Brook Elementary students tell Byesville Rotary they like learning with “BrainPOP”

Pictured: Shelly Sowers, Principal of Brook Elementary, Brook students—Logan Mott, Emma Johnston, Austin Vannoy, and Brady McMann; and Chuck Fair, President Elect, Byesville Rotary.

Announcement: Add this date to your calendar: Tuesday, April 1, 6:00pm at Denny's--Byesville Rotary will be holding an evening social at Denny's Hartley Room. Invite a friend or your spouse or both. The meal is BYOM (buy your own meal). The meal is optional. You are welcome to come and just socialize.

Byesville Rotary helped Brook Elementary purchase BrainPOP, a computer app, produced by a team of educators, animators and writers, which draws students into active learning. The app is available to each of the 450 students attending Brook.

In the past, Byesville Rotary chose to promote student literacy by purchasing a dictionary for each 4^th grader in the Rolling Hills School District. This year, the club decided to contribute toward the purchase of this new learning tool which is already in use by 20% of U.S. schools.

Shelly Sowers, principal of Brook Elementary which serves about 450 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th graders, told club members that this new computer software provides more opportunities for learning than the dictionary. The app can be used by all the students and teachers at Brook Elementary, and students and teachers can also use it 24/7 from home.

Sowers pointed out that the 24/7 access came in handy during snow days. BrainPOP assignments were included in the student’s “blizzard bags.”

BrainPOP has a wealth of information about all curricular areas such as science, social studies, English, mathematics, engineering and technology, health, and arts and music. Animated characters in short videos help introduce new topics and illustrate complex concepts. The app also allows teachers and students keep a record of learning accomplishments through quizzes, game play, and activities

Several 4^th graders from Brook and their parents were eager to let Rotary members know how much they liked this new learning app. Emma Johnston said that the “…videos were cool” and taught a lot about class lessons. Brady added that he thought the “…games were cool but educational and BrainPOP included quizzes.” Austin Vannoy reported that the “Videos have activity sheets,” and Logan Mott reported that the students can use the app with Smart Books, I-Pads, and Netbooks.

Sowers told club members they were welcome to visit Brook and see first-hand how BrainPOP is being used to promote learning. Many teachers use the app at least once a week. Additionally, because it contains an arts unit, the app helps teachers bring art instruction into the classroom.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chair Jim Vaughan, 740-260-2969. More information about the Byesville Rotary can be found at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283