Tell us
about yourself (family, schooling, hometown, hobbies, pets, birthday, etc.) in
the Introduce Yourself post. Also tell us why you chose the field of elementary
education and who influenced you to go into education. Your posts will help us
build a community of learners.
Hello fellow teachers! Welcome to Correction of Reading Disabilities. My name is Martha Bray and I will be your instructor this semester. Teaching has been in my blood since at least the age of 5, when I made my siblings play school, after school. Of course, I was their teacher. I made work sheets, tests, had art projects and read them a story each and every day. Unfortunately, they did not appreciate my teaching efforts, this was not their idea of a good time. However, I never lost the love for learning or teaching. I have taught all grades from kindergarten to college! I spent 10 years teaching in the Criminal Justice department and just recently made the switch to Elementary Education. Some seem this as quite the stretch. However, when you consider over 60% of our prison population reads below the third grade level, education is indeed important for the good of society. I have a B.A. in psychology and a M.S. in Education/Reading Specialist, and a PhD ABD in criminal Justice. I have always thought that reading well was an integral tool for future success.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal level, I have two grown children that live in Overland Park, Kansas. My son Brandon, who recently married his beautiful wife, Kate, is a software/app developer. My daughter Brittney is a federal bank reserve auditor.I am very proud of my children's achievement and I take partial credit because I played school with them when they were younger, teaching them to read at age 3! Or perhaps their success has nothing to do with my efforts, but I like to think it does!
I also have two dogs. Achilles, a yellow lab and Athena, a border collie/blue healer mix. They provide many hours of entertainment and companionship to me.
Well, enough about me. Feel free to contact me with any concerns you might have and enjoy the semester!
I would wager you have a love for Greek Mythology as well, by the names of your pets.
ReplyDeleteHi, I am Linda McCrary and I have 5 grown children, 7 grandchildren ages 4 - 17. (Two are by marriage) I have a cat whose name is Holly and a puppy named Ivy. "Holly and Ivy" came to us one year apart at Christmas time, hence their names.
I have a BA in Pastoral Studies, and am finishing my BA in Elementary Education this semester. I hope to student teach in the Fall. I am a Para-educator in my 8th year. (1 year in Haviland and then the balance here in Moscow, KS)
I preached for 10 years until my husband, a Methodist minister, was transferred to Moscow and God sent me to teach. It is amazing how He does things and how He will move our passion to accomplish His will. I spent many years in education for preaching included with the BA, I went to License to Preach School, numerous lay preaching academies, bible continuing education classes, and received a Commissioned Lay Preachers license. When we moved to Moscow it was as if walking through a door into another room, only in this case, another career.
I like to say "I went from pulpit to podium and preaching to teaching" :)
I think that following your calling is great! You will be a good teacher. I wish you the best of luck this semester and finishing your BA in Education!
DeleteWelcome to the class! You are correct - I do love mythology! One of my room-mates many moons ago was from Moscow. She wanted to be a teacher and her professor told her her voice was too "tiny" and she quit school devastated. People don't realize the power and influence teachers have over people's lives! You should have no problem teaching, because there is a lot of preaching in our craft. Welcome!
DeleteLinda-
DeleteWe are are neighbors...I live in Moscow and my husband comes to Moscow for our business. This is my 5th year at FHSU and I haven't had any one close to me and I have 2 in this class! I am so glad that God chose you to teach! I will tell you my story quick like. I don't like telling it, because still to this day people feel sorry for me and I don't want them to! in 2008 my 21 month old son Tanner passed away from E Coli! My oldest son age 3 at the time contracted it, but we were able to save him! I was currently working as a para for special education students and I went back to work only 3 weeks after burying my son. I felt that if I don't go back then I never will. I had a little girl with cerebral palsy I took care of and she needed me. One day I was working on music with her and I had brought some music from home that Tanner had enjoyed. First time hearing those songs, I started crying. My little girl came up to me and signed the word "hurt" and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek! I had always felt I needed to teach, but didn't know until that I had found my calling. That summer I enrolled in classes and have chosen to teach special education. I may be sad about the death of my son, but God knew he had better plans for me and my family! Good luck and I hope you enjoy the semester!
That's an awesome story; thank you for sharing it! It's amazing how God can make something good come from a tragedy like that.
