Welcome! I am a private school teacher in Florida. I am a father of 3, husband of a teacher, and a dog lover. Thanks so very much for visiting my new blog! I am so happy that you are here!
I graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Development in the University of California and started teaching immediately at the age of twenty-one. Attending graduate courses at night, I later received a Masters of Instruction in Elementary Education.
My teaching days started around the turn of the century, back when there was room for Personal Instruction in the classroom and children still had active imaginations. Classrooms had intricate play areas, sinks were filled with wet paint brushes, and"developmentally appropriate" was the buzz phrase to use in an interview. I've been around just long enough to see the educational pendulum swing back and forth a few times, but sadly never back to the time when children could just be themselves.
After student teaching in school, my very 1st teaching assignment was in 2nd grade. I loved (and still love) that age category! After a shift in registration, I was allocated to first grade and became a first to second grade looping teacher. It was such a wonderful experience to watch the students grow across the span of two school years. Those first four years in the elementary grades gave me a very strong foundation for becoming a third grade teacher at the center 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'm generally a very positive person. I'm passionate about teaching and adore the kids I teach. Lately, the state of education has given me lots to be worried about. I feel that statistics and testing have become obstacles to meaningful instruction. Real, live kids have become numbers, not individuals. It is very, very concerning.
This blog is about the kind of instruction that isn't measured by standardized tests. The kind of instruction that builds character, self-esteem, and deeper understanding. The kind of teaching that discretely meets the goals laid out from above. The type of instruction that teachers know is good for kids. Unfortunately, the kind of instruction that great teacherskeep from prying eyes.