Welcome! I am a public school teacher in Pennsylvania. I am a dad of 3, husband of a teacher, and a animal lover. Thanks so much for visiting my new website! I'm so glad that you're here!
I graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Development in the University of Florida and started teaching right away at the age of twenty-one. Taking graduate classes at night, I later received a Masters of Instruction in Elementary Education.
My teaching career started near the turn of the century, back when there was time for Creative Thought in the classroom and kids still had active thoughts. Classrooms had outstanding play areas, sinks were filled with messy paint brushes, and"developmentally appropriate" was the buzz phrase to use in an interview. I've been around long enough to see the educational pendulum swing back and forth a few times, but sadly never back to the time when fun was allowed in class.
After apprentice teaching in kindergarten, my very 1st teaching job was in 2nd grade. I loved (and still love) that age group! After a shift in registration, I was allocated to first grade and became a first to second grade floating teacher. It was such a wonderful experience to watch the students grow across the course of 2 school years. Those first five years in the primary grades gave me a very solid foundation for working as a third grade teacher in the middle of my career. I spent nine years as a third grade teacher, before moving into my current role as a second grade talented professional.
I am generally a very optimistic person. I am passionate about teaching and adore the kids I teach. Recently, the state of education has given me lots to worry about. I believe that statistics and testing have become obstacles to meaningful teaching. Real, live kids have become dehumanized, not individuals. It's very, very concerning.
This blog is about the kind of instruction that is NOT measured just by standardized tests. The type of teaching that builds character, self-esteem, and deeper comprehension. The kind of instruction that discretely meets the standards. The type of teaching that teachers know is good for kids. Unfortunately, the kind of instruction that good teacherskeep from prying eyes.