Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Loper Teacher Brings Ford Museum Lessons to Classroom
ABOVE: Students in Mrs. Teresa Meredith’s fourth grade class at Loper Elementary participate in the Ford Museum for American Innovation’s Model i curriculum tasks. | submitted
Local students aren’t just learning about Henry Ford this year, they’re innovating like him, too. It’s all thanks to the Henry Ford Museum and Mrs. Teresa Meredith, who has been a museum Teacher in Residence this past year.
After a summer stint at the Dearborn, Mich. museum, Meredith brought the “Model i” - “i” for innovation - learning framework back to her Loper Elementary fourth grade class.
“We were encouraged to do a project or to find a way to include more innovation in our classes,” she said.
Of late, her students have been collaboratively considering the intersection of classroom layout and student needs, and pondering problems they discover. They first looked at classroom photos from the 1940s through the 1960s and discussed features in those spaces.
“They noticed there was no technology as they know it,” Meredith said. “They noticed the globes and maps hanging around the rooms. Today, we use technology and just Google the map we need, or a teacher assigns or shares a map digitally.”
Students also noticed the all-male engineering class photos and all-girl home economics classes, complete with sewing machines, stoves and sinks. They quickly noticed the rows of desks, opposed to the group seating in their Loper classroom. Students then discussed how these arrangements met the needs of students at the time before wandering their own classroom looking for areas needing improvement.
“The analyzing of our classroom and recommendations for the new space really had them talking. They were looking at photos of the new space in great detail, to the point of looking for the electrical outlets,” Meredith said.
They brainstormed in groups, shared and presented possible solutions to problems such as placement of the iPad cart and location of the pencil sharpener in a congested area of the room. Solutions were then presented to the class, walking through the steps of innovation. Only the last time, implementation, remains.
The lessons go beyond classroom layout.
“My students are growing in confidence and are beginning to understand the value in failing forward: failing, but not giving up, learning from failures and doing better moving forward,” Meredith said.
She applied for the Ford fellowship last year and was one of approximately 20 to be accepted, the only one from Indiana. She then spent three days in residence at the museum and Greenfield Village, where the cohort explored various curriculums and Model i lessons.
“My biggest take-away was a reminder of the importance of open-ended questions, of teaching students to try to solve problems, and when they fail, to keep working and trying,” she said. “I think we, students and educators alike, have become so test-driven, we have forgotten the value in teaching students to 'fail forward.' There is value in not giving up. That's where the learning occurs. When you persevere, keep trying, and with every fail and revision, you get closer to the answer or to the goal.”
Meredith said she appreciated being treated as an educational expert, and enjoys seeing positive results this year with students. She’s noticed they’re not as hesitant to consider open-ended questions and review and revise their work.
“Overall it was a very rewarding experience, professionally and personally,” Meredith said. “I'm so glad I said yes.”
NOTEBOOK:
Shelbyville High School girls basketball senior Ella Johnson, daughter of Curt and Amy Johnson, broke the program rebound record last night, grabbing 22 boards in a win over Rushville. Johnson, who had a double-double, broke her own record of 21 rebounds, which she set earlier in the season. Hannah Baker and Ava Wilson also scored in double digits. The Golden Bear boys won as well, 59-53, over Columbus East. The boys were led in scoring by Mar Nicholson (19), Caden Claxton (17) and Damon Badgley (11).
Several award-winning current Shelbyville High School students were published in the recent “Letters About Literature 2023” book, featuring letters to authors, written when the students were in Ms. Natalie Gearhart’s eighth grade honors English Language Arts class. Published students include Logan Addis, Maya Burgess, Tyler Gwinnup, Madeline Huntsman and Fraya Wasson. The Indiana Letters About Literature contest is a program of the Indiana Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress.
Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson yesterday commended the Shelbyville Police Department for their response to a mental health incident on Saturday. The department had received a 911 call from a male saying he was going to rob Speedway, 53 E. Broadway, assault a female working in the station with a knife and shoot any officers who arrived, SPD said in a press release. Officers responded and located a male in the 100 block of E. Polk St. holding a razorblade-style knife who was threating to kill himself and any officers on the scene. “Officers talked with the male for approximately an hour, attempting to calm the male down and to drop the knife,” the statement said. “The male refused to cooperate with officers and started to advance towards the officers while holding the knife. Due to the actions of this male, officers on the scene deployed a chemical agent, which did not stop the actions of the male. Officers then deployed a less lethal bean bag round, striking the male in the lower back, which stopped his advance. Officers were then able to gain control of the male and have him transported to MHP where he underwent a mental health evaluation.” Furgeson commended the officers for their “appropriate” response.
Republican Congressman Greg Pence yesterday announced he will not file for re-election. He has served the sixth district, which includes Shelby County, since 2018.
Police responded to an accident at E. Washington and S. Noble streets. A witness said she heard a noise from her residence and looked out of her window to observe the driver of a white box truck backing into a gold car, despite the car’s driver honking his horn. The driver of the box truck was cited for operating with expired plates, and the truck was towed. The driver of the car was cited for never receiving a license and operating without financial responsibility.
A semi-truck turning at the intersection of E. Michigan Road and E. State Road 44 struck a Honda CRV, knocking out the CRV’s tail light, but did not stop. Police were able to track down the semi driver, who said he was unaware of the accident.
Burglary was reported in the 100 block of E. Washington St., Shelbyville. Theft was reported in the 200 block of S. Harrison St.
NATIONAL NEWS: The teaching of cursive in public schools has gone in, then out, then back in style, and California is the latest state with a new law requiring cursive be taught as of January 1 for grades 1 to 6. As of 2016, just 12 states remained that mandated learning cursive as people questioned whether the writing style was rendered obsolete by digital writing. However, many states that had phased it out relented, and 11 states have restored cursive to their required curriculum. (Los Angeles Times / Numlock)
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This Day in Shelby County History
2014: The Morristown Town Council paid off the remaining $95,000 mortgage on town hall, saving $5,000 in interest.
2004: The number of new residential building permits - which included remodeling and renovation - in Shelbyville had been down from 189 in 2002 to 172 in 2003. New single-family building permits had decreased 8 percent.
1994: The Waldron Mohawks won the 1994 Shelby County Tournament. Team members were Brady Rife, Dustin Hartman, Nathan Sipes, J.R. Ross, Chris Stephens, Matt Kuhn, Mauri Sasher, Scott Stillabower, Jeb Stewart, T.J. Edwards, Jamie Redd and Chris Yeend. Cheerleaders were Rachelle Kappes, Anna Kay Montgomery, Carrie Mullins, Anita Cunningham and Stacy Huntsman. Ralph Lux and Bryan Buchanan were managers. Steve Cox was coach, and assistant coaches were Bob Mullen, Nick Lux, Curt Stephens and Rick Oliver.
The Triton Central girls won the Shelby County tournament. All-Tournament team members were Traci Childress, Jeni Woods and Julie Warnecke (Triton Central), Becky Fischer (Waldron) and Angie Smith (Morristown). Honorable mention were Candy McGaha and Kim Hamilton (Southwestern); Nancy Franke (Morristown), Lori Jackman (Waldron) and Brenda Ernst (Triton Central).
1984: The Shelby County Health Board said the city’s water was safe. The matter had surfaced after officials discovered that phenol combined with chlorine was causing a bitter, chemical-like taste in the city water supply.
1974: Firestone announced the local store would close at the end of January. The lease on their building at the corner of Washington and Pike streets, owned by Sandman Bros., had expired, Firestone store manager Bruce Terman said. There had been a Firestone store in Shelbyville for about 30 years.
The Board of Works discussed a developer’s plans for 132 apartment units on McKay Road and the Columbus pike, south of the high school. The three-story, X-shaped apartment building could be ready in a year, the developer said. The 5-acre tract at the southwest corner of McKay and Columbus roads was owned by Carroll Theobald, except a corner property owned by the Marathon Oil Co. Mayor Jerry Higgins and City Engineer John Soller, however, raised questions about storm water drainage and traffic congestion at the heavily-traveled McKay Road-S. Miller St. intersection.
