VERNON HILLS, IL, August 16, 2004 — ETA/Cuisenaire—the
industry leader in interactive literacy programs and manipulative-based
education—announced today that Genie McMillan, kindergarten
teacher at Center Point Elementary School in Birmingham,
Alabama, is the Grand Prize winner of the Magnificent Classroom
Makeover for Kindergarten contest. Ms. McMillan’s
classroom will receive the ultimate literacy facelift,
including books, hands-on materials, and professional development
to help teachers in her school enhance their literacy instruction.
To qualify for the Magnificent Classroom Makeover, contest
entrants were required to submit a brief essay explaining
why they felt their kindergarten classrooms needed a makeover
and how their students would benefit. According to Linda
Rourke, Director of Reading at ETA/Cuisenaire, Ms. McMillan’s
kindergarten classroom was chosen among the numerous entries
because, "Ms. McMillan is a highly qualified teacher
who knows the importance of kindergarten intervention,
but is working with limited resources."
As the Grand Prize Winner, Ms. McMillan’s classroom
will receive the Learning Place® for Kindergarten
Literacy, valued at over $4,400. As part of the makeover,
she and her colleagues will also win a day with kindergarten
and early literacy specialist, Miriam Trehearne, author
of the Comprehensive Literacy Resource for Kindergarten
Teachers recently published by ETA/Cuisenaire. Ms.
Trehearne’s professional book is being heralded as
the definitive resource linking research and assessment
to instruction, providing everything new and experienced
teachers need to promote early literacy success.
According to Ms. McMillan, "Winning the Magnificent
Classroom Makeover for Kindergarten contest makes a tremendous
difference in not only my classroom, but our whole school!
Center Point Elementary School is working so hard to fully
implement the Alabama Reading Initiative—having all
students reading on level by second grade. The makeover
will provide us with the tools we need to make this happen
for years to come!"
Additional contest winners were
Robert Winters of Dennis School in Decatur, Illinois and
Linda Williams of Gocio Elementary School in Sarasota ,
Florida. Both runners-up will receive product prize packages
of books and materials for teaching early literacy from
ETA/Cuisenaire. Due to the overwhelming number of imaginative
entries received, additional prizes for "Most Creative
Entry" were
awarded to four kindergarten teachers around the U.S. to
recognize their inspiring submissions.
About ETA/Cuisenaire
ETA/Cuisenaireis recognized as the premier publisher and pioneer of Interactive
Literacy and manipulatives-based education, with more than 8,000 supplemental
reading, math, and science resources. Aligned to state and national standards,
these products offer hands-on educational opportunities that make learning
fun for students and teaching more effective for educators. For
more information, visit www.etacuisenaire.com or
call 800-445-5985.
For more information, press only:
Londa Della 800-445-5985, ext. 5219,
About the Comprehensive Literacy Resource
for Kindergarten Teachers
In the
Comprehensive
Literacy Resource for Kindergarten Teachers, written
by Early Literacy Specialist Miriam P. Trehearne, educators
will find all they ever wanted to know about kindergarten
literacy and how to teach it effectively! Practical, yet
research-based, the book provides clear, concise explanations
of both the "how" and
the "why" of early literacy learning. Each
chapter is organized around three core principles of
good first teaching: research, assessment, and linking
assessment to instruction. Easy-to-follow lessons are
supplemented by handy blackline masters for student activities,
observation checklists, assessments, and more. This book
also includes a bibliography and a model parent workshop.
Cuisenaire and Learning Place are
registered trademarks of ETA/Cuisenaire.
