1. What is your most memorable field trip
experience?
You know, I always loved field trips, and a lot of my colleagues
hated them. Yes, it took more energy than a regular school day, but I guess I'm
like a kid in that I loved breaking the routine and seeing something new and
interesting. I never had a horrible field trip experience that would burn it on
my memory, so all of the field trips kind of stand out in my mind. I really
enjoyed visiting Stone Mountain Park and taking kids to the Antebellum
Plantation and Barnyard. I also remember going to the Weinman Mineral Museum. I
really thought that part of that particular trip was going to be a waste of
time; rocks and minerals weren't even part of our science curriculum. It turned
out to be the best part of the trip. We got to see a moon rock, pan for gems,
and explore fossils. That was over 10 years ago and those students tell me they
still remember it.
2. What is something you have learned
from your time on Teachers Pay Teachers?
I've learned to improve my teaching resources so that they're
better for someone else to use by including full directions, tips for use, and
other supplementary materials.
3. What book inspired you as a student?
I loved the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. I really wanted to be a
writer when I was a kid.
4. What is something you would like to see in the future, for
education?
I would love for government to scale back its love affair with
testing and look at more authentic ways to evaluate student and teacher
success. It's not as easy to standardize across the nation, but if done
correctly, it will give a more accurate picture. I would love to see the
current climate of pressure on teachers change. Teachers are some of the
hardest working professionals I know, but it has felt for the last few years
like there is a stranglehold on us. We are looked at with suspicion and there
is so much talk about "bad teachers" and what needs to be done with
them. In the meantime we are given less and less to work with--more furlough
days, less money, and some districts are even giving up instructional days. I
really feel for new teachers who have never known the profession any other way.
5. What is something fun about you
that teachers don't know about you?
Before beginning my teaching career, I worked as a movie
projectionist, technical support operator, Chinese restaurant waitress, and
dorm security rover. I'm 5'1" and utterly nonathletic, so the fact that I
worked security always gives people a laugh.
6. What is an achievement, in
education or otherwise, that you have accomplished?
I am really proud of all of the work I have done in my current
position as a school technology coordinator at a public special needs school.
In two short years I have become somewhat versed in assistive technology and
have presented introductory workshops to other educators, created a brand-new
school website from scratch, taught a weekly computer lab special to about 300
three- and four-year-olds, set up, organized, implemented, and maintained a set
of schoolwide OneNote notebooks, worked with vendors, managed a budget of about
$20,000, and provided lots and lots of training to the staff. It was a huge
transition moving from the fourth grade classroom into what I do now, but I've
never been happier in my career.
7. What was your first 'Free' item
that you posted up on Teachers Pay Teachers? What made you choose that?
My first freebie was the Yearlong, Semi-Quarterly Book Share
Project
(http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Yearlong-Semi-quarterly-Book-Share-Project).
I started this project my first year of teaching and grew it, tweaked it, and
loved it for 8 years before I joined Teachers Pay Teachers. I knew it was a
good example of my work because it was so extensive. Five years later it's been
downloaded more than 43,000 times! I got lots of requests for a version that
teachers could edit, so I eventually updated it, added more resources to it,
and posted a customizable version for sale.
(http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Customizable-Yearlong-Semi-Quarterly-Book-Share-Project)
8. What was your first 'Paid' item that you posted up on
Teachers Pay Teachers? What made you choose
that?
My first paid item was a literature and writing graphic organizer
package. I used a lot of graphic organizers during my reading centers, and I
was really just trying to think of something I could make and post to see what
would happen. I came up with some ideas that were a bit different than the ones
I had used before and created them. I still sell some of these now and then,
but as my first product, they aren't as polished as the newer resources.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Literature-Writing-Graphic-Organizer-Package
9. Your
favorite teaching quote is...
"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free."
-Frederick Douglass
10. What is your 'Go To' time filler?
I'm terribly addicted to TV. I have lots of favorite shows:
Dexter, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Parenthood, Once Upon a Time, Walking Dead,
Modern Family, Raising Hope. I also enjoy discovering cancelled shows that I
missed the first time around thanks to streaming services: Veronica Mars,
United States of Tara, Life on Mars. I know it's low-brow, but it's a fun
escape. In my defense, I do read a lot too!
by
Anna Colley
Fall
and Winter Ordered Pairs Pack, $10.00 (currently on sale for $8.00)
Graph
the Constellations, $3.00
Down
on the Farm Cause & Effect File Folder Game, $3.00
The upcoming weeks are the perfect time to encourage students to help others in need. Motivating students to volunteer during the holidays is simple. Find projects students can create and give. Everything from cut-outs of holiday themed items to impersonal letters to thank you cards can bring smiles of joy to faces. Donate the hand-made products to adult living centers, hospitals, and nursing homes. Also, students can volunteer to perform charitable work, such as reading to elderly patients or performing a play at a nursing home. Homeless shelters need extra hands and so do food kitchens. Frequently, students need to look no further than their own neighborhoods to volunteer their time. They might try babysitting for busy parents, putting up Christmas decoration, or raking leaves. A school toy drive or community project, such as collecting books, is a excellent way to promote volunteerism. 
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