DeleteHi, I am Cassy Docusen. I am from MI, and moved to Garden City KS almost three years ago. My husband and I have a daughter who is 5 months old, a black lab named Colt, and a borgie named CC. I will be student teaching in the fall, and so excited to complete this long eight year journey of becoming a teacher. I wanted to become a teacher to inspire others. I had some influential teachers growing up who changed my life. Since that day, I knew I wanted to do the same for others. I enjoy cooking, watching sports, staying active, and spending time with family and friends. This year I am working as a substitute and really enjoy my job, the past two years I was a para. I look forward to this semester, and with an infant, It will be very busy!
ReplyDeleteWow! You are one busy lady! Congrats are you new daughter and good luck in your educational pursuits!
DeleteHello Cassy-
DeleteWe are almost neighbors...I live in Liberal! Good luck to you this semester!
Hi, I'm Lisa Ciminieri. I am originally from Ohio but have lived in Overland Park, KS for 8 years. I have worked in the Blue Valley School district since moving to KS and have taught first and second grade. Currently, I am teaching second grade with 21 wonderful kiddos. I am taking classes at FHSU to obtain a k-6 endorsement for my k-3 license.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have 2 wonderful children, Penelope (4) and Oliver (2). They are the love of our lives and we enjoy every moment we spend with them. We also have two yorkies, Mango and Kiwi.
As a young child I knew that I wanted to become a teacher and now that I am living my dream, I love going to work each day. I've been in education for about 10 years and I've enjoyed every minute.
My husband and I both attended The Ohio State University and enjoy being active in our local alumni club. We love watching all Buckeye sporting events, OH-IO!
I'm excited to continue my learning this semester!
Welcome Lisa! Both of my kids live in Overland Park - in fact, they are almost neighbors. I used to teach 2nd grade - I absolutely loved it! It was my favorite grade that I taught (next to college, of course!) I love your dogs names!
DeleteHello everyone! I am Samantha Teri and I live in Cunningham, KS. I have lived here almost my entire life. I am married and have two children, ages 9 and 6. I will student teach in the fall, and am very excited to say that I will graduate this year! It has been a long journey, but very worth it. I realized I wanted to become a teacher after volunteer teaching VBS 5 years ago. Since then I have returned, teaching grades K, 3, and 4. I have also volunteer taught Catholic PSR classes 2, 3, and 4. I work as a preschool teacher two days a week at a church preschool, and the other days of the week I substitute at the local schools. Preschool was a blessing, I was just supposed to substitute for a month, but then ended up being the teacher for two years now. My hobbies, if I have time, include baking, riding my bicycle, and reading for fun.
ReplyDeleteSamantha,
DeleteI acutally decided on education also from volunteering to teach VBS and some of the youth lessons at my church.
I will also student teach in the fall. Isn't it wonderful to see the light at the end of the tunnel?!!!
DeleteI also use to teach VBS when I was in high school! You sound very busy and since one of your hobbies is reading - I hope you find this course fun!
DeleteI also will be doing my student teaching next semester but am going to be going to school for extra semester in order to add ESOL and decided to do my ESOL student teaching in the following semester. Good luck this semester and in your future!
DeleteHello, My name is Mary Plott; I live in Salina, Ks. and have been married for 25 years. We have 2 boys, ages 23 & 20, and one girl age 13. Our oldest son is training to be a manager at Tradehome Shoes and loves what he does. Our 20 year old just got back from Australia studying Economics for 6 months and has returned to K-State. Our daughter is in 8th grade and plays volleyball, basketball, and is a cheerleader.
ReplyDeleteI graduated from Concordia, Ks. many many years ago and decided Cosmetology school was something my folks could afford to put me through, so I have done hair on and off since. For the last 9 years I have worked as a Para educator working with learning disabled and Autistic middle school students. I love what I do and figured I might as well get paid better, so I decided to get my degree. This journey has taken me a long time, but I figure it will all be well worth it. My husband has wanted me to quit and focus only on college, but I love working with the students and teachers. I am blessed to be able to be in a variety of classrooms watching great teachers each day. One of the many people, who influenced me to go to school, was a 6th grade Math teacher who I had been working with for several years. He retired a few years ago, but we keep in contact. His teaching style was strict and students knew the minute they walked in his room what to expect, there were never any surprises. He expected a lot out of his students, and that was what he received. Most students did not want to be in his class, but by the end of the year, they loved him and they knew their math. He talked for 3 years to me about going to college and getting my degree. I was not sure I could do it, but he had all the faith in the world that I could, so I would have to say, he was one of my biggest influences.
We need more math teachers like your friend. My middle daughter, who is good at math, gets very frustrated when her teacher does not explain the concept to them, but then expects them to know how to do it. I also appreciate your comment about not being sure you could do college. I seem to wonder that every semester so I am also grateful to have people around that have faith in us.
