Notman's Notebook

I started my career teaching second grade and later first grade in a school with six teachers for each grade, K-5. I enjoyed team teaching and sharing ideas. I learned so much from my peers. Much later I transferred to a small rural school in the same school district. I taught fifth grade for two years before moving to third grade. This small school had one teacher for each grade level. It was a change to go from team teaching to 'You're It'. But I LOVED it! In 2003, our elementary school was recognized as a 'National Blue Ribbon School'.

I believe children learn best when they are engaged and motivated to learn. Children also like to have FUN, so in order for learning to take place, I believe it must be engaging, motivating, and FUN! Most young students, if not all, are concrete learners, so they respond very well to hands-on activities. I also believe in being very organized and always ready to teach. This helped me transition from one subject to another quickly so the students don't have time to become discipline problems while waiting to find out what we are going to do next. This teaching style has worked for me and has made teaching FUN!

Our school received the National Blue Ribbon Award, which recognizes schools for its exemplary teaching and learning.

I attended college in Wyoming and Nebraska, where I received my degree in Education. I have 30 years of experience teaching first, second, and third grades.

I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, who is retired, two extraordinary sons, a pharmacist and an elementary principal, a beautiful daughter-in-law who has her own business doing medical billing for doctors, and two very lovely and talented granddaughters.