1. What is your most memorable field trip experience?
My most memorable field trip was my first ever field trip. We went
to the zoo. There were (what seemed like) 900 million kids there as soon as we
walked in and I was an absolute nervous wreck the entire time! I was so glad to
be back at the school, safe and sound with all my kiddos with me. Whew!
2. What is something you have learned
from your time on Teachers Pay Teachers?
Teachers Pay Teachers has taught me the value of being creative
and allowing my students opportunities for engaging and meaningful lessons.
3. What book inspired you as a
student?
I just loved A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. That book
kind of rocked my world. I remember spending hours imagining Meg and her three
strange friends. I was completely eaten up with the idea of tessellating. I
could go on and on. That book kept me up at night.
4. What is
something you would like to see in the future, for education?
I would love to see more of a focus on student-led instruction. I
believe in allowing students to make their own discoveries and manipulate
content to make it fit each of them and their individual needs. As a teacher, I
feel my job is not to "teach" but to "guide" students to
teaching themselves and their classmates. I would love to see a shift in that
direction. Also, smaller class sizes ;)
5. What is something fun about you
that teachers don't know about you?
I really love playing pranks on people. My parents always told me
I was "ornery" and I suppose that ornery streak has carried through
to my adult years. Even my poor students have been subjected to my pranks. I
have plastic wrapped doorways, placed whoopie cushions in many a chair, and even
purchased "fake vomit." Suffice it to say that April Fool's Day is a
much-anticipated day in my classroom and my home :)
6. What is an achievement, in
education or otherwise, that you have accomplished?
In 2009, I became the first
person on my father's side of our family tree ever to graduate from college. I
was very honored to hold that title.
I received an educational award this year as well when I was
nominated by a former student's parent and selected for a local radio station's
Teacher of the Week feature. I was surprised in my classroom by a radio dj and
was live on air as the nomination letter and prizes were read to me. I was so
touched I was in tears. Unfortunately, I sounded like a total dork on the radio!
But, what can you do? :)
7. What was your first 'Free' item
that you posted up on Teachers Pay Teachers? What made you choose that?
I posted a Geometry Terms quiz as my free item. I chose the quiz
because I found that while I was able to find many vocabulary quizes and
lessons for reading, it was difficult to locate any vocabulary lessons for
math. I had designed the quiz for my own class and many of my colleagues had
asked to use it as well. I found that it was a popular resource and I was glad
to share it with others on the Teachers Pay Teachers website.
8. What was your
first 'Paid' item that you posted up on Teachers Pay Teachers? What made you
choose that?
The first paid item I posted was a Garbage Inferencing activity. I
chose it because it is one of my most absolute favorite things that we do all
year long in my classroom and I was excited to share it with others. In the
activity, students rummage through pre-made "garbage bags" that their
teachers "took from her new neighbors trash can." Students then use
the items in the trash bag to make inferences about what my new neighbors might
be like. They love it! At the end of the year, many of them still reference
that lesson as one of their very favorites.
9. Your favorite teaching quote
is...
"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to
make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him." -
Maya Angelou
10. What is your
'Go To' time filler?
When we need to fill time, we do quick "book
commercials." Students know that their commercials have to be short and
sweet - just like a real commercial. They stand up in front of the room and
advertise the book they are reading. Other students write the title down in
their reading journals so they can go check it out at the library if they think
it sounds like a good read. It is so much fun! Students are usually chomping at
the bit to share their books with each other and it really amps up their attitude
toward reading in general.
by
Britnee
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