Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Friday, March 27, 2009

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Winburn seventh-grader Tyler Williamson shows his little brother Shawn the waterfall in his classroom-turned-science museum.

Winburn Middle School teemed with proud families toting cameras as kids celebrated their accomplishments in the spring Academic Showcase. 

At the end of one corridor, a small crowd gathered to praise sixth-graders who had published original books. Several children were selected to walk the red carpet, sign their books and present them to the librarian for the school’s collection. 

Nearby, Ron Chi’s classroom had been transformed into a science museum, complete with learning stations and demonstrations. “We have to fire or trigger their minds on how a process works. They have to have a visual representation,” said Chi, who teaches seventh-grade science. 

Among the eye-catching projects were a rotating solar system suspended from the ceiling, a functioning volcano and an actual waterfall, which Tyler Williamson said was his favorite. Tyler’s little brother Shawn, a third-grader at Russell Cave Elementary, summed it up: “Whoa! This is awesome!” 

Also spotlighted during the March 26 showcase at Winburn were National History Day exhibits, Drama Club improvisation scenes, Science fair projects, art displays, band solos and ensembles, and coffeehouse poetry and story reading. 

Language arts teacher Cynthia Parker, who has a journalism background, spearheaded the book-publishing project. “Writing is something that’s kind of my passion. It was really cool to see kids engaged in writing. They just did a phenomenal job with it,” she said. 

Parker asked her 130 students to write a story about an event that had special meaning. One child chose the time a cousin was almost struck by a car; another recalled his first airplane flight. 

Laron Morbley wrote “Mall Confusion,” recounting the day he got lost in Fayette Mall during the busy holiday season. “I was looking at a toy and got separated,” he explained. A security guard reunited him with his family. 

Laron found clip art to illustrate his book. “I looked up ‘elevator’ for my cover and a ‘mad’ facial expression and a gloomy hallway,” he said. 

Classmate Jhaliyah Robinson’s story was also harrowing. In “The Step of Danger,” she told of the time she fell up some steps and fractured an ankle. “I just picked the (event) I knew the most about and that would be most interesting,” she said. 

Haven Shockley took a different tack with “Amy ‘Ed’ DeRose.” “It’s a bit of a memoir,” she said, about her best friend in Florida. “It seemed natural to me since I create stories in my head.” Haven also chose to create her own illustrations; “I actually freehanded all the pictures.” 

As part of the project, the kids wrote rough drafts, revised their work and had a deadline to meet. 

“This was truly real-life writing. It’s what authors go through,” Parker said. “Every kid had the opportunity to publish his own book,” she added. “We ended up with 60 who actually got done and got a copy of a hardbound published book.” 

Laron thought the project was well worth the effort. “Most schools should do it in case (students) want to be authors when they grow up,” he said.