ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 5, 1996 TAG: 9602060037
SECTION: NEWSFUN PAGE: NF-3 EDITION: METRO
Diane Ribble wants to make sure her third-graders at Fort Lewis Elementary in Roanoke County move on to fourth grade with their writing skills honed.
"Writing is a life-long skill," Ribble said. "If you can't write, you're at a disadvantage before you ever start out in life. It's a basic communication skill you need to apply for college or for a job."
Ribble said the third-grade curriculum stresses writing, editing and proofreading skills. Her pupils participate in journal writing in addition to writing about historical characters and creative writing; and she tries to incorporate writing in all subject she teaches. The class recently finished a unit on folk tales where each wrote his or her own tale, printed it on the computer and illustrated it.
Ribble, an educator for 15 years, said she strives to bring out the best in each child she teaches. "I enjoy the differences in each child."
"I like Mrs. Ribble because she lets us make our own choices on whether to be good, and if one or two people are bad, she doesn't punish the whole class for it," said the pupil who nominated her.
Ribble, the mother of Tyler, 8, and John, 6, enjoys horseback riding, camping and painting.
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Diane Ribble/Third grade, Fort Lewis Elementaryby CNB