A Spooktacular Addition to ITCA’s Anatomy & Physiology Class!

In the spirit of October fun, Mrs. Kathryn Shoemaker’s Anatomy and Physiology class at Idaho Technical Career Academy has added a bone-chilling new “classmate.” This year, for the first time in her virtual classroom, Mrs. Shoemaker invited her students to help name the class skeleton, turning a typical lesson into a spirited experience.

After narrowing it down to six creatively fun options, the students voted. The winner? A skeleton with plenty of personality, now known as Boney Maroney! The activity gave students a chance to express themselves and participate in a lighthearted, engaging way that brought them out of their shells — fitting for the season!

“This is the first time I’ve ever had students in a virtual classroom name a class skeleton, and it’s been such a fun way to get everyone involved,” Mrs. Shoemaker said. “Even students who don’t usually speak up were eager to share their thoughts.”

Boney Maroney has already played a starring role in the classroom, especially as the students learn about the skeletal system. In a recent bone identification lab, he served as both a prop and conversation starter, helping students visualize and connect where bones are located in the body. Alongside a PowerPoint showing individual bones, Boney Maroney made a bony splash in the lesson!

One student, Jaslene, shared her excitement: “It’s been really fun learning with Boney Maroney. Mrs. Shoemaker makes everything easy to understand, and having the skeleton makes the class more interesting.”

Mrs. Shoemaker, who’s been with ITCA for three years since moving to Idaho from Colorado in 2014, is known for her innovative and creative teaching methods. Her background includes double bachelor’s degrees from the University of Northern Colorado and a master’s degree from Concordia University-Portland. Outside the virtual classroom, she enjoys white water rafting, snowmobiling, and working on her farm and bison ranch in New Plymouth.

Mrs. Shoemaker’s students are diving deep into the world of bones, just in time for the Halloween season! From naming their skeleton to hands-on labs, ITCA’s virtual classrooms keep learning fun and engaging.

Interested in learning more about how your child can experience this kind of interactive, virtual learning environment? Mid-year enrollment is still available! Visit ITCA’s How to Enroll in Online School page to help your student thrive with an engaging curriculum.