TEACHER'S CORNER: JACKSON TEACHER EMPHASIZES POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Denise McDowell realized after eight years that working with computers was not the rewarding career she had wanted.

"Now, in teaching, every day is different," McDowell said, "and the smiles and hugs that I receive at the end of the day are priceless."

McDowell is in her third year at Immaculate Conception School in Jackson, where she teaches second grade.

"When I was a child, I had always wanted to be a teacher," she said.

However, after high-school graduation, she was persuaded that computer technology was the field to go into. She obtained an associate arts degree in computer science at Southeast Missouri State University. She is working on her master's degree.

McDowell likes to cook in her classroom to add interest to the curriculum.

"What better way to a child's heart and mind than through food?" she said, "especially when they help make it."

She incorporates the skills of math, science, handwriting and reading directions.

"A little behavior lesson was taught the first week of school when we made a class fruit salad," she said. "Students brought their favorite fruits, prepared them, mixed in marshmallows and ate their creation.

"I showed the children a piece of spoiled fruit and explained that a complainer, tattler or showoff can spoil the class, just as the bad fruit can ruin the salad. The students then easily saw how good behavior will help the class work as a team.

"We also make applesauce on Johnny Appleseed's birthday, cornbread for Thanksgiving, and Rudolph snacks for Christmas. This year I would like to try little loaves of bread to symbolize their first communion."

McDowell starts the first day of school with the story, "The Little Engine That Could." She tapes a bright picture of the train going up the "Second Grade Hill" to the front of her desk.

"All through the year I use the `I-think-I-can' theme," she said.

"In fact, the word can't is not supposed to be used in our class. If things get tough, they are to look at the train picture and tell themselves they can do it."

McDowell remembers when one little girl raised her hand and started to whine that she could not do it.

"She caught herself before she finished her sentence and said, `I know, Mrs. McDowell, you're going to point to that little engine picture and say I can do it.' Then she went back to work with her lips moving to `I think I can...I think I can...."

McDowell and her husband, Tom, live in Jackson with their three children, Brittney, Seth and Chelsea.

Her interests include aerobics, water and snow skiing and collecting thimbles.