LAKEWOOD – You can't spend 30 seconds in Debbie Lawson's first- and second-grade combined class without being amazed by her creativity.
We were greeted by her students singing a song they learned just for us. The lesson that day was how to write a "super sentence," and, of course, her puppets helped out.
One puppet was "Colorful Claire" who taught them to use colorful and descriptive words. The creativity never stops.
Ms. Lawson has been an inspiration at Hutchinson Elementary School in Lakewood for more than 20 years.
The parents of one of her students nominated her for 9Teachers Who Care because of the impact she had on their son. Regina English says he struggled before Ms. Lawson started working with him.
"I think she has a wonderful gift for making kids feel good about themselves", she said. "And for kind of drawing out their strengths, and I think the kids love that."
Some teachers might cringe at teaching a combined first- and second-grade class, but not Ms. Lawson. She took the challenge and made it into something creative and special.
She has the second graders mentor the younger students.
"The first graders provide that joy of learning", she said. "They just come in ready to go and get everybody fired up. And then the second graders are my leaders, and they work with the first graders and on their own because I want to challenge them."
It works, and you can tell by the smiles on the kid's faces, and by how well spoken they are when you talk to them.
Congratulations Ms. Lawson for being chosen a 9Teachers Who Care award winner.
To nominate someone for 9Teachers Who Care, visit: http://on9news.tv/1HJ9ZhI.
(KUSA-TV © 2015 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)
