TEACHER'S CORNER: TEACHING LEADS TO ERUPTION OF LEARNING BY FOURTH-GRADERS

SCOTT CITY -- Learning is explosive in Bobbie Tomlinson's fourth-grade class at Scott City Elementary School.

As part of history assignments, Tomlinson's students have erupted a student-made volcano model, made salt maps and Missouri notebooks.

"I'm thoroughly enjoying this since history was my favorite subject in school," Tomlinson said, adding that she also uses the newspaper for various social studies activities.

As part of a team-teaching effort at the school, Tomlinson teaches social studies to three sections of fourth-grade students. The other teachers concentrate on English and science.

Tomlinson has been teaching for 29 years. "I was influenced to choose teaching as a profession by my father who was a high school science teacher and later became a school administrator," she said. "I have several other relatives who are either retired or active educators, including a sister who teaches court reporting."

Working with young people is rewarding but can sometimes be stressful, she said.

"Young people are our future," Tomlinson said. "I feel that parents and teachers should help children develop a strong work ethic. In my opinion, it is important for students to realize that learning is sometimes fun but that most of the time it is very hard work and requires maximum effort."

One of the fun learning experiences students had was during a visit from then-Gov. John Ashcroft.

"My class was invited to meet the governor when he visited a tree farm owned by the parents of one of my students," Tomlinson said. "At the time, we were writing books as a class project. Each student contributed to a special book that was presented to the governor. He later sent us a very nice thank you letter and an autographed picture taken with the class at the farm."

Tomlinson is a member of the Missouri Teachers Association, Scott City Teachers Association, Alpha Delta Kappa and the Honorary Sorority for Women Educators. She earned a master of arts in education from Southeast Missouri State University.