E.A.G.L.E. Summer Program
Education, Activities, Goals, Leadership, Excellence

Two students “ cold read” to increase fluency and speed during a WASL Wednesday.

Activities that apply academics to the real world was the emphasis for this year’s E.A.G.L.E. (Education, Activities, Goals, Leadership, Excellence) Summer Program held at Lakeside Middle School. Developed by our Youth and Community Specialist, Mrs. Jeana Vierra, and Summer School Principal, Mr. Kevin Simpson, the four day a week program engaged students K - 12 in learning activities that included community field trips with an educational focus. Interspersed were some “just for fun” enrichment activities.

Students were divided into three multiage groups: K - second grade, taught by Mrs. Lorie Jones; third - fifth grade taught by Mrs. Karen Shoop-Swanson, and the sixth through high school students taught by Mrs. Jeana Vierra (Reading and Writing) and Mr. Jim Herling (Math). Every Wednesday was a “WASL Wednesday” in which WASL stems and learning modules were introduced with an emphasis on tips to achieving better results.

With her younger students, Mrs. Jones created an original Alphabet Wall Chart. Students added words with pictures to help develop alphabet, spelling, and vocabulary. Popsicles were the subject of several math activities involving a survey. Color matching was done by correlation to flavors; predicting was accomplished when the class determined which flavor would win the survey; and estimating involved the question “how many people did we ask?” Graphing was introduced by placing the results in a simple, color-coded bar graph. Each student also had a folder to work on individualized skills at their own skill level. Social skills were emphasized and field trips to Lake Spokane Elementary to participate in Mr. Lou Gattman’s day camps were a part of this group’s activities as well.

Mrs. Shoop-Swanson’s third through fifth graders worked on reading, writing, and math through large and small group activities. Individualized folders were also a part of this group’s learning activities; journaling to explain their thinking and how they solved problems was emphasized. This group also participated in the trips to Mr. Gattman’s day camps.

To begin their morning, the older students worked on Critical Thinking activities twice per week. This involved questions that promoted intensive problem solving skills. From there they broke into focus groups: reading and writing with Mrs Jeana Vierra and/or math with Mr. Jim Herling. These students in particular went on field trips into the community to apply what they had been learning. For instance, Mr. Herling taught a formula that can be used for both determining rocket trajectory and the height of trees. Model rockets were built and launched, and this formula was used to figure trajectory. Then, the students went for a day of Forestry and Environmental Science to the Dishman-Mica Natural Area. There, they factored the height of trees using the same formula as they had for the rockets’ trajectories.

Not only were the students given time for “just for fun” activities, they were introduced to some life-long sports. Mrs. Joy Murphy taught an archery unit, and many of the program participants enjoyed fishing while on a field trip to Bear Lake. This summer, the many rich community resources we have close by have provided a “real world” classroom for these students to apply their knowledge.