Lion's Den Learning

I have been teaching since 2002, all of it Special Education, with the exception of a few regular division high school level classes thrown in there. I have taught self-contained, resource, alternative placement, reading recovery, and BD/ED. The lowest grade level I have ever taught was 6th grade, but have taught all ability levels as well as all core subjects. I taught 9-12 grade Algebra/Algebra 2 and Geometry, along with World and American History, and Economics in a co-taught, self-contained and ED setting. I am now currently teaching 8th grade self-contained classes. I teach all core subjects except Social Studies.

My teaching style is one of ease, flexibility, respect, pacing, and care. Having worked with the style of students that I have, I've learned that relationships come first, education second. If the students don't feel comfortable in their learning environment, safe and secure, they won't trust you to teach them. They won't trust you to know their weaknesses and areas of need. I have to be flexible enough to know that something isn't working, stop immediately and change direction mid-lesson. My pacing of lessons can sometimes be sloth-like. I teach to mastery, so if it takes us four weeks on one concept, it takes us four weeks. I want my kids to see that success. I also hate pencil and paper tests. I give projects, gallery walks, DBQ projects, online activities rather than the standby. Lastly, my room is safe. From bullying, from hunger, from pain, from everything. Kids from all over crash in my room which is great.

I received my Bachelor's in Special Education from Illinois State University in 2002 then my Master's in High Incidences Special Education from the University of Kansas in 2016.

I am a single mother to two children- my oldest, AJ is 23 and out on their own. My youngest, Katelyn, will graduate from high school this school year and then major in culinary arts. We have 2 dogs- a Lab named Bo, and a Saint Bernard named Jack. We also have 2 cats- Nala and Dora. Our house is never dull, but the door is always open to friends and family.