1964: Bicycle license plates went on sale for 50 cents. City Council had previously passed an ordinance requiring the license plate for each bicycle. The ordinance also mandated a horn or bell. No sirens or whistles were permitted. A red reflector or red light on the rear fender was required. A headlight visible for 500 feet was mandatory if the bike was ridden at night.
1954: Over 8,500 postcards were mailed to Shelby County residents asking for donations to the county polio fund. John Haymond of Waldron was county director for the campaign.
Captain Howard Eichelsdoerfer, who grew up on W. Mechanic St., returned to active duty. He had been in a Korean prisoner of war camp for nearly three years.
1944: Local firefighters answered two alarms at the same time, a roof fire at 19 John St. and a minor fire at 228 Howard St. Upon returning to the station, they were summoned to a home regarding smoke in the basement, but there was no fire.
Although over 600 Hoosier drivers had been banned from driving in 1943 due to lack of car insurance following an accident, none lived in Shelby County. Following an accident, drivers were to complete a form showing “proof of financial responsibility.”
1934: A Temple Hill Mausoleum newspaper ad asked, “Why place your loved one in a cold, wet grave when you can have a clean, sanitary dry crypt at the Mausoleum?”
Shelbyville had been home to the first War Birds post organized in the world, the War Birds magazine reported. The organization promoted aviation. Those in the local post were Harold Carroon, Harry Sherritt, Wallace Ensminger, James Sullivan, Glen Mohler, Lee Barnes, James Mills, Charles Eades and George Hurst.
1924: Train service to Grand Central Station in Cincinnati from Shelbyville resumed. Heavy rains had caused the Ohio River to rise to a point of flooding the tracks into the station for several days. Locals could still go to Cincinnati; they just had to get off at Eighth Street and take the interurban.
A steam pipe burst in the basement of the National Five & Ten Cent store, “causing considerable excitement because of the steam and smoke,” The Republican said.
Earl Buck, who lived north of Shelbyville, filed for parole. He had been serving time for violating the liquor law, but the confiscated still had “mysteriously disappeared from the Shelby County jail, where it had been stored,” newspapers said. Buck cited the lack of evidence in his appeal.
1914: First Methodist Church officials announced the DePauw University choir was returning here for a concert. The choir had attracted a standing-room only crowd at the church the year before, and “many persons who desired to attend were unable to gain entrance,” The Republican said.
OBITUARIES
Jimmie H. Shafer, 76, of Waldron, passed away Sunday, January 7, 2024 at Waldron Health Care. Born February 14, 1947, in Shelbyville, he was the son of William H. Shafer and Dorothy Ellen (Cowins) Shafer. He married Bonnie (Holt) Shafer in May of 1971, and she preceded him in 1984. He then married Nancy (Folse) Shafer on July 26, 1997, and she survives. Other survivors include two children, Ronnie Harold Shafer of Waldron and Elizabeth Lou Lewis (husband Lloyd) of Flat Rock; three stepchildren, Nicole Chidester (husband Jim) of Wisconsin, Katrina Bergdahl (husband Raymond) of Indianapolis, and Joel Campbell Sr. (wife Deborah) of Indianapolis; two sisters, Peggy (Shafer) Crain of St. Paul and Crystal (Shafer) Shook of Waldron; two grandchildren, Braxton Savage and Bailey Savage; and five step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his spouse, Bonnie; daughter, Misty Shafer; and granddaughter, Chyanne Shafer; and his beloved dog, Brownie.
Mr. Shafer was a lifelong resident of this area and attended Waldron High School. He was a truck driver for Wheeler Corp., retiring after 40-plus years of service. He was a member of Waldron Baptist Church and American Legion Post #70, and was the union rep at Wheeler Corp. Jimmie enjoyed fishing and camping, his driving job at work, and spending time with family and friends.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Glenn E. George Funeral Home, 106 E. Franklin St., St. Paul, with burial in Van Pelt Cemetery. Friends may call on Saturday morning from noon until the time of the service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to OUR Hospice of South Central Indiana, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.