Creative Teacher

I am currently in my 15th year of elementary education. I started my career teaching fifth grade. After three years in fifth grade I transferred within my school district to a third grade position. In 2006 I completed my masters degree and attained a Reading Specialist Certification. For the last 11 years I have team taught with a special education teacher in an inclusion model. I have many experiences with children who are struggling readers. The school I teach at is located in a suburb of Chicago and has a population that is about 97% low-income.

I describe my teaching style as ever changing. I believe a teacher needs to know their students so well that their teaching style adapts to the students' learning styles. One school year I may have a group of students who are more auditory learners and I will do more oral activities. Another year I may have students who are body-kinesthetic learners and we act out lessons and "peg" the information to their bodies to help with memory. This year I have a group that needs to see pictures and graphic organizers to aid their learning. So, I don't have a specific "teaching style" other than I take the time to really get to know my students to best fit their needs.

None yet, but I'm hopeful!

I attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois for my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Psychology. For my masters degree in Diagnostic and Prescriptive Reading with a Reading Specialist Option, I attended Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.

In addition to my daily teaching I am the third grade team leader. I am responsible for relaying information between the administration and my team. I also facilitate our weekly RtI meetings. I am in my sixth year of being a New Teacher Mentor. I have weekly meetings with new teachers in my building to support and guide them through their first year of teaching. I am on our district RtI steering committee. I represent the elementary teachers' needs with RtI and communicate at a district level the teachers' successes and concerns regarding RtI implementation. Finally, I have taken on a new challenge this year and have been appointed to the district Common Core Math Standards Team. We are reviewing the new information as it comes out and leading workshops at our respective building about the new standards and strategies.