I am pleased to be teaching Kindergarten at Prospect Valley Elementary School in Wheat Ridge for the 2011-12 school year. I love working in the elementary school environment and I am excited to get started with the new year.
I taught from 1991 - 1999 in Orange County, California, and while I did a great job with Kindergartners and First Graders in a "high expectations" district, I put my teaching career on hold while staying home for nine years. During that time I relocated to Colorado.
Prospect Valley is a fabulous school where the staff, students, and parents work together to create the best possible educational environment for kids. I am confident that this upcoming school year is going to be fantastic!
I taught from 1991 - 1999 in Orange County, California, and while I did a great job with Kindergartners and First Graders in a "high expectations" district, I put my teaching career on hold while staying home for nine years. During that time I relocated to Colorado.
Prospect Valley is a fabulous school where the staff, students, and parents work together to create the best possible educational environment for kids. I am confident that this upcoming school year is going to be fantastic!
Here are a few things you should know about my teaching philosophy:
1) I love children!
I am child centered. What a gift it is to teach. I am especially fond of second graders! They have a great perspective and appetite for life. I learn a lot from them.
2) I enjoy working collaboratively with others.
Working with grade level teammates, we will design the best program possible. I am a team player. We all have strengths and should share for the better of the whole school.
3) Parents play a huge role in the success their kids experience.
Parents should keep high expectations, sharing meaningful conversations about reading and writing, and affirm your children when you see them take the initiative on developing new skills.
4) I believe ALL children deserve a quality education.
Regardless of a child's socio-economic condition, ethnicity, gender or special needs, it is the goal of public education to design a education plan to help each child perform to his or her greatest potential.
5) I believe in the concept of lifelong learning.
5) I believe in the concept of lifelong learning.
I have read continually to stay current on best practices in teaching and learning while I have been staying home with my daughters. I have volunteered hundreds of hours in their schools and participated in their studies. I have learned a great deal by observing my daughter's Jeffco teachers. The last professional book I read was "Results Now!" by Michael J Schomaker Ph.D. This book has reinforced how important it us for us to be intentional about the amount of time spent during a student's day on reading and writing.
6) Read aloud to your child, no matter what grade he or she is in.
6) Read aloud to your child, no matter what grade he or she is in.
It is good to enjoy a piece of literature together. Try to pick a book that is above his or her reading level. While reading, stop regularly for conversations on comprehension strategies and interesting words. If you need book suggestions, just ask. I love to recommend books.
7) New technology is cool.
The Smart Board Interactive Whiteboard is a technology tool for kindergarteners that is easy to use. Students can use it for writing practice or word building, or the class can use it for easy-to-make interactive learning activities in all curriculum areas. Technology makes learning fun!
The one thing I know about teaching is that it is a changing, evolving profession. Many of the major fields of study in our universities today did not exist a decade ago. We are training kids today for careers that have yet to be invented... which is why we must give kids the tools to process information and think creatively.
I look forward to working with you - whether you are an administrator, a teacher, a parent, or just a kid!
Working together, we will accomplish great things!
The one thing I know about teaching is that it is a changing, evolving profession. Many of the major fields of study in our universities today did not exist a decade ago. We are training kids today for careers that have yet to be invented... which is why we must give kids the tools to process information and think creatively.
I look forward to working with you - whether you are an administrator, a teacher, a parent, or just a kid!
Working together, we will accomplish great things!
