MY STORY
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. I loved school and most of my teachers. I excelled in Reading and Writing and I struggled in Math. I worked hard and I got good grades. In 2001, I graduated from DePaul University with a 4 year bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. I worked as an educational assistant for one year in an elementary school and got my first classroom teaching job the following year, teaching grade 6/7 Science and Social Studies in a middle school. I taught a wide range of diverse learners who were included in my classroom for 8 years. In 2006, I completed a Master of Arts degree in Teaching and Leadership. In 2010, I got married and moved to Abbotsford, BC. I did not know a lot about the school district and we were starting a family so I took a couple of years off. In November of 2012 when I decided to go back to work, I once again took a job as an educational assistant and quickly moved into teaching. I worked as a learning support teacher as well as a k-5 PE/Grade 5 teacher. After a few years in LSS and with mixed emotions, I am going back to the classroom as a grade 6/7 generalist.
As a teacher, I am passionate about teaching and I fully support inclusion. I believe that all students are capable of learning and that as teachers, we need to meet kids where they are at. We need to create lessons and environments that meet the needs of all learners. As our population of students changes, so must our lessons and how we present them. I believe that my job is to advocate on behalf of all kids and make sure that the adaptations they need are accessible. Unfortunately, as teachers we are asked to do more and more with less and less. This causes burn out and many teachers feel that the only way to stay afloat is to teach to the average learner.
As a parent of four children, I can also see the diverse learning needs in my own home. Fair is not always equal. Just like my teaching, my parenting also requires me to differentiate so that I can meet the needs of my own children and ensure they have the tools needed to be successful.
While technology is not one of my strengths, this is an area that I will continue to learn and grow in. The possibilities for students both with and without disabilities are endless. As technology advances, it will continue to level the playing field for all learners.
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. I loved school and most of my teachers. I excelled in Reading and Writing and I struggled in Math. I worked hard and I got good grades. In 2001, I graduated from DePaul University with a 4 year bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. I worked as an educational assistant for one year in an elementary school and got my first classroom teaching job the following year, teaching grade 6/7 Science and Social Studies in a middle school. I taught a wide range of diverse learners who were included in my classroom for 8 years. In 2006, I completed a Master of Arts degree in Teaching and Leadership. In 2010, I got married and moved to Abbotsford, BC. I did not know a lot about the school district and we were starting a family so I took a couple of years off. In November of 2012 when I decided to go back to work, I once again took a job as an educational assistant and quickly moved into teaching. I worked as a learning support teacher as well as a k-5 PE/Grade 5 teacher. After a few years in LSS and with mixed emotions, I am going back to the classroom as a grade 6/7 generalist.
As a teacher, I am passionate about teaching and I fully support inclusion. I believe that all students are capable of learning and that as teachers, we need to meet kids where they are at. We need to create lessons and environments that meet the needs of all learners. As our population of students changes, so must our lessons and how we present them. I believe that my job is to advocate on behalf of all kids and make sure that the adaptations they need are accessible. Unfortunately, as teachers we are asked to do more and more with less and less. This causes burn out and many teachers feel that the only way to stay afloat is to teach to the average learner.
As a parent of four children, I can also see the diverse learning needs in my own home. Fair is not always equal. Just like my teaching, my parenting also requires me to differentiate so that I can meet the needs of my own children and ensure they have the tools needed to be successful.
While technology is not one of my strengths, this is an area that I will continue to learn and grow in. The possibilities for students both with and without disabilities are endless. As technology advances, it will continue to level the playing field for all learners.