In 2010, I entered my very first classroom. I had just graduated with my teacher certification and degree in English as a Second Language. I was ready to take on the world and make an impact! I covered the bulletin boards in fabric, set up our (tiny) classroom library and had a week of lesson plans ready to go. My students walked in and “the best year ever” began! I went home that evening and burst into tears. Nothing went as expected, and I really, really struggled.
Looking back, I wish someone had told me what really mattered. It didn’t matter what was on my walls, or how many word wall words we tackled each week. My students were all that mattered, and my relationship with them would greatly impact their feelings of safety and security at school. Over time, I started to prioritize strong connections with my students, and that made all the difference.
Now that I’m a mom, I am reminded daily how important my relationship with my daughter is. When she feels secure, she is more willing to try new things, and she is able to tackle new and difficult things.
My goal is to share ideas with you that help make your life easier, and help you connect with your students and children. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m willing to share everything I’ve learned! I know how overwhelming it can feel when a little person looks up to you, and I want you to know you are not alone!
A few days later, I started writing my own. And a week after that I created my first teacher resource...word wall words with boxes around the letters. I knew my incoming first graders needed help with visual discrimination and I figured other classrooms could use them too. I devoured books like The comprehension Toolkit, Literacy Stations that Work, and Guided Math. I gained confidence, learned the importance of relationships and collaborated with amazing teacher colleagues.
This website...my little piece of the internet...it's here because of you. I know where you are. I've been there and I want to provide you the tools and strategies I didn't have. Here you'll find blog posts about best practices, resources that will help you teach and activities that engage your students.
- Relationships come first. A child who feels understood and loved will always be more successful.
- Social and emotional skills need to be taught just like math and reading. Children don’t know what it means to “be kind” or “show self-control unless we teach them.
- The healthier we (grown ups) are, the more we can support the children around us.
- You will never regret taking time to connect with a child.
- There’s no problem a little chips and queso can’t fix!
I hope you'll spend some time exploring, drop me a message and subscribe to my mailing list.
I can't wait to go on this teacher journey with you!
