11/3/2009 8:10:01 AM

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By Elliot Mann

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

Some call Latin a "dead" language. But Ellen Sassenberg is doing her best to breathe new life into it, one student at a time.

	Teacher of the month This month: Ellen Sassenberg has been named Post-Bulletin Teacher of the Month. She teaches Latin, ninth through 12th grades, at Mayo High School. Her students said they enjoy how she challenges them, but has fun while doing it. "She has fun with it. She's always laughing and smiling," said Momin Hammadelniel, a 10th-grader. "She makes it relevant to us." Nominating teachers: The Post-Bulletin and Newspaper In Education invite you to nominate a K-12 teacher who is making a difference. Selection criteria include personal initiative, going beyond the call of duty, innovative methods and encouraging students to achieve academic goals.

Sassenberg, a Latin teacher at Mayo High School, has been named Post-Bulletin Teacher of the Month.

She has taught in Rochester public schools for 11 years.

She brings her naturally gregarious nature into the classroom. Before class she jokingly told one student to "rent a room" as he said good-bye to a girlfriend. She called another "Joe Mauer" in asking him about his recently shaved sideburns.

But once the bell rings, it's clear that Latin is the focus.

On Monday, the class was broken into two teams. Then, students had to define specific Latin words, presented on flashcards by Sassenberg. While the other students waited for their classmates to finish, they ran the stopwatch.

It proved a competitive way for students to learn basic Latin terms, as several students said it was their favorite part of class.

Later, the students took turns reading the story "Eutychus et Clemens" before the class. After reading a sentence, each student translated the passage.

The discussions keep students involved at all times.

"She's so enthusiastic," said Brandee Smith, a 10th-grader. "She makes it fun, but she makes sure we get everything done."

As odd as it seems hearing teenagers gush about studying a language that hasn't been popular for centuries, others agreed.

"She makes it more exciting and hands-on," said Justin Johnson, another 10th grade student.

For her part, Sassenberg said she takes pleasure in preparing students for work beyond her classroom.

Learning Latin helps them in other classes, she said, and she hopes the study skills they develop in her course carry over.

"All kids can learn. And all kids can learn Latin," Sassenberg said.

After class on Monday, 10th-grader Najib Ahmed scribbled on the white board, making up homework. After awhile, he announced, "I'm actually getting this one."

Just as excited, Sassenberg replied, "That's my boy!" and Ahmed smiled before returning to his work.

For a supposedly dead subject, this classroom is alive and well.

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