Betty Brown teaches third and fourth graders at Richfield Elementary School in Corning. "For the last 24 years, multi-grade rural education has been of major interest to me", says Mrs. Brown. In recent years, the traditionally agricultural community where she teaches has seen urban commuters steadily replacing local farmers. In an effort to highlight the importance of agriculture, Mrs. Brown has designed an integrated curriculum that includes field trips, hands-on activities and the participation of local farmers and guest speakers. Known as "Agriculture Thru the Seasons", the curriculum introduces students to agricultural methods and issues, both past and present. During "1840s-1850s Week", another program created by Mrs. Brown, fourth grade students pretend that they belong to a different era, dressing in period costumes, reading the literature of the time and becoming acquainted with bygone crafts, artifacts, food and games. Parent and community involvement provide an important feature of this yearly event.
1956 California State University - Chico, B.A.
