Curley Girl
I grew up in Gary, Indiana, the youngest of nine children. I earned my B.A. in special education at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and my M.A. at Indiana State University, also in special education. I later earned my elementary education certification at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. Since then I have continued my education through multiple graduate classes and seminars.
My philosophy of teaching is based on what has worked for me and the students that I have been fortunate to work with over the past 35 years. I believe we all learn best when we are actively engaged and are enjoying the process. That is why I rely a lot on humor, games, and group interaction. I believe strongly in the social aspect of learning, which is very different than the way I was taught. When I was in elementary school, we did much of our work in silence, copying sentences or math problems down without speaking to anyone else. I try to utilize the benefits of collaboration with my students, giving them many opportunities to work with a partner or in a small group. As I listen to their discussions, it is obvious that they are talking about their thinking, clarifying their ideas, and relying on each other for support when they need it. I also believe it is important to spend time building a classroom community where all students feel like they have something to offer. Much of this “community building” comes from involving them in shared experiences, such as reading good literature together, playing games, or putting on a play. My teaching is based on the idea that we are more likely to remember what we enjoy. Besides that, fun and laughter just make the day go faster.
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Escape from the Leprechaun St. Patrick's Day Escape Room
$4.00This St. Patrick's Day digital escape room presents students with 5 classic brain teasers and on-line hints to help solve them. Escape rooms allow for learning at its best; the engagement and excitement of solving problems while trying to beat the clock...$4.00 -
Escape from the Locker Room Digital Super Bowl Escape Room
$4.00This digital escape room about the Super Bowl presents students with 5 math challenges related to the big game. They will figure out things like the area of a football field, how long the Bears went between Super Bowl appearances, and the difference in...$4.00 -
Escape from Mount Rushmore Presidents Day Digital Escape Room
$4.00This digital escape room about U. S. presidents presents students with views of Mount Rushmore, an overview of the sequence of presidents, and virtual tours of four presidential homes: George Washington's, Thomas Jefferson's, Theodore Roosevelt's, and...$4.00 -
Escape from the Mall Valentine's Day Digital Escape Room
$4.00This Valentines Day digital escape room presents students with 5 reading and math challenges that include word puzzles, math brain teasers, a quick Google search, and some fun limericks. Escape rooms allow for learning at its best; the engagement and...$4.00 -
Escape with Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Digital Escape Room
$4.00This digital escape room about the Underground Railroad presents students with photos from the Library of Congress, short articles and video clips, a map showing Harriet Tubman's escape route, a rebus puzzle dealing with safe houses, and the original...$4.00 -
Indiana Jeopardy
$4.00This PowerPoint is a great way to review what fourth grade students have learned about Indiana. It's a fun way to practice before a unit test. It includes a six-category game board with 30 clues and answers, optional theme music on each slide, and a...$4.00 -
Weather Jeopardy
$4.00This PowerPoint is a fun way to review what students have learned about weather and a great way to practice before a unit test. It includes a six-category game board with 30 clues and answers, optional theme music on each slide, and a final Jeopardy...$4.00 -
Human Body Jeopardy
$4.00This PowerPoint is a fun way to review what students have learned about the systems of the human body. It's a great way to practice before a unit test. It includes a six-category game board with 30 clues and answers, optional theme music on each slide,...$4.00 -
Favorite Intermediate Books and Authors Jeopardy
$4.00This PowerPoint is a fun way to remind students of some of the great literature that abounds for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. It includes a six-category game board with 30 clues and answers, optional theme music on each slide, and a Final Jeopardy question...$4.00