Where the past 8 years have taken me....
I always knew I wanted to pursue a degree in education but it wasn't until I transferred to Michigan State University as a junior that I truly began the journey. Michigan State University's elementary education is a top notch that program that allowed me to almost immediately begin working in the classroom. As a junior and senior I had field placements that gave me insight into different classroom and teacher learning styles. During the fifth year student teaching internship program I was placed in a full day kindergarten classroom within Lansing Public Schools. The experience was unforgettable and one of the best learning opportunities a new teacher could have. I observed my cooperating teacher start off the school year and had the opportunity to help her close it as well. The full year program required extended lead teaching opportunities and required student interns to thoroughly reflect upon what they have learned. I left that year excited and ready to find a classroom of my own.
Raleigh, North Carolina, was where I landed next, in one of the nations largest school districts. After a short road trip down to Raleigh I knew this was where I wanted to start my next venture in life! I was overwhelmed when I was offered a full day kindergarten position in a year round school. I had two weeks to pack up and move and begin that first year of teaching. That year in Raleigh was full of ups and downs and I learned what worked and what did not in the classroom. I was able to apply much of what I had learned in undergrad and during that fifth year internship. I felt I grew as a teacher in the area of classroom management because of this experience. Wedding bells were soon ringing and by March of 2009 I was engaged. After I finished that first year of teaching, I moved to Cincinnati to be closer to my fiance.
The summer of 2009 was stressful as I applied for jobs left and right in Cincinnati, Ohio. Once again I was blessed to land a first grade position, this time teaching across the Ohio river in Kentucky. I loved teaching first grade and felt I had found my nitch. I had a wonderful team of first grade teachers that helped me learn the state standards and procedures. I went through a mentoring teacher program called KTIP that allowed me to reflect and gain knowledge in all areas of my teaching practices. The year went by quickly and by the summer of 2010 I was ready to get married!
Our wedding in Grand Rapids, Michigan was beautiful. We couldn't have asked for a more joyous day filled with friends and family. After that summer I continued working as a first grade teacher in Kentucky and soon learned we were expecting our first daughter. To add to the excitement and stress, I began the online MAED progam through Michigan State University. I was unsure of how I would balance running a classroom, pregnancy and online schooling but in the end it was well worth it. We celebrated our daughter's birth in May of 2011 and that summer I continued taking courses online. In the fall of 2011, I began my third year in first grade and was excited to continue applying knowledge from the MAED courses into the classroom.
It is now the summer of 2012 and I am wrapping up my final course in the MAED program. It has been a very insightful journey. I look forward to having a year of rest from schooling as I begin to prepare for my new role as the schools Read-To-Achieve teacher. This grant-based program will allow me to work with students in grades K-3 to help enhance their reading skills. It has been a long and eventful eight years that have been filled with amazing memories.
Raleigh, North Carolina, was where I landed next, in one of the nations largest school districts. After a short road trip down to Raleigh I knew this was where I wanted to start my next venture in life! I was overwhelmed when I was offered a full day kindergarten position in a year round school. I had two weeks to pack up and move and begin that first year of teaching. That year in Raleigh was full of ups and downs and I learned what worked and what did not in the classroom. I was able to apply much of what I had learned in undergrad and during that fifth year internship. I felt I grew as a teacher in the area of classroom management because of this experience. Wedding bells were soon ringing and by March of 2009 I was engaged. After I finished that first year of teaching, I moved to Cincinnati to be closer to my fiance.
The summer of 2009 was stressful as I applied for jobs left and right in Cincinnati, Ohio. Once again I was blessed to land a first grade position, this time teaching across the Ohio river in Kentucky. I loved teaching first grade and felt I had found my nitch. I had a wonderful team of first grade teachers that helped me learn the state standards and procedures. I went through a mentoring teacher program called KTIP that allowed me to reflect and gain knowledge in all areas of my teaching practices. The year went by quickly and by the summer of 2010 I was ready to get married!
Our wedding in Grand Rapids, Michigan was beautiful. We couldn't have asked for a more joyous day filled with friends and family. After that summer I continued working as a first grade teacher in Kentucky and soon learned we were expecting our first daughter. To add to the excitement and stress, I began the online MAED progam through Michigan State University. I was unsure of how I would balance running a classroom, pregnancy and online schooling but in the end it was well worth it. We celebrated our daughter's birth in May of 2011 and that summer I continued taking courses online. In the fall of 2011, I began my third year in first grade and was excited to continue applying knowledge from the MAED courses into the classroom.
It is now the summer of 2012 and I am wrapping up my final course in the MAED program. It has been a very insightful journey. I look forward to having a year of rest from schooling as I begin to prepare for my new role as the schools Read-To-Achieve teacher. This grant-based program will allow me to work with students in grades K-3 to help enhance their reading skills. It has been a long and eventful eight years that have been filled with amazing memories.