"I believe that it is essential for teachers to see themselves as learners, to be observant and skilled guardians, and to be well-versed in developmentally appropriate educational practices and theories," says Bonnie Cecil, who teaches a multi-age, first through third grade class at J. Graham Brown Elementary School in Louisville. In her class, Ms. Cecil combines cooperative learning strategies with a curriculum that is generated by student interest, in an effort to establish an atmosphere that is suitable to different abilities. By giving students a sense of control over their own learning and by exposing them to methods that emphasize "process over product," Ms. Cecil hopes to teach her students critical thinking and self-evaluating skills. Ms. Cecil has also taught language arts for preservice teachers and has presented papers on literacy at National Council of Teachers of English conferences.
