Campbell students benefit from experience of veteran teacher

     Armed with the state’s Standard Course of Study written in the language of Kindergartners, veteran teacher Martha E. Doane gave Dr. Carolyn Morrison’s elementary education students the benefit of 45 years of teaching experience. Doane spoke to Morrison’s class at Campbell University recently.
     “The most valuable lesson I’ve learned throughout my teaching career is that you get more with honey than with vinegar,” said Doane, a teacher at Aldert Root Elementary School in Raleigh. “Don’t tell students what they’ve done wrong; ask them what they can do to make the classroom environment better.”
     As full of enthusiasm as on her first day of class, Doane, who was hired by Morrison when she was a principal at Root, emphasized several fundamentals of a successful classroom. First, she uses author Steven Covey’s seven habits of effective people as a blueprint for class behavior. She makes use of positive reinforcement items such as buttons with messages like “Good Job” or “Outstanding Student.” She ensures that her students take ownership in their own achievements, for example, writing the Standard Course of Study in language they can understand. And she insists upon using imagination in the classroom.
     “Cultivate the children the way you would cultivate plants,” Doane said, wearing a gardening hat she helped Morrison’s students construct. “You must have a positive attitude all of the time. It’s so much easier to have the sun shinning.”
     Morrison, who first hired Doane in 1982, said she is a superb role model for pre-service teachers.
     “She is really, really creative. She loves the children and cares deeply for their success. And she is just bubbling with energy and purpose,” Morrison said.
     Established in 1985, the Campbell University School of Education offers teacher education licensure in elementary education, middle grades language arts, social studies, math, English, mathematics, biology, comprehensive social studies, music, physical education, French, Spanish, Family and Consumer Sciences and Birth to Kindergarten. Graduate programs are offered in elementary education, middle grades language arts, middle grades social studies, English, mathematics, comprehensive social studies, physical education, school counselor and school administration.

Photo Copy: Martha Doane, Kindergarten teacher at Aldert Root Elementary School in Raleigh, shared her secrets of effective teaching with Campbell University elementary education majors recently.