Chapter 3: Teaching through Entrepreneurship
Posted May 12, 2017 by Annette Romano, Carol Herrington, Chris Lasher
What ingredients make a good unit great? In this article, fourth-grade teachers share how they elevate and engage their students’ learning through an entrepreneur unit that combines collaborative planning, service learning, and integrates the state learning standards.
Annette Romano, a member of the Niskayuna Teachers Association, is currently a teacher on special assignment (TOSA) from the Niskayuna Central School District, where she has taught for more than 25 years. Romano shares her time as a professional
development specialist in Niskayuna and the director of the National Board Council of New York Network. She is a member of the Professional Standards and Practices Board (PSPB) at the New York State Education Department.
Carol Herrington is a veteran teacher with 26 years of experience, 21 of them at grade 4. She is a graduate of the Niskayuna School system, teaching at the same elementary school she attended as a child. A member of the Niskayuna TA and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Herrington frequently brings new ideas and strategies to her colleagues.
Chris Lasher is in his ninth year of teaching fourth grade. A member of the Niskayuna TA and a district leader, Lasher adapted the NYS math modules to include guided notes, which he shared with his colleagues. Additionally, he has created integrated curriculum to bridge Niskayuna Standards with the new Common Core.