| Sydney, Australia, April 30, 2006 | | | | writing excel. This type of project, with a hands-on |
| An English teacher at Starr's Mill High is turning learning | | | | style, allow students who are kinesthetically inclined to |
| inside out by asking the students to create a quilt block | | | | "shine". |
| portraying either analysis of characters, explaining | | | | The brilliance of Gwen Thibadeau is that she has |
| themes or the author's message, ideas, beliefs or style. | | | | combined the reading, writing and kinesthetic nature of |
| The students are asked to work in groups to produce | | | | learning. |
| the quilt block. They have to create the design, explore | | | | Gwen came up with the idea of the quilting project |
| available sources and styles of fabric and materials. | | | | while in the bath tub - pondering ways to get a grant |
| The blocks are then put together by the teacher, | | | | through the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching |
| Gwen Thibadeau. | | | | Tolerance grant. |
| "Fortunately, most of the students took home | | | | Another spin off is that the quilts will be sold at a silent |
| economics in middle school and learned how to sew | | | | auction. There will be approx. 10 quilts raising in the |
| there. I gave them a quick refresher course on sewing | | | | order or $3000 - $4000. The students have nominated |
| and using the sewing machines, they ran with it," says | | | | several charities who they believe are deserving of |
| Thibadeau. | | | | the money raised. |
| Two of the books which have been represented by | | | | Gwen Thibadeau is truly a brilliant teacher. She has |
| quilts so far this year are "Fahrenheit 451" and "To Kill | | | | combined the learning skills of academically bright |
| A Mockingbird". Another quilt being worked on at the | | | | students and the artistically inclined students. She has |
| moment is based on the book "Romeo and Juliet". | | | | incorporated the encouragement of community spirit |
| The students love creating the quilts and actually beg | | | | and the giving to the less fortunate. She has also |
| to start another one. | | | | promoted the utilization of idle resources. |
| There are several spin-offs to this type of learning. | | | | Maybe other teachers may incorporate these skills into |
| Generally English is a subject where the high achieving, | | | | their curriculum be it Science, Maths, History or |
| analytical students who are good at reading and | | | | Geography. The ideas are boundless. |