Mark Twain Elementary School is the hub of a neighborhood community. Most students walk to school, many of them accompanied by their parents. Throughout the building, staff and students refer to the Big Four character traits: respect, responsibility, caring, and service. These core values have created a climate and culture where words such as “feels like a second home” are used to describe the ethos of the school. Dramatic improvements in academics, coupled with reductions in disciplinary referrals and bullying behavior, constitute evidence of the culture and climate change that has taken place here. As part of the Voluntary Transfer Program, 25 percent of the student body travels from urban St. Louis to the school every day; however, as noted by third-grade teacher Kim Staggs, “Students feel like they belong.” The Mark Twain pledge is recited by all students every morning. The last verse of the pledge, I will work hard each day to grow and learn, reminds students that the efforts they put forth are important.
Outreach: During their 2011-12 award year, Mark Twain staff gave numerous presentations, reaching over 300 educators.
Signature Practices
Lesson Plan: Celebrating Diversity with Elmer
This lesson is used at the beginning of the school year to promote tolerance of differences in the classroom and school. The teacher will read Elmer by David McKee (HarperCollins, 1989) to the class and the class will discuss how Elmer looks and acts different than the other elephants. They will also discuss the similarities. The teacher will guide a discussion of how the students in the class are the same and different. Students will decorate their own elephants and write about what makes their elephants special.
Lesson Plan: Enemy Pie
The purpose of this lesson is for the students to develop a sense of respect and responsibility of friendships. This lesson has cross-curricular components as it lends itself to the following curricular areas: Social Studies, Communication Arts, and Math (using measurements to create a recipe).
Lesson Plan: Fundraiser for Japan
Students in first and second grade suggested we do a fundraiser to support Japan after the earthquake. Students brought this idea to our Character Council, who set up the fundraiser. This activity was used to find facts about Japan and the earthquake to share on the morning broadcast. The ideas in this activity can be modified with different websites for other types of fundraisers.
Lesson Plan: Persuasive Letter Writing to Solve Problems
Students will practice persuasive writing as they try to solve a problem that they have encountered at school, home, or in their community.
Lesson Plan: Researching Countries Helped by the Shoeman Project
Our school decided to participate in the Shoeman Project. For this project, we collected shoes to donate. Students sold these shoes by the pound or donated to those who needed them. Then the money was used to buy well-digging rigs for countries where clean water is scarce. Specifically, the Shoeman Project supports people in Kenya and Haiti. This lesson taught students about these countries and compared them to the United States.
Contact Information
Mrs. Karen SmithPrincipal
8636 Litzsinger Road Brentwood, MO 63144
Phone: 314-962-0613 x. 5011
Email: ksmith@brentwood.k12.mo.us
Website: www.brentwood.k12.mo.us/marktwain/index.html