I grew up in the small town of Taylorsville, North Carolina, about an hour west of Winston-Salem. Growing up, I always knew I was supposed to be a teacher. Everyone else around me also knew I was supposed to be a teacher. I would come home from long days at school and "teach" my imaginary class how to do my homework. It was all in preparation for the real world. :)
Aside from teaching my imaginary students, I grew up loving music. My home was always filled with music, whether it was the gracious sounds of my dad on piano, or my mother singing along, or my older brothers' band practicing next to the living room. I was BOUND to be a performer! I followed in my older brother's footsteps and became infatuated with drums and percussion, continuing to study it (or teach it) in one way or another since I was eleven. I've been in several bands, including two steel drum bands and had opportunities to perform with some amazing musicians. Many people thought that after high school, I would go on to perform or teach music for the rest of my life.
But, I felt called to teach elementary students in the general education classroom. And I love it! I graduated from Appalachian State University and have been teaching at Forsyth Academy ever since! I have taught 3rd grade for the last four years and am looking forward to my new position in 2nd grade this year. Last year, I took the next step in my career, as I began Graduate School. Being a student and a teacher has had its challenges, but has been such a positive experience for me! This year, I will be continuing my work towards a Master's Degree in Reading Education from Appalachian State University.
I love my job.
No, it is not the easiest job in the world (by any means), but the rewards that come from seeing a child get something for the first time after struggling so long, or giving a hug on a bad day and receiving a thank you note make up for those "not so easy" moments. I believe my job is first to love a child and then grow their mind through love. For as much fun as we have in my classroom, students will also be challenged and encouraged to struggle. Not for the sake of struggling, but for the opportunity to discover that through perseverance they COULD do it, even though it was tough. I believe that students learn through discovery and will most likely learn in the deepest way when he or she is able to apply and DO what it is the teacher is talking about.
In my classroom, we talk. A lot. We talk about books. We talk about math. We talk about problems. We talk about solutions. We talk about "whys" and "hows" and "how is could be betters". We discuss it all and I encourage you to do the same with your child. These kids have a voice and AMAZING ideas! It is our job as adults to cultivate an environment of love and encouragement that provides opportunities for kids to amaze us!
I am so looking forward to the amazing things your child is going to do in second grade! It takes all of us-teachers, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors- to mold these little, amazing human beings into the future leaders of the world. I am so excited about what they are going to do! :)
This summer I traveled with 22 other National Heritage Academies teachers to the Whole Brain Teaching Conference in Pineville, Louisiana. We all enjoyed a Swamp Boat Tour while we were there!! :)
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