Tell us a bit about yourself, where do you teach and what grade/subjects. 

What inspired you to become a teacher?

From a young age, I have wanted to be a teacher.  When I decided to pursue an education degree, I did so because I wanted every child to know that someone truly cared and believed in them.  I wanted to show them that they could be successful, no matter where they came from or what difficulties they faced.

What are your hopes and goals for the upcoming school year?

One of my goals for this year is to help my students take ownership over their learning-  both academic learning and basic skills learning.  For example, I am going to have students help record some of their own academic data, so they can see and take ownership over their strengths and areas for growth.  As for basic skills, we are going to focus on taking ownership of our own areas in the classroom, keeping these areas clean and organized to the best of our abilities.    

How do you connect with your students on a personal level and create a supportive learning environment?

In order to connect with students, I use daily check-ins.  Each morning, students check-in, letting me know how they are doing that morning.  If a student is struggling, I will pull that student aside, and talk with them about what’s going on.  This gives me more insight into my students’ lives, and also lets the students know that someone genuinely cares about how they are doing.  Likewise, I ask students for feedback about what they need from me, and I adjust accordingly (when possible).  This gives the students a voice in the classroom, which helps them trust me more.  

Can you share a fond memory from your time as a student or a specific teacher that influenced your teaching approach?

During my 1st grade year, I was very shy, and struggled to express myself, which made it hard for teachers to build meaningful relationships with me.  However, a reading specialist made a connection with me through the use of a puppet.  I started writing letters to the puppet, and “the puppet” started writing letters back to me.  I loved writing to “Skunky” and all of his animal friends!  This teacher found a connection to get to know me in ways that others had not been able to.  She made an impact on me, and I am so grateful that we are still in touch to this day.  

Do you have any advice for brand new teachers?

The biggest piece of advice that I can give to new teachers is to remember that their teaching journey is their own.  As a teacher, it is so easy to compare yourself to your colleagues, and think that they have better classroom management, a prettier classroom, or more exciting lessons than you.  However, you have to remember that you were called to be a teacher because specific students needed YOU as their teacher.  You may be able to reach a student that others have struggled to reach, just by being you!