ORLANDO, Fla. — Jennifer Burke, a math and science teacher from Butler, and two other teachers shared instructional models they developed through a PA Virtual grant at a symposium in Florida.

Burke, along with Laura Sample of Malvern and Stacy McGowan of Souderton, presented their practices and findings at the Foundation for Florida Virtual School’s World Symposium Oct. 1 to 3 in Orlando.

Sample and Burke had observed that a student transitioning from grade six to seven can feel overwhelmed having five separate subject teachers as opposed to one, so they developed a pilot program to create a smaller class community for close, targeted instruction.

They also saw that it was important to guide students at that age to organize and to follow routines.

The teachers will speak again at the International Association for K-12 Online Learning Blended and Online Learning Symposium Nov. 4 to 7 in Palm Springs, Calif.

The PA Virtual Innovation in Teaching and Learning Grant Program creates a laboratory for staff-driven initiatives to improve student achievement and to serve as best practices.

This is the fifth year the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School is offering competitive stipends to promote advances in methods of instruction.