Jean Eittreim

Minneapolis Public Schools 26 years Pomona (California) Public Schools 2 years Bottineau, North Dakota Private Kindergarten, 1 year Riverdale, North Dakota Public School ( grade school music), 1year St Paul (Minnesota) Public Schools,

I was fortunate to teach at Marcy Open School in Minneapolis, part of a federal grant in the 1970's to develop alternative schools. Some of our best practices included: Developmentally appropriate curriculum: Morning meeting (affective education, communication skills, team building, decision making, problem solving): Integrated curriculum (theme based): Whole language reading (Individualized reading); Manipulative math; Multi-age classroom (my specialty was grades 1,2,3); Cross age teaching (activities with a 4,5,6 classroom); Experiencial learning (Hands on science, role-play social studies); Frequent field trips as part of integrated curriculum; Goal setting/ student choices/self-evaluation; Non-traditional classroom furniture/ classroom divided into several learning environments.

Graduated Magna Cum Laude from college; Class was featured in Minneapolis Tribune Picture Magazine with full-size cover photo and inside article and photos, reporting 3-day trip to my lake cabin with my class. Won a nation-wide contest to design a new type of school. Along with my colleague I designed Chiron, a middle-school with curriculum built around real-life learning experiences in the community. School became a reality in Minneapolis.

B.A. from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa; M. A. from University of Minnesota in Teacher Education

Grew up in Decorah, Iowa; Married Orrin Eittreim, a Lutheran and Presbyterian pastor; Raised four children, three of them adopted; Taught elementary age children for 31 years; Five published books; Classical pianist and piano teacher; Poetry writer; Creator and facilitator of teen-age and adult workshops, including classroom management, open school principles, parent involvement, church leadership, cross-cultural, teen spiritual growth, parenting, moving on after losing a loved one; In retirement a volunteer in inner-city schools, church, and townhouse association.