DeleteI went to 8th grade and high school in Salina (home of the fighting Mustangs! I left Salina after I graduated in High School in 1976 to come to college here in Hays, and I have been here ever since. You point out the influence of your math teacher. We may not always know it, but we do influence lives as teachers! Welcome!
DeleteHello. My name is Robert Meyer and I live in Wellington, Ks and have since 1997. I worked for many years in the automotive industry and when I got married and started a family, I quickly realized that my career and family life did not mix well. I have always enjoyed working with kids and decided to go back to school and get my degree in education. I have two children ( 1 in 4th grade and 1 in 6th). I work full time as a substitute in the district and officiate sports year round as well. I look forward to finishing my degree and starting my teaching career. I plan on student teaching in the Fall of 2013.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are almost finished. Yay. I am a little familiar with Wellington my husband recorded some music with Carter Greene (I believe that is the spelling of his name). It is a nice town.
DeleteRobert - welcome! What grade level are you interested in teaching? The more men we have in the field that can be a positive role model, the better! I wish you the best!
DeleteHello, my name is Jeanette Jellison. I have been married almost 17 years. We have three children ages 16, 14, and 12. My children keep me busy with their activities. My oldest is involved with Scholar’s Bowl and Forensics. We are also hopeful she will get into the KAMS program beginning in the 2014 school year. My 14 year old is a bit more athletic. She is winding down with basketball and cheer, but looking forward to track. My youngest is in quiz bowl and finishing up with basketball. He also has a great sense of humor. In my spare time I enjoy photography and hanging out with the kids. I live in a small town called Protection, KS. My birthday is February 24th although I usually celebrate the entire week. My degree will be elementary education with a minor in special education but I am a bit interested in teaching middle school as well. I currently work as a Para educator for the 5th-8th grade. I love it. Working with these students is what gave me the push to become a teacher. The teacher I work under really encouraged me to pursue the minor in special education. In the IRC classroom this year, I teach Math. This is not my favorite subject but I feel the students have had huge learning gains this year.
ReplyDeleteWow! You seem to have an array of personalities with your kiddo’s, I am sure that makes for a really fun household. I definitely see how they are keeping you on your toes. I too was going for a minor in special education, but I ended up dropping it, which I do regret at times because it would be a really helpful minor to have. I think it takes a special person to work with middle school students! They are at such an emotionally tough time in their lives I think it would be a huge challenge to try and conquer, more power to you! That is so wonderful that you are seeing those huge learning gains. This is so amazing, and one of my favorite things to see when working with those struggling students and watch them grow and grasp the things they have struggled with for so long. When I tutored at the Boys and Girls Club, which is what really pushed me to change from business to elementary education. It is so rewarding to see them finally get the concepts and start understanding what no one else has ever been able to help them understand before. I hope you have a great semester.
DeleteProtection, Ks! My brother-in-law's parents used to live there (Unruh is the last name), and now there's a couple there I know from our community (Rod Crowell). I am also looking into moving up to middle school. I've always enjoyed junior highers and have taught that age of Sunday School for a number of years. And many people don't enjoy that age! So I would encourage you to keep moving forward with that idea!
DeleteIt sounds like your children are following in your footsteps - being successful in academics and sports as well. You must be very proud!
DeleteHello everyone! My name is Brenna Harfert and I am a Colorado Native. I grew up in Peyton, Colorado where I was an active 4-H’er, member of the Pikes Peak Rangerettes (an all-girls drill team of horseback), and became the 2010 El Paso County Fair Queen. I have one older brother who currently is serving in the Air Force. My parents are natives to Colorado as well and my dad is a teacher/dean of students/vice-principal/coach at a rural school in Colorado. He taught me 3 out of my 4 years of high school as well. I grew up raising cashmere goats and horses, along with having many cats and dogs. I recently gained a new member of my family, an 8 week old German short-hair and Australian Shepard puppy Axl. I went to CSU in Pueblo, Colorado for a year and a half before transferring to FHSU in January 2011. When I was at CSU I started as a Business major and spent time tutoring at the local boys and girls club, which changed my mind to elementary education and I haven’t had a regret since! This is my first semester being 100% virtual, though I still live in Hays for the time being, and I am a little nervous about it but excited to be finishing my last semester of internships! I wish everyone the best this semester, and I am excited to get to know you all virtually!
