Grant update: Have had a lot of success getting the students to work on projects, and even create their own 3-D printable objects. They have grasped the concept of “an evolution in the arts”. They have strung together the implications that art has on technology and other fields, and it has expanded their ideas of what using art actually means. The…Read More

Now as far as our project we have started by doing a google slide about local Fiddle legend, Kenny Baker. This was very fun for me and my students. We had the opportunity to interview Morehead State’s Professor of Traditional Music, archivists and Tyler Childer’s fiddle Player. His Q&A session brought much insight to my Appalachian Club that…Read More

Well I am in a new class in MAT this semester, Literacy in Content area. I have learned a new method that I am excited about, called the SPICE method. We can learn so much by knowing % things about historical events or time periods. S- what is going on Socially. P – what is going on Politically, I- how are people Interacting with the…Read More

“True Cavalier Pride” is to reconnect JHS students with true Cavalier Pride, while also developing historical thinking and writing skills through interactive, enriching and hands-on student conducted research. Over the course of the past year, while conducting Social Studies classes, I have identified that my students have difficulty discerning…Read More

Registered for my First FIRE summit awhile back, but just now getting around to posting. Super excited to receive my first grant, and get my students working. My grant was for integrating 3D printing technology into my visual art classrooms. Should be pretty interesting to see the concept materialized. Also, can’t wait to see the creation side of…Read More

I truly believe that the educational and instructional advances be fostered through KVEC/FIRE/ARI are making a difference in the lives of our students and is transforming teachers practices and vision in and outside of the classrooms. This is truly an integral part of a “Regions Way Forward”. As a region we need to embrace the concept of an…Read More

Adding Podcast to our grant program (Ms. Rebecca Potter and I) has been a challenge with setting up the studio and training students in how to use the technology, conduct an interview, and to edit their production. The ARI grant have been great additions to our journalism and oral history projects here at Letcher County Central. It is our…Read More

Attempting to make documentaries can truly be a trying task. With this years interruptions with our schedules due to weather, sickness, and legislation it has been more trying than in the past, but we feel confident that by spring that we will have a quality production in place as we have done in the past. I will update you on our progress with…Read More

Just an update on Rebecca Potter and my documentary project: Heroes on Every Hand: They Just Never Told Us, is in the final editing stages. We are behind the projected schedule that we had for ourselves, but that is not uncommon in a production such as this. We have so much more footage this year than in last years documentary: Piling Up…Read More

Ms. Rebecca Potter and I have been conducting interviews and working with the Letcher County Central Journalism Class preparing our documentary entitled “Heroes on Every Hand: They Just Never Told Us”. We are preparing to start the editing process in the next few days. We are hoping to add a couple more interviews to this piece and more…Read More

Just wanted to take the time to update you on what Ms. Rebecca Potter and I are trying to do this year. We are working on another documentary with even a greater number of students involved in the filmmaking process. Actually, we are working on 2 documentaries: the main production is titled “Heroes On Every Hand: They Just Never Told Us” which…Read More

Ms. Rebecca Potter and I would like to invite you to view our students journalism documentary, Piling Up Stones: A Collection of Mountain Memories. Ms. Potter has uploaded it to YouTube and you can access it by searching Piling Up Stones. I hope you enjoy. Here is the YouTube link that might make it easier to access:…Read More

Ms. Rebecca Potter and I would like to invite you to view our students journalism documentary, Piling Up Stones: A Collection of Mountain Memories and Wisdom. Ms. Potter has uploaded it to YouTube and you can access it by searching Piling Up Stones. I hope you enjoy.

The last post should have said presenting. Nothing like autocorrect.

Amber Maggard and I have been conducting an empathy instructional study this semester. We hope to have some findings from our fall semester research by the end of December. We plan to replicate the study with a larger class in the spring semester.

The Summit today was an excellent event and I look forward to the work ahead to prepare for April. I feel blessed to be working with a great partner Rebecca Potter and great students at Letcher County Central High School.

We, Ms. Rebecca Potter and I, recorded a podcast today and should have it downloaded soon with a more detailed explanation of our grant project.

Piling Up Stones: A Collection of Mountain Memories and Wisdom

Ms. Rebecca Potter and Dr. Michael C. Melton, Letcher County Central High School

We have a rich history and culture in central Appalachia that we have not or very rarely promoted to the world outside our hills. With the inevitability of time, we are losing members of our…Read More

Rebecca Potter and I are preparing to begin our documentary project at Letcher County Central as a part of an ARI Grant. I plan on keeping you posted on our progress. Wish us luck. Ms. Potter’s Journalism class is super excited.

Great Job Belfry! Good luck at the state tournament on Thursday.