TEACHER'S CORNER: AMERICA'S `FRUITED PLAIN' TAKES ON NEW MEANING

LEOPOLD -- Angela Carlisle assigned her second grade students to illustrate scenes from the song "America the Beautiful." While overseeing their efforts, she noticed one child drawing pictures of fruit falling from an airplane.

"I was sure he had misunderstood the assignment until he explained he was drawing the `fruited plane,'" Carlisle said.

Such is the case with second graders. Carlisle loves it. "Teaching early elementary grades is very gratifying. Children this age are eager to learn. It is very rewarding to see the sense of accomplishment they display when they grasp a concept or complete a task that has been causing problems for them," she said.

Carlisle was born, raised and attended school in Leopold. She has been teaching at Leopold schools for 32 years.

"Upon graduation from SEMO University, I came back to teach in my hometown," she said. "Some advised me not to do this, but to me the advantages have far outweighed the disadvantages."

This year, for example, she had taught at least one parent and in many cases both parents of all but one child in her class. "To me, knowing a child's family background is a distinct advantage," she said.

The biggest change Carlisle has seen in 32 years of teaching has been the number of teaching and learning aids available.

"The use of computers, VCRs, laser video discs, films, etc. have helped tremendously in making learning more enjoyable for children," she said.

This year the Electronic Bookshelf System was added to her second grade classroom. The children read a book and then take a computer quiz to get credit for a book report.

Carlisle said over half of students in her class have passed over 100 quizzes. Many have completed 200.

Carlisle and her husband Joe have four daughters. Two hold teaching degrees.