Kathleen Weber, a second-grade teacher at N.O. Nelson School in Edwardsville, shares her classroom with a team of lead teachers, teaching assistants, parent volunteers and, last but not least, 200 puppets. I have integrated puppets into every aspect of my teaching, says Mrs. Weber, who uses puppets to enhance learning and focus students' attention on the subject. She has presented workshops on puppet-assisted techniques to educators at state and national conferences, and last summer she designed and taught a university-level course on the subject. To address the needs of the highly international community served by her school, Mrs. Weber has developed numerous multicultural activities and even welcomes parents into the classroom to learn English alongside their children. In 1984, Mrs. Weber was recognized as Illinois Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education.
