Neil Martell
Year: 2008 – Province: New Brunswick
Certificate of Achievement Recipient
School: Lakefield Elementary School
9 Kensington Avenue
Quispamsis, New Brunswick E2E 2T8
Principal: Michael O'Neill
School Telephone: 506-847-6212
School Fax: 506-847-6252
School Website: http://lakefieldelementary.nbed.nb.ca
Subjects and Grades Taught: Kindergarten to Grade 5, all subjects
in early French immersion
Teaching Approach:
- Help students understand that there will be "bumps on the road" but that with persistence and the help of others they can succeed. This builds self-confidence and the desire to learn.
- Parents should feel welcome, needed and involved in the classroom. They produce educational games, read to students, help with lessons, and organize and lead field trips.
Outstanding Achievements:
- Created a bat cave in his classroom. When students have finished a cross-curricular project (science, art and language arts) they get to go into the cave, with one or two friends and a trusty flashlight and make their presentation to the class.
- Provincial assessment results have steadily increased since his involvement in the immersion program. A full 100 percent of Grade 2 students now achieve at an appropriate level of performance or higher.
Rave Reviews:
"Being class mom, volunteering and having Mr. Martell teach my boys has not only been a pleasure but an honour. He has set a very high standard of teaching for me and my boys." Parent
"His excitement and love of learning are contagious. I have had the privilege of working with Neil as my mentor, as my team teaching partner, and as my friend, and I can attest that I am a far better teacher because of Neil Martell." Colleague
"He has enriched the teaching profession by his dedication to children and learning." Principal