers because they expand their work in an area of interest, while students benefit from working with different teachers, she said.

"I enjoy exchanging children because that way I get to know all of the fourth-graders," said McCord. "I chose to teach all of the math objectives because that's an area I really enjoy."

McCord, who has taught second, third and fourth grades in the past 13 years, said she uses a hands-on approach with her students. "We use everything from buttons to beans to figure out our math problems," she said. "I try to teach the children the process is just as important as their answers."

She also uses local newspapers to teach students in every subject area. "Not only can we learn about the current events, but we search for and cut out verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs etc.," she said.

McCord and her husband, Steve, have been married for almost 10 years. They have three children: Jennifer, 16, Shelby Kate, 6, and Carson, 2. She is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Jackson and enjoys shopping, running, softball and BUNKO. Spending time with her family and friends is very important, she said.