Teamwork teaching: Jackson school uses Encore concept to weave extras into curriculum

Although Jackson's East Elementary School has been open only since the fall, it already has found ways to link lessons across the curriculum.

Jessica Maxwell, who previously served as principal of South Elementary, brought a concept called Encore to her new job that creates collaboration between music, art, library, physical education and counseling teachers for the 432 students in grades K through 5.

"It takes a team effort," she said.

Every Wednesday, the Encore teachers get together to catch up on each other's lesson plans and find any links they can to what they will be presenting in class. Once they've identified common topics, they make sure to show students how a given point applies in different disciplines.

The teachers also have a Google document they ask other teachers to update so everyone is aware what their colleagues have coming up and they can all work together to drive their points home.

Gavin Shinn and his classmates listen to art teacher Lacey Job explain the art lesson Tuesday at Jackson East Elementary School in Jackson.Fred Lynch

"So if they're talking about Native Americans, (students) might do some weaving," Maxwell said.

That extra step in the learning process is meant to enrich what students already are required to learn by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

While each day of the week is dedicated to a different subject, part of the Encore program includes a monthly "mass" class in which students from each grade level are gathered in the school gymnasium for a special activity that further enhances the prevailing topic.

Previous mass classes have included representatives from the Missouri Department of Conservation, who talked about mammals and showed students examples of different kinds of animals. Another time, a Southeast Missouri State University art professor brought a potter's wheel and showed the children how to make ceramic jack-o'-lanterns for Halloween.

At a monthly assembly that focused on Veterans Day, students heard from members of the National Guard, who showed them their gear and talked about their jobs.

Leah Amelunke watches Yaidan Alvarez place his finished painting onto the drying rack in Lacey Job's art class Tuesday at Jackson East Elementary School in Jackson.Fred Lynch

Next month, the kids will get to see a mini-performance by dance students from Southeast.

"It's important to see teachers working with community members in helping students be successful," Maxwell said.

Becca Sides, the music teacher in the Encore program, said the group has given teachers a great way to collaborate more, because they all came from different schools to teach at East Elementary. It's also given students something especially fun to look forward to each month.

"I think they really love it," she said.

Meredith Pobst, director of communications for the Jackson School District and its foundation, said the program is inspired by the larger effort to get members of the community more involved in local schools.

"Mass class is kind of like a reverse field trip. It's a way to bring people in instead of busing (students) out," she said.

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