Summer Perry on the left and Shyheim Robertson dance to the video screen in their PE class at Overton Elem. using the new technology equipment. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

Overton Elem. technology director Anthony Johnson explains how the project "Overtonville" works for the 5th graders. The "Overtonville" model is behind Johnson on the floor. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

Jasime Cook watches Kathryn Rusher and Dae'shaude White take a digital photo of the house and family in front of the house in the computer labe at Overton Elem. They then write about the family they have photographed. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

By Sarah Nagem

snagem@salisburypost.com

Their parents probably had to run laps during gym class. Suckers.

Students at Overton Elementary School have a new way to exercise — they jam to Dance Dance Revolution on PlayStation 2.

A projected image of the videogame shows the kids when and where to put their feet on a special game mat. They follow the instructions on the screen to keep moving.

"Oh, they love it," said Sara Phillips, a physical education teacher at Overton. "It keeps their cardio rate up. It helps their eye-foot coordination."

The high-tech gym class and other projects were on display at Overton on Tuesday as part of the N.C. School Innovation Day. More than 100 schools across the state, including A.L. Brown High School in Kannapolis, showcased their innovative learning tools.

At Overton, a highlight of the day was a fifth-grade project that teaches business skills.

Fifth-graders live, work and play in Overtonville, a make-believe city where the kids run the show.

They pay rent, earn a wage and manage their finances.

"Their job is to come to Overton every day to learn," said Anthony Johnson, a technology facilitator at the school.

The actual city is made up of model buildings Johnson picked up from eBay and the train shop in Spencer. A company in Colorado that specializes in this sort of thing donated model-sized apartment buildings.

The goal of the young business owners is the same as that for any entrepreneur: to make money.

Of course, the money that passes hands in Overtonville is fake. But it buys these kids hot commodities — like doughnuts, chicken wings and pizza.

But if you want to enjoy a Krispy Kreme treat from T.N.T. Doughnuts in Overtonville, you better be willing to cough up some serious change.

The going rate Tuesday for one glazed doughnut was $20 in Overtonville cash.

It might seem steep to the rest of us, but 10-year-old Alexander Whitaker didn't mind.

"I have $1,190 — minus 20, which would be $1,170," he said.

For these fifth-graders, doughnuts and math lessons go hand in hand.

The three owners of T.N.T. purchased two dozen doughnuts from the teachers for $200.

At $20 a pop — even without considering the not-so-bargain price of $45 for two — the kids turned a hefty profit in Overtonville.

Down the hall, the owners of Wild Wings quickly sold out of their 100-wing supply. Students paid $5 per wing.

Fifth-grader Lora Withers said she learns life skills as a part owner of Wild Wings.

Some valuable lessons, she said: "How to keep up with your money, how to write checks and how to know if you're being ripped off or not."

Apparently, Withers learned early to buy low and sell high.

So did 10-year-old Luz Cruz.

"I made $90 just selling drinks," she said.

Students have checkbooks, and they must spell everything correctly on their checks — or they're worthless.

Toni Cook stopped at Overton Tuesday to take a look at what her daughter, Jasmine, has been learning. She was impressed with Overtonville.

"I love it," she said. "It gives the kids a sense of responsibility. It teaches them that money don't grow on trees."

Jasmine earns money by advertising for the local pizza place, a job that pays her $100 a week. Her income is supplemented by the 10 percent share of the profit she gets from the company.

Students get money for good behavior and academic diligence, Johnson said. If their attitudes aren't up to par, they don't get money — which means no treats on the monthly food-sale days.

"I know it's a hard lesson, but someone has to teach it," Johnson said.

Overton is teaching other lessons, too. And educators are using more and more technology to do it.

Students are using what Johnson calls "digital storytelling" to sharpen their writing skills.

They use digital cameras to snap pictures of dolls they've placed in doll houses. Then they write a story that relates to the pictures they've taken.

Johnson said kids have a tendency to veer off topic in essays.

The digital-storytelling process aims to keep them focused on the topic — what's going on inside the house — and may improve writing scores, he said.

By Christmas, all 26 teachers will have a laptop, projector and Promethean system in their classrooms, Johnson said.

Promethean systems work like 21st century dry-erase boards. Teachers and students can use a pen-like tool to move digital objects around on a screen.

Second-grade teacher Stacey Rogers was the first teacher at Overton to get a Promethean setup.

Rogers said the interactive board gets students out of their seats and engaged in the lessons.

"I asked the kids today what they like so much about the board, and they said, 'It's like magic,' " Rogers said.

Technology is a huge part of children's lives, and schools need to embrace it, Overton's assistant principal, Michael Courtwright, said.

He said Overton has some extra challenges because it's a lot like an inner-city school. Overton receives Title I funds because of its high percentage of low-income students.

But Overton has a mix of affluence and poverty, Courtwright said. Some students live in the wealthy country club area, while others come from housing projects.

"So you're trying to close the gaps to make it all into one," he said.

Signs point to a move in the right direction. Overton was one of only 10 Rowan-Salisbury schools that met federal No Child Left Behind standards in math last school year.

Technology is key, Courtwright said. And he said training students to use new technology wisely is most important.

Even technology like Dance Dance Revolution.

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