Posted on Aug 29, 2006

MURRAY, Ky., Aug. 29 — The Murray State University Center for Economic Education, the River Heritage Museum and The Propeller Club of Paducah invite teachers of grades 2-8 to participate in a free workshop to gain training in the use of the curriculum “Adopt a Towboat.” The workshop will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the River Heritage Museum, 117 South Water St. in Paducah. The workshop will show teachers how to use the Adopt a Towboat program to communicate with workers on a local towboat while teaching science, history, music, economics, practical living/vocational studies and technology. Participants in the workshop will adopt towboats in the Paducah area for their classrooms. Classes will be able to correspond with their adopted crews via email and will track the journeys of their towboats on the Internet. Writing poetry and job resumes, and learning about fractions, rations, weather, economics and river culture are just a few of the things the program offers to students. They will even be able to meet their towboat’s captain and crewmembers during classroom visits. Best of all, this hands-on training uses free curriculum and there is no charge for attending the workshop. All of the lessons are aligned with the Kentucky Core Content and Academic Expectations. The Kentucky Department of Education has approved this workshop for three hours of professional development credit. A light supper will also be served. Barry Brown, director of the MSU Center for Economic Education, urges teachers to sign up for the free workshop as soon as possible. Space to join the program is limited to 20 classroom teachers and pre-registration is mandatory. To register, email your name, school, grade and subject area taught and your email address to econed@murraystate.edu. You may also register by calling (270) 809-4277 or by faxing to (270) 809-5478. Registration closes Fri., Sept. 8.