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous! I have always wanted to learn to ride horses (and stay on them) I have been on a horse twice in my life - the first time was in high school and the horse was so old it could barely move, it was pulled along by a rope, so I don't think that experience counts. The second time, I was in my 30's and I was told that the horse was a calm, gentle soul. I was lied to! The minute I got on the horse, it bolted up and started running for the hills! I tried hanging on for dear life, but I soon met with the earth below. I haven't been on one since, but I still dream about riding off into the sunset!
DeleteBrenna,
DeleteMy family loves Colorado, especially my boys, they love to snowboard and ski. Last year our middle son ran a half marathon in Steam Boat Colo., and had a great time. Sounds like you love animals and I bet you miss them all. I have been doing online classes for a few years, so please do not worry, you will be just fine. If I ever run into a problem, I always ask, everyone is more than willing to help. Have a wonderful semester!!
Ms. Bray, that is funny :) My first guy was a little old one that had been starved and I rescued him, basically was told that I was giving him a good place for his last few months and I ended up having him another 7 years when he passed at 28 years old. I would just get on his back and roam around bare back and taught myself to ride with him. I then god my horse Rubie and it was a whole new world. She is who I rode for the team. It is really the most amazing thing, once you get it figured out it is the most amazing, relaxing, stress relieving thing in the world. Anyone can learn at any age, with the right horse that is!
DeleteMary, Colorado is the best! That is great that he ran there in Steam Boat, it is beautiful there. That is so relieving to hear about the online classes. I have taken some online before but not all of my classes. Thanks for the good news!
When I was growing up, my best friend raised horses and did the 4-H circuit. Reading your post made me realize how much I miss horses and other farm animals! My parents are from Denver so we spent a fair amount of time up in the mountains visiting them. Do you miss the mountains? Every time I leave the Rockies, I do so with regret!
DeleteMy name is Ellen Schwartzbeck. I am originally from Topeka, Kansas, but have lived all over the country. My husband and I moved back to Kansas to raise our three daughters ages 18, 16, and 10. I just survived the first Christmas vacation break with my college freshman who now thinks I know nothing. I hear that I will get smarter in a couple of years. We have a dog named Einstein and a new bird named Sky. The bird was a Christmas present for my youngest daughter after months of her researching bird care and begging us. After staying at home with my kids for years, I started working as a substitute teacher and found I really enjoyed teaching. Through taking different substitute jobs, I discovered that I strongly prefer elementary school students. I really enjoyed working with a 4th grade class for my reading internship and I am excited to work with several of them this semester in this class.
ReplyDeleteEllen - welcome to the class! You had me rolling on the floor laughing at your getting smarter comment! The joys of motherhood!
DeleteMy name is Amy Pagenkopf and I live outside the very small town of Lost Springs, Kansas on a farm with my husband of 18 years and our two boys who are 16 and 12. I have been a para for ten years, I did licensed child daycare in my home for five years where I had ten kids a day from birth to age 12. I am kind of off to a late start in my career, being nearly 40, but I guess it’s better late than never. I think deep down I have always wanted to be a teacher! My mom is who influenced me the most to pursue my dream of teaching. She had always wanted to be a teacher and was never able to go to school to fulfill her dream. She was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer ’s disease at the young age of 52. I took several years off from working to care for her before we had to place her in a nursing home. It is my goal to honor her by becoming a teacher. My hobbies include camping, fishing, crochet and gardening in my non-existent spare time!!! I hope to “see” some familiar faces in class this semester. This will be my final semester before student teaching in the fall!
ReplyDeleteHi Amy!
DeleteI can definitely identify with starting a teaching career later in life! Be proud of yourself for a making your dream come true, no matter how late! I admire the fact that your mom has been such an inspiration to you; that's awesome!
Good luck with your student teaching; I will student teach next spring. For me, it has sometimes seemed an eternity, completing my degree. I'm getting closer though!
Amy, I'm excited to "see" you in another class of mine for another semester. I'm so happy that you have taken the step to become a teacher, like you said, better late than never. After having you in classes before, I know you will be a great and successful teacher. I wish you nothing but the best during this semester and after as well!!
DeleteThanks guys for your kind words. It's good to see some familiar faces and names. We're getting there..... finally light at the end of the tunnel!!!!
DeleteAmy, so glad to have you in a class again this semester! I still remember your encouragement when I was stressed trying to finish up lesson plans for RLA. I just might need that again!:) Can you believe the end is in sight?! Looking forward to another semester!
DeleteJenny,
DeleteDon't worry about the late start, I'm 42 and I know how you feel. I enjoyed reading about your mother being your inspiration and I know you will be great as a teacher. Good to see you, and other familiar faces in class again. Good luck this semester and the rest of the way.
