I am currently a technology integration specialist for my building (grades 3-5). I taught 5th grade for 16 years in Virginia and LOVED it! The last 10 years have been focused on gifted instruction, as my classroom population of 30 was mostly GATE (Gifted and Talented) identified. However, my lessons and activities are ones I feel are adaptable to regular education and special education. I supply a lot of differentiation wherever possible. I am a Google Certified Educator (Levels 1 & 2), a Google Certified Trainer, a CodeVA Coach, and a Nearpod Certified Educator.
I have a very dynamic teaching style in that it's not centered on one particular strategy. I feel that my instruction is an amalgamation of structure and creative expression, teacher-driven and student-focused, movement-based, technology-enhanced, and differentiated philosophies. I strive for each of my lessons to have a teacher-driven component, as well as portions where students must interact with each other, show what they know, and use technology wherever possible.
2011 Chesapeake City Elementary Teacher of the Year; 2007 Butts Road Intermediate Reading Teacher of the Year; 2004; Scored in top 10% of all Praxis scores for the state of Virginia; I was Nominated for Who’s Who for Teachers 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012; and I was featured in Dr. Victoria R. Fu’s book: Teaching as Inquiry, ©2005, page 93
I earned my Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Virginia Tech in Elementary Education. Through UVA, I've earned a Gifted and Talented teaching endorsement.
I am a mom of a beautiful and funny 9-year old girl and a crazy 4-year old boy. I love technology and enjoy finding new ways to use it in the classroom. In my free time, I love to read, run, take pictures, and have adventures with cool humans.
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, Homeschool
English Language Arts, Balanced Literacy, Reading, Grammar, Spelling, Specialty, Math, Geometry, Graphing, Measurement, Other (Math), Science, Astronomy, Basic Principles, Biology, Earth Sciences, Other (Science), Social Studies, Civics, Government, Native Americans, U.S. History, Arts & Music, Geography, Other (Social Studies), Gifted and Talented, For All Subjects, Literature, Study Skills, General Science, Physical Science, Writing, Reading Strategies, Writing-Essays, Holidays/Seasonal, Thanksgiving, Poetry, Decimals, Informational Text, Test Preparation, Engineering