Dubuque teacher weaves roller derby into her classroom

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — As her students stood in the Fulton Elementary School gym, Daniele Halfhill showed them how to bend their knees and perform a "hip hit," as though they were pushing opponents aside in the roller derby rink.

Halfhill, a fourth-grade teacher, is spending this semester weaving roller derby into her curriculum.

On Friday, Halfhill had students slide across the gym floor in their socks and practice a T-stop before they moved over to a wall to practice the hip hit.

Afterward, students gathered in a circle to review what they had learned.

Halfhill is teaching her students the history of roller derby and what it looks like today, as well as the rules and the qualities that make good players, the Telegraph Herald (http://bit.ly/2ktf8Ym ) reported.

Fulton Principal Chris Nugent said Halfhill's use of roller derby helps her build relationships with the students.

The sport allows her students to see that they can be tough in many ways and to take pride in their accomplishments.