It is never too late to persue your dreams, to learn something new, or to make a difference!! You are right, Better late than never!
DeleteI think you will make your momma proud Amy. Good luck and welcome to the class!
DeleteThank you Ms. Bray! I sure hope so!
DeleteMy name is Ami Higgins, and I live in Wichita, Kansas with my husband, whom I’ve been married to for 20 years. We have four children, two boys and two girls, ages 15, 13, 9, and 5. I definitely stay very busy with my kids’ activities, so it has taken me quite a bit longer to complete my degree. My family has been extremely encouraging during my education journey; without their support, it would be much more challenging. I went back to school five years ago after a 15 year “break” from college, having no doubts that I wanted to stay with elementary education, as I had begun to do when first starting college. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom to my four children since my oldest was born. It’s been important to me to be as involved as possible in my children’s education, from the very beginning; I think children begin to learn even before they start school, and parental involvement in the education process is likely to yield more successful results for the students. Reading is such a critical component of one’s education, tied to virtually every aspect of learning with other subjects. I am looking forward to what I can learn from this class to utilize with my own students.
ReplyDeleteOur kids are similarly aged. I have three boys, 16, 13 and 11. I can totally understand how busy you are. My sister-in-law once told me that it was exhausting to have toddlers. I told her, wait until you have pre-teens and teens. They are involved in everything and cannot drive themselves there. Plus, they have such a mind of their own.
DeleteOlder kids can definitely be exhausting, especially having a mind of their own!
DeleteI see you will be student teaching in the fall. I will be doing mine next spring. It's hard to believe after so many semesters that I can finally see a brighter light at the end of the tunnel!
My husband and I lived in Manhattan for three years back in '92 when he was going to school.
Good luck with your semester!
You are so correct about the importance of parental involvement and ATTITUDE towards their children's education. I have seen far too many parents who would not be "Bothered" by taking an interest in their child's homework, providing books and learning opportunities at home, showing up for school events, etc.With attitudes like that, it is no wonder so many kids drop out of school, because if their parents don't see school as important, then why would the child. Good luck in the class!
DeleteMy name is Megan Jachetta. I am originally from Brighton Colorado, about 20 minutes north of Denver, but moved to Hays with my fiance, for school. We have a blue heeler mix named Ranger, he is 4 years old and always looking forward to playing and staying active. I started my college career by wanting to major in business, but then decided it just wasn't for me. I had a friend who worked at an elementary school for the after school program and she was looking for extra workers, so I started working after school 5 days a week. This slowly turned into me changing my major to education, then to me becoming the after school director. The after school part extended and I am now working at the school as a morning supervisor, lunch supervisor, as well as after school, and some other little odd jobs around the building when needed. I have loved working at the school and with all of these great students. When I grew up, I didn't have very supportive teachers, which made me dislike school, I want to make sure that the students today do not feel that way about their teachers and school. I am excited for this semester and what is to come after as well, I will be student teaching in the fall and with my major as well as a minor in ESOL.
ReplyDeleteHi Megan! Nice to see someone familiar in this class. I will be student teaching in the fall also. I didn't realize you had an ESOL minor! Good for you. I started out with a sped minor but dropped it so I could finish sooner. I hope I can go back and pick up those classes later.
DeleteWelcome Megan! It sounds like school is in your blood! I wish you much success!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello my name is Jared Hett and I live in Moundridge KS with my wife Megan and 1 year old son Grayson. I have one degree in Sports Management from Tabor College and I am working on my elementary education with special education currently. I am from Marion KS where I grew up. I love to play basketball and I am a Kansas Jayhawk fan. I also played at Tabor College. I have a dapple dachshund named Izzy. I was born on October 26, 1985 the year the Royals won the world series and I bet we won't see that again. I am currently a case manager and I attend several elementary schools which helped me want to become a teacher. I would say my wife influenced me to become a teacher.
ReplyDeleteJared - I am just north of Marion on highway 77 between Lincolnville and Lost Springs. My husband and I lived in Marion when we were first married. He works at John Deere there. I hope to student teach at Marion Elementary in the fall! Nice to meet you!
DeleteI've got a lot of connections with you! We only live 30 minutes from Marion, and they are now in our league (HOA). Moundridge is also in our league. My husband graduated from Tabor, and we have a daughter there now. Our oldest daughter graduated from KU with a sports management degree. We are diehard KU fans at our house (and they just finished beating K-State!!), and while the Royals and Chiefs lose most of the time, we've got some loyal fans of them too. Glad to have you in class!
