HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Fourth grade students at Weatherly Heights Elementary School in Huntsville have fallen in love with learning thanks to this week's Valley's Top Teacher, Mrs. Sarah Moody.
Mrs. Moody takes a different approach to learning, and her students love it. She's even created a cool way to reward her students.
"She tells us to call them Jocular Ranchers," said one of her students. "She said we need to always learn so it helps us learn in case we need it for a test that we take in like high school or something."
A "Jocular Rancher" is just as cool as it sounds. it's not just a sweet reward, it's a vocabulary lesson.
"When I was in sixth grade, I had a reading teacher that did not give us Jolly Ranchers, she gave us Jocular Ranchers because Jocular and Jolly are synonyms, or words that mean the same," said Mrs. Moody.
Mrs. Moody has carried on the memories from her own teachers and is continuing to pass them on to her students.
"I think she is very kind and helpful and whenever I need help with something she'll always help me out," one student said.
Mrs. Moody had no idea she had been nominated when her principal called her to the front office.
"It was such a happy surprise to see her as she was," said Principal Karen Melillo.
"I enjoy coming to school every day and teaching such a wonderful group of kids," said Mrs. Moody. "We really work hard to have a classroom community."