Meet the Teacher: Daniel Hodge

What's the most innovative idea you've tried in your classroom? Towards the end of last year the children in my class took part in a thank you card writing project. Every Wednesday we would write letters thanking people for things other than presents and gifts. Over time children learned how to scribe a thoughtful letter by hand to show their appreciation for the people in their lives. After the first month we had delivered well over 100 "thank yous" to teachers, staff, parents, friends, and many other members of our community.

Tell us about the best teacher you ever had and what made him or her  special? My mother, Ginny McNabb, retired last year from Fair Oaks Elementary in Cobb County. Even though I was never in her class, I learned more from her teaching than any of her children ever would. She taught me how to listen to children, and how to focus on what they ask for rather than what I thought they needed.

What can parents do to prepare their children for learning? Think aloud so that your children can hear how your brain works. This helps them learn how to think as well. Letting them hear how you work through the questions you have gives them a model to follow when they run into a problem.

What are the obstacles to getting all kids to achieve? Children all come from such diverse cultures and backgrounds. There is no one right way that any child learns. All children are different, and it is our job to listen when they tell us how we need to help them achieve.