School of Education Spices Up Students' Summer with Hot TAMaLE

by Lori Fogleman, director of media relations, (254) 710-6275

Students from three Waco ISD campuses are spicing up their summer through a new multidisciplinary enrichment program at Baylor University called "Hot TAMaLE," which stands for Technology, Art, Math and Literacy Everywhere.

Second- through eighth-graders from J.H. Hines Elementary, Provident Heights Elementary and G.L. Wiley Middle School have been spending their weekday afternoons in June on the Baylor campus, reading good stories, incorporating technology, having fun with math and creating artistic masterpieces. The Hot TAMaLE program hopes to nurture knowledge gained in the classroom throughout the school year in a summertime environment that is fun and hands on.

The summer enrichment program is a collaboration between Baylor and the McLennan County Young Collaboration (MCYC) and is funded by a Lighted Schools 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant through the Texas Education Agency.

This week, Wiley Middle School students in grades 6-8 are meeting from 1:15 to 4:45 p.m. in room 211 (math education lab) on the second floor of the Draper Academic Building on the Baylor campus.

The afternoon involves reading/writing from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., math from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and art from 3:30 to about 4:30 p.m. Wiley students also are reading the book, "Small Steps," by Louis Sachar, the author of the Newbery Medal-winning "Holes." "Small Steps" continues the story of Armpit, one of the memorable characters in "Holes."

The week with the Wiley students will end on Tuesday, June 27, with a Parent Night from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., where parents can observe their children's work.

"We believe in rewarding our students with encouragement from us, as well as from their families," said Dr. Randy Wood, professor of curriculum and instruction and one of the lead teachers of the Hot TAMaLE program.

Wood is assisted by Caleb Bales, an undergraduate art education major; and Brittney Murphy, a graduate student in the curriculum and instruction department. Dr. Trena Wilkerson, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, serves as the math consultant for the program.

The program began on May 31 with a group of students from J.H. Hines Elementary in grades 2-4, and continued on June 7 with fourth- and fifth-graders from Hines and on June 14 with second- and third-graders from Provident Heights Elementary. The Wiley students will wrap up the Hot TAMaLE program.

Wood said Baylor is working with the Waco community to expand the program to include more schools next summer. The program already has received support from incoming Waco ISD Superintendent Roland Hernandez, who visited with Waco Hot TAMaLE students on June 21.

For more information, contact Wood at (254) 710-4944 or (254) 717-1471.