One teacher at the Melbourne School District has launched efforts to not only help her students retain information better during class, but also to provide a much-needed resource to their peers.
Joanna Fulbright, who serves as both and English and Spanish Teacher as well as the Gifted and Talented Coordinator for Melbourne High School, took to social media after thinking of ways to help her students and others in the area.
“It is cold! I have been sitting around wondering how many kids might not have beanies, and I had a thought. Rosa Bone taught me how to crochet years ago, and I have a class full of seniors who have been listening to an audiobook lately. They are sweet kids and I honestly think they would not mind learning how to crochet beanies to donate,” Fulbright said in a post on social media.
Fulbright told Hallmark Times she believes this project will fill multiple needs.
“I’m thinking this might address two needs at the same time. Last week I had some seniors listening to an audio book and sometimes when people are just listening to an audio book they fidget. A lot of these kids are kinesthetic learners, but, they don’t have something to do and I feel like it’d be easier for them to listen if they had something to do. That works for some students,” Fulbright said. “Then, on the other side, I wonder how many kids are outside in this snow and freezing their ears off. The buses will be running again soon and there will be kids outside waiting for it who don’t have headgear so maybe the seniors can help me by listening to their book and crocheting some beanies at the same time.”
Once the post hit social media, the concept was welcomed by friends and acquaintances and Fulbright said she hasn’t wasted any time preparing.
“I bought some crochet hooks last night on Amazon and now we just need yarn. I’m going to try to go to Batesville and see what there is. We are looking for medium to heavy weight yarn,” Fulbright said. “If anybody has any hobby yarn where they just never did get around to finishing a project and they’d like to donate that yarn, the medium to heavy weight what we call chunky yarn, it fluffs out nicely to make a warmer head covering and it also moves pretty quickly and so the students can see their progress.”
Donations of yarn may be mailed or brought to the Melbourne High School located at 310 Bearkat Drive Melbourne Arkansas 72556.
“I appreciate everything that everyone has already done. I’d also like to encourage everyone to donate to their area schools. Any beanies, gloves or scarves that they have that are extra. I know there are a lot of kids who could use anything to keep warm with while waiting for the bus,” Fulbright said. “People have already been reaching out on social media. There are teachers and parents who have already started and we’ve received a donation. We’re going to try to get those out to elementary and high school kids as soon as we get back to school.”
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
