Thursday, November 09, 2006

Belvoir teacher honored for classroom creativity

By Stacy Sneed
Staff writer

Dancing and singing into the hearts of students, Fort Belvoir Elementary School kindergarten teacher Nancy Lexo is creatively enhancing learning in the classroom. Because of her unique approach to teaching, the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts in Reston, Va., recently recognized Lexo for her outstanding initiatives with the Wolf Trap Teacher Award.

The Wolf Trap Institute was founded in 1981 and provides arts-in-education services for children ages three to five, their teachers, and their families. Through the “disciplines” of drama, music, and movement they enrich the professional development of teachers; engage young people in active, creative, learning experiences; energize efforts to bring parents together in the classroom; and enliven the atmosphere in the classroom.

Last year, one of the institute’s teachers, Michelle Valeri, joined Lexo to develop a learning program for Lexo’s integrated classroom (special needs and general education students).

“It’s such a neat and wonderful program,” Lexo said excitedly. “I always wanted to be a part of the program, so when I got the opportunity, I jumped at it.

“It’s such a great connection with the special needs kids and all the children involved. It’s something about the music that’s repetitive that the students enjoy.”

Lexo, who has been in education for 20 years and at Fort Belvoir Elementary for five years, said Valeri taught her a way to be a bit more creative with her students. Valeri would come to the classroom for about 30 minutes and do actual lessons and lesson plans, but with a story or possibly even a song.

“This experience was a like a training program for me, too,” said Lexo. “It was sort of a lesson with musical instruments, showing the kids how they could get involved in storytelling, how to do dramatic reenactments of stories, and just how to make learning fun with the use of props and such.”

She said the most interesting thing was learning to connect with her autistic children and reaching out to them through music.

“The autistic children communicate differently. It’s more like a communication disorder … how they hear sounds and their sensory perception is different,” Lexo explained. “It’s a social disorder … they have their own world. But this program is a way for them to connect. Even my little boy in the wheelchair participated. It’s just something about the music that gets people to the core. It meant a lot to the students and it was on their level.”

Within just a few months Valeri could see Lexo’s obvious dedication, love, and the creative way she connected with her students. Soon, Lexo’s name was chosen amongst 200 participants with only 20 people receiving awards. Only a few of those 20 were teachers from Fairfax County.

Lexo displays her award in her Fort Belvoir Elementary kindergarten classroom as a reminder of what she can achieve and how she can make learning fun for all her students.