Mayfield Middle School teacher Gail Tillett enjoys helping her 8th-grade social studies students study the country’s past and learn about their civic responsibilities. Tillett has 30 years of teaching experience, 16 of those in Putnam City Schools. Her experience and ability shows. Every one of Tillett’s students passed the state social studies exam last spring. Tillett shares about how she helps her students experience success in learning.

Teaching social studies is an opportunity to challenge my students to appreciate the heroes of the past and to show how those heroes' decisions still affect our lives today. I also want to encourage loyalty and civic responsibility to our country.

We discuss items in the news that relate to what we are studying. For example, we just saw President Bush's first veto override. We brought it into class and discussed how checks and balances continue to be part of our government at work.

Students have to understand their role in society, and that they have civic rights and responsibilities to help preserve the democratic freedoms that this country was built upon.

I have a very structured environment in my classroom, with clear rules and expected behavior for my students. My fellow teachers call it a "gailarchy." My students in turn work very hard.

If I see a student struggling, I try to give individual help, provide extra time for completing assignments or sometimes provide time for partner or small-group discussion.

Apart from regular lessons, we practice test-taking skills. One of the most important parts of that is to discuss with students why they chose their answers even if they were wrong. My students realize that they have a right to be wrong in my class so they are not afraid that other students will poke fun at them.

I do whatever it takes to help students retain information and become confident of what they know.

Parents need to encourage children to read, study and do their homework. Another big help would be to ask children what they are learning and encourage them to talk about it.

I enjoy teaching 8th-graders because they are young adults who are beginning to voice their views and form their own opinions. My favorite part is the obvious maturity level seen by the end of the 8th-grade year.

I knew since I was 5 years old that teaching was my calling. Teaching to me was not just a job; I viewed it as a vocation.