DeleteWelcome Jared! You were born the same year as my youngest, Brittney. I think you might be right about the Royals. I used to go to many games in the late 70's- early 80's (George Brett years) and they would actually win!
DeleteI am very excited to be entering my last full semester of classes before student teaching (I need to take a couple of classes this summer yet). I came back to college after being away for about 25 years. I have always wanted to be a teacher, playing school at home all the time. After graduating from high school, I planned on getting a degree in secondary education in math. However, after three years of college, I realized that marrying my sweetheart sounded better than finishing school, so I quit. My husband of almost 28 years is a teacher/coach, so I have been around education almost all of my life. I stayed at home to raise our six kids (who are ages 10 - 24), but when our youngest started kindergarten, I started subbing at our school. I loved being in the classroom, and when they let me teach one day a week in the high school English class, I was hooked, and there was no turning back. I started checking into going back to school, and through a long story, found out about the virtual program at FHSU. The convenience of being able to do schoolwork any time of the day is the only way I would've been able to go back to school, so I am very grateful for this program. I continue to substitute teach, and have had the privilege of subbing at all grade levels. I like the upper elementary grades, although I am hoping to get endorsed to teach history and/or math at the junior high level. I love the actual teaching aspect, but I also really enjoy spending time with the students and getting to know them better. I am very interested in this class because I have a dyslexic son. He didn't get any specialized help when he was younger, and I would love to be able to help students like him become better readers.
ReplyDeleteI have actually considered becoming a substitute teacher myself after finishing my degree in the fall and before I become a full blown teacher. First, I really don't want to find a teaching job in the middle of the year. I want my first class to start out as "my first class" and not a class a different teacher began with. You know what I mean? I guess I'm being selfish, but I want them for the whole year :) Plus, I want to make sure that teaching is the job I definitely want to be in. Which, I'm guessing after student teaching this coming fall I'll probably have a better idea on that. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck this semester!
DeleteJenny,
DeleteI am also very thankful for the virtual program at FHSU. Without it there is no way I would be able to get my degree.
I think that too many children haven't gotten the help they needed in the past, for whatever reason, but I think that trend is changing in education. Teaching children to read is my passion too. If a child can read, they can accomplish anything!
Lori
Welcome to the class Jenny! I have a question for you - is your son left handed. In my years of working as a reading specialist, the majority of students with dyslexia were left-handed boys.
DeleteThere seem to be several of us that will be student teaching this fall. I share your excitement about student teaching, graduating and eventually getting a job. The idea of actually having my own classroom is also terrifying! Despite the fear, I'm still looking forward to getting my degree this December (provided all goes well this semester!).
DeleteMy name is Sam Amburgey and this is my fourth semester at FHSU. This Fall I will complete student teaching. In 2005, I graduated from KU in the Journalism department. When I was talking to my advisor at KU before graduating, I told her that I wanted to become a teacher. She said that she thought I should stay in the journalism field but encouraged me to be a teacher if that's what I wanted. She showed me some resources that would help me. A few years later, I was working at an aircraft company in Wichita and learned that my advisor had passed away from a massive heart attack. Right away, I began looking for jobs in the education field. There were AmeriCorps positions that worked in Wichita Public Schools. A week later, I put in my two weeks at Cessna. I did my time for AmeriCorps at a bilingual school. For the last five years, I've worked at an alternative school in Wichita as a paraeducator. Two years ago, my father became sick and died shortly after. Again, this inspired me to return to school and become certified as a teacher. So here I am.
ReplyDeleteI live in Wichita with my fiance and Boston Terrier. In my spare time, I like to play electric guitar and bass, watch movies/TV shows, and read.
Sam, I think you and I are both taking this course in addition to the Science/Social studies courses! I am sure for you, as it is for me, this is an exciting semester, being that it is the final semester before student teaching. I think you background in AmeriCorps and working with such a diverse student population will bring a unique perspective to this course. Hope you have a great semester.
DeleteWelcome Sam. Working as a para in an alternative school is great experience for teaching in a regular classroom. Hats off to you!
