Lisa Falcon Rodriguez uses games to help her third-grade students improve their English, reading and math scores at Estelle Elementary School in Marrero. In "Caught'ya—Grammar with a Giggle," students receive a daily sentence in a continuing story in which they are the characters. Students must correct the errors in the sentence to earn tickets toward a monthly prize drawing. Mrs. Rodriguez also engages students in a math game show called "Everybody Counts" involving math-related skills such as reading calendars, telling time and making change. She incorporates a four-block format for language arts focusing on guided reading, writing, self-selected reading and words. Mrs. Rodriguez has presented to Jefferson Parish language arts teachers and the Louisiana Reading Association Convention and serves as a mentor teacher for student teachers from a local university.
