TEACHER'S CORNER: MAY GREENE TEACHER PROMOTES HANDS-ON LEARNING

Becky Hicks had the unenviable job of breaking the news to one of her students that the eight crickets she brought to school were not the classroom pet praying mantis' babies; the crickets were its dinner.

Observing the praying mantis has given her second grade students at May Greene Elementary School an insight into nature and learning, said Hicks.

"In the classroom, I like to have the children involved in the learning process," she said. "On the first day of school this year, we set up a terrarium for a praying mantis. The students have been very interested in this insect as they provided the home it now lives in."

And good news for the youngster worried about babies; recently the praying mantis made an egg sac.

"This tied in with our science unit about how insects and animals hide to protect themselves," Hicks said. "We do lots of hands-on activities in science, math and where it fits in, as it helps the students retain the material better."

Hicks added that reading aloud is also important for children. "I spend at least 15 minutes a day reading aloud to my students, and by their response, I know they look forward to that time every day."

As the oldest of five children, Hicks said she can't remember a time when she wasn't teaching something to her younger siblings.

"Whether they wanted to or not, I made them my class and I was their teacher. I found I was always involved in teaching, whether it was tutoring my peers, teaching Sunday School classes or working with the children I baby-sat," she said. "It only seemed natural to become a certified teacher once it became time to make a career choice."

Hicks took 15 years off from teaching to raise her own four children. This is her first year back as a classroom teacher.

"The most gratifying part of my job is when I see that a child has that recognition of `I can do this!' That makes all the time and efforts on my part worthwhile," Hicks said.

She graduated from Valparaiso University with a bachelor of science degree in education.

She and her husband, Jim Hicks, have four children, Jessica, 17, a senior at Central; Andrew, 15, a sophomore at Central; Anna, 12, a seventh-grader at L.J. Schultz; and Bethany, 11, a fifth grader at Alma Schrader.

In her spare time, Hicks enjoys cross stitching, reading and watching old musicals. She is involved with FISH volunteers and serves as librarian for her church library.