DeleteWell I am not married or have children yet...so I guess for family you could say I have my boyfriend (who I live with) and our puppy Bailie, who is just a little over 6 months old. Boy can she be a handful, but we love her to death :) I spent most of my childhood growing up in Gridley, KS but then the summer before my 8th grade year we moved to Sublette, KS and this is where I graduated high school in May 2009. In August of 2009 I moved to Hays and started my college journey there on campus. Then in December 2010 I moved to Topeka to be with my boyfriend and became a virtual student. While I was on campus I worked in the Provost Office and was also the business manager for the newspaper for awhile. My boyfriend and I like to go camping, jet skiing, and auctioning together. Then the hobbies I enjoy myself are things such as baking, crafts, organizing, and just being outside and enjoying the weather in the spring and fall. Lastly, my birthday is right around the corner on February 13th, and yes, I get very spoiled between that and Valentine's Day :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I really don't have one certain person that inspired me to become an elementary teacher. I think what drove me the most is my one and only little sister who is almost 13 years younger than me. I found I loved teaching her new things and seeing just how much her skills improved after practice.
DeleteKayla, ironically enough my husband and I moved from Topeka to Iowa. He worked at Washburn University in Topeka..go BODS (special note; they have two football players playing in the upcoming SuperBowl..exciting stuff)! I love the fact that you mention auctioning as one of your hobbies, with all of the DIY projects I embark on, I think I may have to look into getting to more auctions this year.
DeleteKayla,
DeleteThose are two towns in Ks I have not heard of, where are they located? I live outside of Beloit, Ks on a farm but am from Pittsburg, Ks. My family loves to camp and spend time outside also. Happy Birthday early, I will be turning 40 on February 27 and am looking forward to graduating in December and beginning a new chapter in my life! Best of luck to you this semester. Kara
Welcome Kayla! I took with great notice, your hobby of organizing I LOVE organizing things. I used to be accused of alphabetizing my refrigerator and cabinet contents. This is not true, but they are organized. I think that most teachers are naturally organized. They have to be with all the things they have going on!
DeleteMy name is Maggie Dickerson and I am married to my wonderful husband Kerry and we have one very witty two and a half year old son, Mark. We have called Kansas home for quite some time, however just in this past year we have re-located to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where my husband is the Assistant Athletic Director for the University of Northern Iowa. Go Panthers!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I feel I get the best of both worlds, FHSU has allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom and still challenge myself with working towards having a classroom of my own. I decided to pursue a degree in education after my son Mark was born. He changed my perspective and fascination with the world of education. Prior to pursuing this degree, I my background was in corporate sales, as my husband and I met working in college athletics. I have two other degrees a B.A. in Marketing and Management and an M.B.A. as well. However, I have found I have always been engaged with children and teaching and have chose to pursue a career in education ultimately to make a difference. I have always coached summer camps, taught at Vacation Bible School and volunteering in classrooms within my local community. Hopefully someday soon, I will get to make an impact with a classroom of my own.
Looking forward to a great semester!!
Maggie,
DeleteI enjoyed reading your post. It is amazing how children change our lives and our priorities. I can't imagine doing anything but working with children. It sounds like we have a lot of the same interests and I also enjoy coaching and volunteering for church functions. I am also looking forward to having a positive impact on many children's lives in my future as a teacher. Best wishes for you in you education and new home! Kara
Welcome Maggie! it was good to read that you have a witty son. My kids were witty at a very young age and when I'd tell people that, they thought I was nuts and they tried to tell me you don't develop a sense of humor until years later. Not so. Thanks for the validation!
DeleteMy name is Kara Loomis. I have been married for 16 years and live on a farm in North central Ks with my husband and two youngest children. I have a stepson who is 22 and farms with his father, and 2 daughters who are 14 and 10. I am expecting my first grandchild in June and am very excited! I have been a stay at home mom for 15 years and began pursuing my elementary education degree with a minor in special education when my youngest started kindergarten. I have recently begun substitute teaching whenever possible and truly enjoy all of the experience I am getting through this opportunity. I coach softball in the summer, am a member is BES site council as well as a Girl Scout leader. I enjoy doing just about anything outside and try to help on the farm as much as possible. I love to read, travel and watch all of my children’s activities. I will turn 40 in February and should graduate in December! I chose this career path because I cannot imagine doing anything more rewarding than working with children. My mother was a teacher and she greatly influenced my decision to become a teacher. I am looking forward to this semester and finishing all of my classes so I can student teach in the fall. I wish all of you the best of luck this semester!
ReplyDeleteI should also graduate in December. It can not come too soon!
DeleteWelcome Kara! I hope this semester flies by for you so you can begin your adventure in student teaching!
DeleteHello my name is Julie Copeland. I am originally from Elkhart, Kansas. I now live in Colorado Springs. My husband is in the military so we move around a lot. We have gotten to live in and see many beautiful places. I have two children. Kylee is 11 years old and Justin is 8. I knew that I wanted to be a teacher when I started substituting for my son's preschool class. I have now been a paraprofessional/health tech at an elementary school for 3 years and I love it, but I am ready to have my own classroom.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the class Julie. Having a classroom is like having your own fairyland kingdom were your wishes and dreams come true. Soon enough, you will have your own! Good luck to you!
