As the holiday season draws near teachers across Waller ISD (WISD) are working to keep students actively engaged in learning.

“Students are naturally excited about holiday traditions and stories,” WISD Elementary Chief of Schools Angie Davis said. “We love being able to use that excitement to fuel learning.”

At Turlington Elementary (TES), kindergartners studied the classic story, “The Gingerbread Man.” While reading several versions of the story throughout the week teachers led students through discussions about the similarities and differences in each one.

“We talk about how the characters change and the different ways the fox tricks the gingerbread man,” Turlington ES (TES) Kindergarten Team Lead Celeste Crawford said.

Other campus leaders enjoy getting involved as well. TES Principal Kristen Eckerman visited Crawford’s class to read “The Gingerbread Girl” and Counselor Brigitte Schmidt read “Gingerbread Pirates.”

To drive home the learning, classes talk about how they might decorate a gingerbread house. At the end of the week, thanks to parent involvement, students have the opportunity to do just that.

“It is such an enlightening experience to see the children work hard to put frosting on their houses and then see them be so precise in placing their decorations,” Crawford said. “Throughout the week we discuss all the different ways they could decorate but, in the end, I love to see their individual creativeness.”

The enrichment activity could not be done without the help of family members.

“Not all parents can come, but they all help by sending items,” Crawford said. “Family interaction is so important as we work together to help all our kids learn throughout the school year.”

The Gingerbread House Day is an annual TES student favorite and a great family bonding activity.

“Being involved in your child’s school activities shows them that education is important AND fun,” another teacher added.

You can’t catch these kindergartners! They are excited about learning!

“It’s inspiring to see how much they have grown already this school year,” Eckerman said. “I look forward to seeing how much they accomplish in 2019!”