By Amy Wallot
amy.wallot@education.ky.gov

Tucked away in western Nelson County is Boston Elementary School. It serves about 300 kindergarten through 8th-grade students and was designated a Kentucky School of Highest-Performance for 2011-12. I stopped in for a visit to the school recently and saw a wide variety of learning. It was a fun visit highlighted with an unexpected activity during gym class.

Sixth-grade students got their hearts pumping during Nick Cravens’ gym class by hula hooping. Some of them found it was harder than it looked, while others experimented with multi hoops and tried hula hooping with various body parts. Music instructor Shawn Robinson led the middle school band during practice. They sounded pretty good. And the 3rd and 4th-grade students were using the school’s new Chromebooks in Kendra Faucett’s class. They were using the Lexia reading program that  helps their teacher determine their individual reading skills so she can tailor her lesson plans and give assistance where needed.

Sixth-grade student Paige Koch hula hoops using two hoops during Nick Cravens' gym class at Boston Elementary School (Nelson County).

Sixth-grade student Paige Koch hula hoops using two hoops during Nick Cravens’ gym class at Boston Elementary School (Nelson County).

Nick Cravens encourages 6th-grade student Lee Cranmer to keep practicing using the hula hoop during his gym.

Nick Cravens encourages 6th-grade student Lee Cranmer to keep practicing using the hula hoop during his gym.

Sixth-grade student Karli Van Vactor tries to twirl two hula hoops on her arms during gym class.

Sixth-grade student Karli Van Vactor tries to twirl two hula hoops on her arms during gym class.

Sixth-grade student Issac Cothern and 7th-grade student Adam Barnes put away their instruments after Shawn Robinson's band class.

Sixth-grade student Issac Cothern and 7th-grade student Adam Barnes put away their instruments after Shawn Robinson’s band class.

Shawn Robinson leads the middle school band during class. Robinson splits his time between three schools in the district.

Shawn Robinson leads the middle school band during class. Robinson splits his time between three schools in the district.

Third-grade student Kaci Bottoms works though the Lexia reading program for individualized skills.

Third-grade student Kaci Bottoms works though the Lexia reading program.

Kendra Faucett answers a question for 4th-grade student Sawyer Boone during her class. The students were using the Lexia reading program.

Kendra Faucett answers a question for 4th-grade student Sawyer Boone during her class. The students were using the Lexia reading program.