Mary Hopkins

For more than 35 years I have taught primary grades in a K-8 elementary district in the greater Los Angeles area. I have been teaching third grade since 1991. I also serve as pianist for our school's Glee Club. I have developed a very teacher-friendly series of 32- page reproducible instructional units which include one booklet for each school month (Sept.--June), 3 multicultural units--(Martin Luther King's Birthday, Cinco de Mayo, and Chinese New Year). My USA geography 32 -page units cover all major regions of the United States. These units have been in use since 1983, and have been very popular with both students and teachers. They have withstood the "test of time" and are not trendy and easily outdated.

My teaching style is to utilize thematic units to "teach across the curriculum". I use music in the classroom to enhance current study units. I give directed lessons, and also provide for kids to work together in pairs and small groups. I have incorporated fine arts into my curriculum in the form of needlepoint, and knitting--believing that these hands-on activities are important for well-rounded child development. I also team teach with two other teachers at my grade level in math, language arts, p.e., and fiber arts. Our class begins each day with a patriotic song taken from the unique songbook that I compiled. Our school is ethnically diverse, and the daily patriotic music serves as a unifying activity.

My Glee Club teaching partner and I were recognized by the city of Monterey Park, California for service to our school's Glee Club and Hand Bell Choir. Although I do not direct the Bell Choir, I organized fund-raising events in the 1970's in order to purchase the "foundation" sets of bells. My own class has also performed songs and square dances for local civic occasions such as the annual "Play Days" carnival. I also served as Glee Club pianist in my former elementary site. I have had the experience of working with several student teachers.

I attended Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan with a double major in art history and studio art, graduating in 1972. I obtained my California Elementary Teaching Credential from Cal State LA in 1973. I enrolled in a distance Masters of Education program from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and completed my degree in 2002.

I am currently taking a wonderful low-tech class in weaving on an 8-harness floor loom. I am also learning to spin wool on a drop spindle. Other things I like are gardening, reading, and playing the piano. My husband and I co-produce the Ready Sets line of teaching units that we have been working on jointly since 1996.