Favorite teaching moment:
A fifth grade student was
recommended by her classroom teacher to join my math intervention class.
After assessing her in mathematics, I told her I would be picking her up twice
a week for extra help. She seemed happy about the extra help. The
following day she came into my room and asked if she could speak to
me privately. I, of course, said “yes,” and she asked me if I could also give
her extra help in reading because she felt she was weak in that area as well. I
loved that moment! I knew this student felt secure enough to ask for help and
reached out to me to get that help.
Favorite book: One of my favorite read alouds is “The Other
Side” by Jacqueline Woods. It is a wonderful story about a young girl who is
confused by the racial tension in her town. This book lends itself to wonderful
class discussions about integration.
Favorite school food: In my 27 years of teaching, I have never
eaten any school food. I live by the motto “if I can't recognize a food, I will
not eat it.”
Favorite school trip: For several years, my classes were
involved with an art program in conjunction with the Guggenheim Museum.
A resident artist would visit weekly and at times would show us slides of the
work of famous painters. We would learn about the artist and his or her
paintings and then visit the Guggenheim to see the original work. It was
such a pleasure to see the excitement on my students’ faces when they saw the
paintings in person.
Best student quote: One day, as I was walking my class to the
lunchroom, I heard one of my students doing a lot of talking. Without
turning around to face the class, I reminded that student that he should not be
talking in the hall. He asked me how I knew it was him when I wasn't facing
him. When I told him it was because I have eyes in the back of my head he
replied, "So did my last year's teacher!"