I have been teaching for seven wonderful years in Missouri and Illinois. I have taught Kindergarten, Fifth and Sixth grades, and currently teach First grade. When teaching and creating educational materials, I find using my background in Graphic Design helps reach visual learners as well as increase students' enthusiasm for learning.
Meaningful learning happens when children can make important connections between the world around them and their sense of identity. My goal as a teacher is to help students conceive of themselves as capable learners who have the tools to navigate life and connect with the world. I also think emotional openness, humor, and imagination are some of the most important components of a happy and productive classroom.
2007 "Teacher of the Year" Award, 2012 "Teacher of the Year" Nominee
B.S. Graphic Design, Southern Illinois University, 2003; M.S.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, University of Illinios, 2006
When I'm not teaching, I love to cook, write, and illustrate. I'm working on a children's story about ninjas, one of my first-graders' favorite topics!
PreK, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, Homeschool
English Language Arts, Balanced Literacy, Creative Writing, Writing-Expository, Reading, Specialty, Math, Arithmetic, Basic Operations, Geometry, Order of Operations, Arts & Music, Visual Arts, Other (Art), For All Subjects, Classroom Management, School Counseling, Character Education, Word Problems, Writing, Reading Strategies, Holidays/Seasonal, Back to School, Thanksgiving, Christmas-Chanukah-Kwanzaa, Poetry, Autumn, Halloween, Winter, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Spring, Tools for Common Core, For All Subjects, Informational Text, End of Year