TEACHER'S CORNER: TEACHER HOPES TO GIVE STUDENTS ENJOYMENT

Starting to school was a wonderful experience for Drenna Burton.

"I think that's why I've always taught first grade or kindergarten," she said.

"My hope is that I have given my students an enjoyable `beginning' to school throughout these years."

For 21 years, Burton has welcomed children to the world of education through her classroom door.

She teaches kindergarten at Delta R-5 Elementary School. Prior to her job at Delta, she taught at Bell City for three years. She began teaching part-time in St. Louis.

She received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Lambuth University, Jackson, Tenn. and her master's degree from Southeast Missouri State University.

"Kids are naturally curious and enthusiastic," Burton said. "Beginning a new school year with a new group of children is always a little scary for them and for me, too.

"It's gratifying to hear things like, `I wish you would move up to my grade and be my teacher again.'"

To acquaint her students with other teachers and school personnel, Burton's students search for the Gingerbread Man.

"I read several versions of this popular children's book during the first few days of school," Burton said.

"Notes from him pop up all over the school building. We try to find him by searching the office, the lunchroom, the library, and also by asking the art, music and P.E. teachers if they have seen the Gingerbread Man.

"Imaginations run wild. The children have such a great time hunting and exploring that they forget to be afraid when it's time to go to another class like P.E. or music.

"The last day of the hunt we find a Gingerbread Man shaped into a cake and he becomes our snack."

Burton encourages visitors to come to her classroom.

"I think it's important for parents and grandparents to come and see what we are doing," she said.

Burton recalled an experience early in her teaching career.

"A very talkative little boy named John was talking to me while we were walking to lunch.

"I was only half-listening when John said, `And what do you think of that?' I replied, "That's nice, John.

"He practically yelled when he said, `That's nice that my television blew up last night?'"

"This experience certainly taught me a lesson about being a better listener."

When Burton started school, her school did not have a kindergarten. "Maybe I'm still a kid at heart," she said, "by going to kindergarten every year."

Burton is married to Don Burton, a heavy equipment operator and farmer. They have two children, Jennifer O'Reilly, a junior at Bell City High School, and Heather O'Reilly, a seventh-grade student at Bell City.

Burton enjoys crafts, reading, flower gardening, wallpapering, collecting antiques and walking.