Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, November 22, 1993                   TAG: 9311230028
SECTION: NEWSFUN                    PAGE: NF3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

When Mary Cornwell's pupils at Macy McClaugherty in Pearisburg conduct scientific investigations, they go about it, well, scientifically. They start by identifying what they want to learn from their investigation. Then the pupils make their pre-experiment observations, conduct their investigation, make comparisons and record the outcome.

That's probably what happens in most science classes, but Cornwell's pupils are first-graders. "Some people think first grade is too young to learn about scientific investigations, but I don't," she said. "I love to have them discover facts for themselves."

Cornwell, an avid promoter of art and music in school, has started a first-reader program this year. Children are rewarded for the amount of time they spend reading or being read to outside of school. "I never wanted to spend much time reading until I was in Mrs. Cornwell's class," said the pupil who nominated her.

Cornwell is married and the mother of a 16-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter. She says she loves reading, cooking and living in Giles County.

If you have a nomination for Teacher of the Week, send the name of the nominee, his or her school and why you think that teacher should be honored. Include your name, telephone number and school and send to NewsFun, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010-2491. The Science Museum of Western Virginia will award each Teacher of the Week a gift certificate for $50 to be spent at the museum's Teacher Resource Center.