Mary Hanson
Healy Elementary
CPS - State Pre-K

Mary Hanson – Healy Elementary (CPS – State Pre-K)
Pictures are a key form of communication for Mary Hanson. More than half of her class are English language learners whose first language is either Chinese or Spanish. "I take digital photos of each child making happy, sad, and scared expressions," she explains. When the students enter each morning, they post the expression that best represents how they feel, changing the photos as their feelings change throughout the day. She also asks the children to form the shapes of letters with their bodies. Hanson photographs the little alphabet children, and uses the photos to make books; the books are sent home where they are used as a learning tool. Believing that parents and community are the key to her students’ success, Hanson has arranged through the Chinese American Service League for “Chinese grandmothers” to volunteer in her classroom, supporting the growth of the children.

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