Specials
Our early childhood and elementary learners in grades K-6 participate in year-round daily specials. This daily rotation provides different learning experiences beyond core academics in the areas of art, music, physical education, technology, STEAM, and social/emotional learning.
Art
The early childhood and elementary art education program provides each student with a weekly hands-on experience in producing art, enhanced by the integration of art history, art criticism and aesthetic critiques. Art education classes at this level will encourage critical and creative problem-solving skills, as well as empathy for historical and contemporary works of art.
Social Emotional Learning
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is part of the specials rotation for all early childhood and elementary students. Through this program, Lakota students acquire and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals. They also learn to feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.
Music
The focus of the early childhood and elementary music education program is to introduce each child to the joy of music and begin to develop a variety of music-related skills. Through singing, playing, listening and reading, each student will experience the various elements of music.
STEAM / WonderLab
For students in grades 3-6, Lakota's STEAM special combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. STEAM emphasizes innovation, design and aesthetics and engages students in interactive, hands-on learning. STEAM also connects learning across subjects through problem-solving and exploration to prepare students for success beyond the classroom.
For students in grades K-2, WonderLab is a precursor to the STEAM special and inspires wonder and curiosity. Students in WonderLab will explore materials and media that will prepare them for their future learning in Lakota's STEAM labs.
Physical Education
The mission of Lakota's physical education program is to instill a love of regular physical activity in students and motivate them to take responsibility for their lifelong health. As students participate in a wide range of games and activities, they develop their motor skills and a sense of fair play. In addition to teaching about healthy fitness levels, teachers provide instruction in personal hygiene and nutrition.
Technology
Technology in early childhood and elementary education is vital in preparing students for the digital future. We teach 21st-century skills that are necessary to be successful in today’s world. The course teaches our students how to be digital citizens while navigating online content, curriculum resources and media.
Meet Our Specials Teachers
Melissa Barnes
Title:
Teacher, Technology
Email:
Biography:
Melissa Barnes started teaching in Lakota in 1998. Melissa has a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University, an Elementary Teaching degree from National University, and a Master of Education degree from Wright State University.
During students’ time in Technology Special, their learning focuses on several key areas and skills. One essential topic is Digital Citizenship, where students identify key strategies and rules to stay safe when they go online. Additionally, Technology Special develops key technology skills through mouse use and keyboarding units. Another fun unit is coding, where students have fun writing code and solving coding puzzles. Finally, second graders learn how to log into OneLogin and access their Google Drive. From there, they learn to create Google Docs and Google Slides to create projects to share their learning. Overall, in Technology Special, students have fun while learning various ways to effectively utilize technology in their lives.
Angela Hott
Title:
Teacher, Music
Email:
Biography:
Angela Hott has been an early childhood music specialist in Lakota since 2000. Angela has a Bachelors and Masters degree in Music Education.
In music at Liberty, students explore sound, rhythm, and movement. Over the course of their K-2 experience, students will gain skills in rhythm reading, vocal training, dance/creative movement, and using classroom instruments.
Tara McDonell
Title:
Teacher, WonderLab
Email:
Biography:
Tara McDonell is our WonderLab educator. Tara has been serving the Shawnee community since 2015 and the Wyandot community since 2019. WonderLab lessons are designed to encourage students to develop their creative and innovative skills in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. Students are introduced to building and architecture, nature, robotics and coding, sewing and textiles, wind, force and motion, light and sound, and tools. Tara has always enjoyed teaching STEAM, even when she taught in the general education classroom. Tara most enjoys getting to see the students’ excitement for learning through a different lens.
Andrea Shanklin
Title:
Teacher, Social Emotional Learning
Email:
Biography:
Andrea Shanklin has taught in Lakota since 2001. She started her career teaching music at Cherokee Elementary to K-6 students and then taught fifth grade at the same building for the next 20 years. Andrea has taught every subject, but has always had a love and passion in teaching the everyday social skills that students need to be successful adults. The SEL special has allowed her to focus on just that. Students read lots of fun books that relate to life lessons and Andrea incorporates fun activities that get the kids up and active, while emphasizing skills like self-control, being flexible, giving personal space, the size of problems and controlling one’s reactions, strategies to calm down, etc. What Andrea loves most about this job is working with the “littles,” and hearing story after story about how they used what they learned in SEL at home or in their classroom. Andrea really believes these lessons make such a positive difference in their everyday lives, and she is excited to continue teaching them.
Laura Siambekos
Title:
Teacher, Art
Email:
Biography:
Laura Siambekos has been with Lakota since 2005 and started with Creekside in 2018. She has spent eleven years teaching her passion, art. She enjoys making her own artwork at home and sharing her love and expertise with the students at Creekside Early Childhood School.
In the Art Studio, students learn about famous artists, art vocabulary, and have an opportunity to work with a variety of art media such as drawings, paintings, clay or even papier-mache. These projects allow students an opportunity to make their own choices, think critically, problem solve and express their own thoughts and feelings. As students create works of art, either as class projects or on their own at centers, they tell their story. Please ask your student to tell you about the works of art they bring home!
Carrie Steele
Title:
Teacher, Physical Education
Email:
Biography:
Carrie Steele started her teaching career in the Lakota Local School District in 2001. She joined the Liberty Early Childhood staff in 2018. Carrie has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education in Physical Education.
In Physical Education at Liberty, students will learn about fitness and exercise in a cooperative learning environment. They will be provided with personalized learning and practice as they advance their gross motor and object control skills over the course of their K-2 experience. Additionally, students will gain confidence and develop resilience and perseverance as they build positive social skills.