What else would an ex-mascot like Lorenzo Arredondo choose as a classroom theme but…FOXES? From fox pictures, to fox stuffed animals, to fox paw prints, the entire room has that fox spirit. This spirit is also reflected in this web site.

Lorenzo also encourages students to think about the future and what career they would like to pursue one day. Students are sometimes surprised to hear than an adult is taking an active interest in what they want to do years from now. Lorenzo’s room includes a wall of kid-drawn careers that serve as a constant reminder that these children will have a very important choice to make one day. In addition to year-round fox and career themes, Lorenzo has played Survivor with the two fourth grade classes he has taught.

Fourth graders in Texas are given state tests over language, mathematics, and reading. Starting immediately after the final Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test in reading, the state’s tests, the ultimate in year-end reviews begins.

Survivor: Arredondo, as the game is called, is not just fun and games–it is a fourth grade review of concepts that were taught throughout the year. Rather than just handout worksheet after worksheet to assess student understanding, Survivor: Arredondo follows the hit television show by splitting the class into two tribes that compete in math, science, history, etc. The tribes compete in different events to remain in the game, before the two tribes merge and become one tribe.

Day by day the losing tribe of students vote one of their own tribe mates out of the game. As the year ends, and the game draws to a close, the students are reminded of how much they’ve learned this year and how close the class has become! The winner, by the way, walks away from fourth grade with a special prize. One previous winner has won a personal CD player with remote, while another has claimed a movie gift pack that included popcorn, candy, rentals from Blockbuster Video, and a movie ticket for Tinseltown Theaters! Learning pays off!

Room Photos:
Click thumbnails for larger version.