Berea Middle’s Rod Storm Receives $2,000 Voya Unsung Heroes Grant
Rod Storm, a sixth grade English Language Arts teacher at Berea Middle School, recently received a $2,000 Voya Unsung Heroes Grant. Storm is among 100 finalists to win the prestigious monetary award that recognize exemplary teaching methods and techniques that improve learning.
Storm’s innovative teaching idea, “Scripting Our Future," is a project to develop and refine skills in students using a hands-on, lab-based approach to writing and thinking. This project targets students who have performed poorly on standardized tests in the areas of reading and writing, and uses video production as a method of motivation.
Students will plan, organize, research, write, edit, and produce video presentations for the entire school population on a regular basis. Standards in reading and writing will be addressed in this semester-long project-based plan to raise student performance and develop students’ technology skills.