K Cups in my Classroom

This is my eleventh year as a Title 1 reading teacher. I teach small groups of students who have scored below our district's benchmark in reading. These K-3 students come to my room every day for thirty minutes of reading fun. It's a whirlwind and I love every minute of it! The two years before my official position, I taught small math groups for students who needed extra help. I also filled in for a maternity leave in first grade, second grade, and another for a reading intervention teacher!

I incorporate games into my lesson plans as often as I possibly can. I use kinesthetic movements as well--every reading strategy, letter sound, sight word, etc. has a movement that goes along with it. I find that the learning "sticks" better for my students once I began using it. Learning is fast-paced in my classroom and I try to keep the lessons fresh so my students are always looking forward to our time together and motivated to do their best!

I had a fifth grader write me a note once. She told me that she didn't like reading in second grade before she began coming to reading group with me, but that I changed all that for her and now she loves to read. She thanked me for that. I don't know how it feels to be awarded Teacher of the Year, but I can't imagine it feeling much better than that note made me feel on an ordinary August day.

I went back to school to become a teacher after taking an educational aide position in kindergarten for a student with a traumatic brain injury who was being fostered in our district. I was 37 at the time and my youngest had just started kindergarten. I loved it and for the first time in my life knew what I wanted to do! I was so excited to find Western Governors University who offered an entirely online education degree. It was a perfect fit for me and a great experience. I graduated with a BA in Elementary Education K-8.

KCupsinmyClassroom@gmail.com