Background
I began my education career as a tutor for middle and high school students around Cleveland, Ohio. I was fresh out of college with degrees in English and Journalism and on the hunt for my first career. Tutoring was supposed to be nothing more than a paycheck, and yet I was hit hard with a realization: I actually enjoyed what I was doing. I stopped searching for a public relations job and went back to school for my Master’s in Urban Education.
I have experience working with students of all levels from 2nd grade to high school. I taught English to seniors on the east side of Cleveland, then moved to Loudoun County, Virginia where I taught communications and remedial reading. Each opportunity was vastly different, and with each teaching experience I was able to narrow down exactly what I wanted to teach. I ended up going back to school again for my endorsement in Gifted Education, and I am currently in my seventh year as a Gifted Intervention Specialist at a suburban Ohio elementary school.
My Teaching Style
“Yeah, but why?”
We’ve all been there. We are introducing a lesson when a hand shoots up. The students want to know why they are learning this. They want to know when they will ever use this again.
As frustrating as that can be as a teacher, I totally get that. After all, there have been plenty of meetings when I’ve thought the same thing. I use that philosophy to help guide my lessons. Common Core and testing may guide my teaching, but I refuse to let it limit it. I look for creative ways for my students to actually apply what they learn. I know that every student won’t leave with my passion for English and literature, but I do hope that every student leaves my class with a passion for learning.
Contact Me
Email me with any comments, questions or suggestions for future posts creativeteachersclassroom@gmail.com
Check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store for more ideas and inspiration
Creative Teacher's Classroom 
I am also a third grade teacher and seem to have a similar philosophy to you. I am documenting my year of reading with my students this year. It is a lot of picture books, poetry and whole class sets I use. I hate denying low readers access to books they might not be able to read, but can comprehend (and enjoy). I loved the time capsule idea and the making of sploosh. Holes is an amazing book. Not sure if you ever read Tale of Desperaux with your students, but it is similar with multiple perspectives and everything tying together in the end. I look forward to seeing your other ideas.
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