Pickett K-8 Summer Learning Camp Combined Education And Fun

Pickett County K-8 summer learning camp ends Thursday after four weeks of education and fun.

Principal Julia Barber said school staff used a combination of field trips and online and classroom learning to close the learning loss gap.

“We took our reading post test yesterday, and I am very pleased when I looked over them last night when I got home,” Barber said. “And I have a good feeling about the math, as well.”

Barber said about 50 students participated in the state-funded learning camps. Barber said teachers utilized laptops and online programs to help with reading.

“I’ll give you an example of a 3rd grade classroom,” Barber said. “The teacher was doing a read out loud. She was reading a story and the kids were listening along and had a thing on their desk to take notes. The teacher would stop and ask questions to get them thinking, and then, she would let the online component finish reading to them. (…) They would then do individual work and come back together and do cooperative learning groups from what they learned online.”

Barber said at the end of each week, school staff planned special activities such as visiting Cordell Hull State Park to give students a goal to reach.

“We had guest speakers like the fire department,” Barber said. “One of our own employees came in and talked to the students about her time in the service and brought things in to talk to them. We took a trip to Cordell Hull and spent the whole day down there, and they got to experience Bunkum Cave.”

Barber said overall, the summer learning camp was a great experience. Barber said students celebrated Thursday with deserts and water activities to reward the hard work.

“After lunch, we are making ice cream. We are making s’mores,” Barber said. “We have water balloons. We are doing an egg test and we have tons of water toys.”