Welcome, now please give me a job!

It occurred to me that I needed to do something to stand out from the crowd. So, here it is. I've wanted to be a teacher since my own third grade experience with Mrs. Elma Desmuke. She was cutting edge in education before the term was even invented! We were hands-on before hands-on was a buzz word. I don't really remember particular things from my other elementary classes but I remember so many concepts that she made learning all about fun! I have wanted to be THAT teacher since then.


Some examples of how I've worked towards that goal:

Presidential research for President's Day

My students chose a president that they wanted to learn more about. From there, they began research and completed a web quest. Their research needed to include little known facts that would hold their target audiences' attention. They also prepared a "frame" with a "start" button that students pushed in order to bring them to life. The frame was simply a long piece of bulletin board paper with the center cut out and details drawn along the edge that showcased moments in that president's history. Kindergarten, first, and second grade classes along with families were invited to our "Hall of Presidents".

Winterfest, A Celebration of Light is a play I wrote several years ago. It shows  holiday celebrations around the world from October through January. I've added to the play when there have been students whose cultural background was not already in it. (One year, I added the Phillipines, Scotland, England, Kazakhstan and Romania!) My students have performed in the community and other classes have participated as well.

Algebra...it's not just for the big kids anymore! Using a hands-on equations kit, I've had students as young as second grade (they were my PACE math students at Steiner Ranch) love solving algebraic equations! By manipulating the pawns, number die and their balance, it became concrete and they begged to do more. I made sure to share the program with the third grade PACE math teacher so they could continue the next year. http://www.borenson.com/

Wow, talk about Way Back "When"sday!! My second year to teach we were in the former Kress Five and Dime store in Oak Park Mall in Seguin. (Our two 4-6 campuses were being remodeled so over 1,000 4th through 6th grade students were taught in the mall that year.) The gulf conflict was going on and my class wrote Texans Love You letters to share their appreciation and support for our troops.

Sometimes it takes awhile to know if your students "get" the concept you're trying to teach. Preparing for learning about Texas symbols, I shared with the class what the three colors stand for. The students were to use examples in their world that stood for loyalty, purity and bravery. One particular student, Sed, was used by several students but as a symbol of different colors. He happened to be a child who demonstrated positives on a daily basis. I was overwhelmed that six year olds could share their insights so eloquently. And yes, Sed's parents heard all about it!