SOMERVILLE, Ala. — We take you to Morgan County where we meet a teacher who, he himself says is pretty unorthodox. He brings a level of excitement to learning English and Language Arts and hopes to never have a dull moment in his classroom!
Meet this week's FOX54 Top Teacher, Caleb Holoman, from Union Hill School!
In Holoman’s class there’s no learning without fun. “Growing up, I always loved reading." So it’s no surprise he’s taught English and Language Arts for two years at Union Hill School. We happened to surprise Holoman while he was providing instruction on an engaging activity.
“We're actually studying our vocabulary using an online website called ‘Gimkit’,” said Holoman.
Holoman says with the bunch he has it’s a must to get creative. “Seventh and eighth graders, they think that they're too cool for school.”
Holoman also says he has to include a competitive edge too. “In my class there's always competitions and I have a lot of little prizes. They can win.”
“There is very there's a lot of incentives, but a lot of kids don't want the $50 bills. They want the random one can of spaghetti and meatballs,” said Holoman.
For Holoman, his philosophy is fun, to make the lessons stick. “If I'm excited and I make the lessons exciting for them, they really get engaged.”
Just ask one of his student, Mason James Davis. “He's a teacher that I wouldn't forget.”
Davis is an eighth grade student and has had Holoman for two years now. “It's so fun. Even the little events like we're doing now, like little games,” said Holoman.
“That's what makes Mr. Holoman stand out. He does engage them from bell to bell,” added Principal Deedee Hendrix.
Holoman says his whole approach to teaching is different, even his flair. However, he says he still feels accepted from the peers he works with, and the students he works for.
“Everyone took me in. I was worried that I wouldn't be accepted as much, but they didn't even bother them. They looked right past it,” said Holoman.
Holoman believes it’s bigger than just learning English and Language Arts. He hopes his students’ key takeaway is to be critIcal thinkers.
“The English language arts, it's about subtlety. It's about the abstract. Not everything is concrete. So I want them to be able to think for themselves.”
{CALEB HOLOMAN SURPRISED AS TOP TEACHER}
