Hashimoto, who teaches third grade at Kalaheo, said he is guided by the philosophy that every child can learn.

"It doesn't matter if the student is high risk, (special education,) gifted, autistic or has any other challenges. The child can learn," he said. "It's my job to make each child learn in the best way possible."

Nakamura, a fourth-grade teacher at Moanalua, believes that schoolchildren should be offered experiences rich in diversity, choices and discovery. "Education should foster a love of learning and motivate each child to use his or her individual talents to become a creative and thoughtful force in our society," she said.

Her role is to provide students these opportunities in a non-threatening, accepting and nurturing environment.

She also tries to instill confidence in her pupils so they are willing to take risks and accept failure as a part of the learning process. "Failing at something only leads them to find a better solution to the problem," she said.

Both teachers offered suggestions for colleagues who want to try some of the teaching techniques in their own classrooms:

• Develop a class management system. Hashimoto uses a token reinforcement system in class. Pupils earn play money by being class monitor, completing homework or doing well on an activity.

On Fridays, they can buy small treats from the class store or save money in a bank account where they receive a dollar in interest for every five dollars saved.

The saved money can be used to purchase scrip for the third-grade carnival in December and June.

In addition, whoever saved the most money can invite two friends to have pizza with Hashimoto's family.

"This system helps with management and is an excellent positive reinforcement," he said. "Once you establish your classroom management, teaching is much easier."

• Encourage parental involvement. Nakamura emphasizes building a collaborative relationship between parents, teachers and pupils from the start. "Invite them to come into your classroom on the first day of school while they're dropping off their kids," she said. "This allows parents to get a sense of where their children will be every day."

While that shows parents how much they are valued, Nakamura also suggests demonstrating to the children how much their parents are respected.

"Once students hear you acknowledge how lucky they are to have such wonderful, supportive parents, they feel that you share a common understanding as to what their home life is like," she said. "They also see that you share the same goals for them as their parents do. ..."

• Offer hands-on activities. Hashimoto tries to provide experiences that capture the children's interest.

When teaching them about taro, he takes them to his farm. When creating a book about octopuses, an octopus is brought in to be dissected, dried and later cooked for everyone to taste. It's an activity that also integrates math and science when the class measures how much water is lost when the octopus is dried.

• Celebrate different learning styles. "When students understand that they each have unique ways in which they will find success, they begin to have a more realistic approach to school," Nakamura said. "They soon come to acknowledge that some things will come easy for them and some things will be more difficult, but that these differences are all part of the learning process."

• Provide a safe classroom environment. "Respect your students. Showing that you care creates a safe environment for students and their learning," Hashimoto said.

Once a safe place is established, teachers can follow Nakamura's advice to "encourage students to take educational risks and to realize that struggling is part of the learning process.

• Read to your students every day. "It doesn't matter how old the students are, they all love it. Find excellent literature that is appropriate for the age group and read it with feeling," Nakamura said.

"Not only does this give students a chance to appreciate literature for what it is (as there will be no test on it) but it models appropriate read-aloud techniques such as voice and character personality."

• Have a sense of humor. "Learning should be fun and not a chore," Hashimoto said.