Education

Washington State University - BA History and Anthropology

University of Idaho - College of Law

Boise State University - BA Elementary Education

Seattle University - College of Education (Current)

Teaching Background

Middleton Primary School - 1st Grade (Middleton, Idaho)

Carpe Diem Primary School - Multi-age K-3 (Vashon Island, Washington)

Stevens Elementary School - 1st and 2nd Grade (Seattle, WA)

Philosophy

The primary years are the most important years for educating children.  Not only are we asking young children to intensify their academic endeavors, but we are also asking them to become more independent, organized, and responsible.  Children love to learn and are eager to contribute to the creation of a supportive and respectful "community of learners."  It is necessary to provide them with ample opportunities to view themselves as successful students because the primary years will influence their entire relationship with further education.

My classroom is a busy place.  Children learn best when they are actively involved in hands-on activities.  Learning is important work for children and my goal is to make each child feel like a contributing and successful learner.  Students should play an active role in their own education.  Instead of feeding children information to memorize, I teach them how to formulate questions, solve problems, evaluate solutions, manage information, and work cooperatively.  I use a variety of teaching techniques so that every child can be involved in his or her own learning.  Structure, risk-taking, trust, and communication are essential elements of my classroom.

I understand that all learning should be purposeful and fun.  There is so much we can do to model learning, reflection, and the zest for discovery.  I encourage my students to develop into life-long readers, writers, and learners.  All children have tremendous potential and my primary goal is to afford each child the opportunity to realize this potential.  By using academic standards and benchmarks, cooperative learning, and flexible grouping structures, I am able to effectively manage student learning and assist students in discovering the joy of education.  This philosophy helps each child to learn to value and respect for each other and themselves.

Teaching is one of my greatest passions in life.  It involves nurturing, managing, reflection, and being willing to reach out and meet the needs of every child.  I am constantly learning new things, exploring innovative ideas, and celebrating the growth and achievement of every student.  Children learn in different ways and it is important to individualize learning to meet the needs of every child.  In my classroom, student learning is not about comparison or competition, rather, the focus is on individualized student progress.

I do welcome your observations, ideas, and concerns.  Please feel free to chat with me before or after school, through e-mail, or call me to set up a more formal conference.  Together, we can create a learning environment that reflects our strengths, interests, and understanding of the importance of a great educational foundation.

Interests

Part of being a life-long learner involves a willingness to explore and nurture one's passions.  I am a passionate teacher!  Some of my other great passions include Art,  nordic and alpine skiing, cycling, and roller blading.  I love the wilderness and frequently disappear for day long hiking excursions.  I enjoy travel and have visited Turkey, Greece, Russia, the Ukraine, Belarus, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Georgia, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the UK, and Mexico.  I am a movie buff and enjoy many genres on the big screen. Be warned, I rarely share my extra salty popcorn!  I am an avid reader and can frequently be found in my favorite bookstores or library branches.  I am also the caregiver to classroom icons and brilliantly wonderful border collies Nan and Lily Pad.