Hi! I am a private school teacher in Ohio. I am a dad of three, married to a teacher, and a animal lover. Thanks so very much for dropping by my new website! I am so happy that you're here!
I graduated with a diploma in Early Childhood Development from the University of North Dakota and started teaching right away at the age of twenty-one. Taking graduate classes at night, I later earned a Masters of Instruction in Elementary Education.
My teaching career started near the turn of the century, back when there was room for Personal Instruction in the class and children still had active imaginations. Classrooms had dramatic play areas, sinks were filled with messy paint brushes, and"developmentally appropriate" was the buzz phrase to use in a meeting. I have been around long enough to watch the bureaucratic pendulum swing back and forth a few times, but sadly back to the time when fun was allowed in class.
After apprentice teaching in college, my very first teaching assignment was in 2nd grade. I loved 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 course of 2 years. Those first six 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 eleven years as a 3rd grade teacher, before transitioning into my current role as a second grade talented specialist.
I'm generally a very optimistic person. I'm passionate about teaching and adore the kids I teach. Lately, the state of schooling has given me lots to be worried about. I believe that statistics and standards have become obstacles to meaningful teaching. Real, live kids have become dehumanized, not individuals. It is quite concerning.
This site is about the kind of instruction that is NOT measured just by standardized tests. The type of instruction that builds character, self-esteem, and deeper comprehension. The kind of teaching that discretely meets the standards. The type of instruction that teachers know is good for kids. Sadly, the kind of teaching that great teacherskeep from prying eyes.