DeleteAmy,
ReplyDeleteI also am getting a late start towards my major. I thought that I wanted to be a nurse right out of high school. My family is all in the medical field except my mother. She was a fourth grade teacher for a long time. I am also a para ready for my own class. Good Luck in class!
Hello, I am a mom of three sons, ages 16, 13, and 11. I have been married for almost 17 years. Between the husband and three kids I stay very busy. They are each involved in academic activities, sports and band. Our calendar is quite full. Every night there is something.
ReplyDeleteI live in Lathrop, Missouri. It is a small rural town about 45 minutes north of Kansas City. I grew up in this town. I moved to Manhattan, KS after graduating high school. That is where I meet my husband and our family began. About four years ago, we decided to move back closer to my family. We quit our jobs, put our house on the market and threw caution to the wind. It was one of the best decisions we have ever made.
I work in the local elementary school as a para. I started working as a para when my youngest son started kindergarten. At some point I decided I should go back to college and get a teaching degree, so I could make a bit more money, while doing pretty similar work.
I do already have a couple degrees. I have a bachelors in horticulture therapy from K-State as well as a Masters of Agribusiness. My husband is often jokes about when I go to get my "next degree". But, this is it. I am done.
This is my last semester of classes. I do not even need to take anything in the summer. That will be nice, as we always travel. Last summer I was doing homework while sitting on the beach in Florida and after spending days in Walt Disney World. Not a bad place to do the homework, but I look forward to vacationing without text books this summer. Next fall I do my student teaching and then plan on getting a job in the school where I currently work.
Welcome Heather! If you do get to vacation this summer without homework, enjoy it while you can because once you have your own classroom, the "homework" never ends!
DeleteHello All-
ReplyDeleteMy name is Cassandra Strickland but I go by Cassie. My husband, 7 year old son, and I live in Liberal, KS. We have a cat named Miss Millie Riley and two dogs, Shooter and Boomer. We have our own business called Snap On Tools. We have been doing this for almost 4 years now. When I am not busy with the business, school, and the kiddo; I enjoy to read, cook, scrapbook, ride four wheelers, shoot guns, and my new hobby is going to concerts.
This is my last semester before I student teach in August. And I CANNOT wait! This journey has been fun, but I am ready to get in the classroom. I have a minor in special education, and ultimately that is what I want to do. I plan on going ahead and getting my masters in special education.
My grandpa was the person who inspired me to teach. After World War II he came home and was a speech/debate and aviation teacher. He taught me so much about reading and English that I was reading before Kindergarten. He always told me I would make a wonderful teacher, but didn't believe him until after he had passed away. To this day, I have family members tell me, that they are so proud of me, but Grandpa would be the proudest.
I am looking forward to this semester and cannot believe that I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel after nine years of schooling with a few breaks in there I will be done! Good luck to you all and I am looking forward to meeting ya'll!
Cassie, I wish you the best this semester too! I am also in my last semester prior to student teaching and am so looking forward to the day I have my own classroom. Stacy
DeleteWelcome to the class Cassie! I love your cats name! I hope the semester flies by for you!
DeleteI am also in my last semester before graduation. It sure is nice to be this close to having our own classrooms. Memories really do last a lifetime, I am glad you have those of your Grandpa. Best of luck to you!!
DeleteHi, my name is Stacy Bateman and I live in Big Piney, Wyoming. This past summer I moved from Chapman, KS back to the mountains of Wyoming. The state is home for our family, and I am really thrilled to be back. The wildlife and scenery is some of the best in the nation, and I love that it is all in my backyard. I have two children – my daughter is 10 and my son is 8. I love to spend my spare time with my kids, and attend all of their activities; which include dance, piano lessons, 4H clubs, soccer, basketball and football. Hobbies would include baking, reading and watching sporting events. I am a huge fan of the Green Bay Packers, Wyoming Cowboys and the Kansas Jayhawks.
ReplyDeleteI am currently substituting when time permits at all grade levels, but I still like working best with the younger youth. This is my last semester prior to student teaching and I am really excited to finishing my degree. I took a 14 year hiatus from the college scene. When I was originally in college I received a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a marketing emphasis. However, I never utilized the degree. I knew that someday I would return to get my teaching certificate, so I am excited to finally pursue this dream. My influences in getting into the education field comes from my father who is currently a principal at Big Piney Middle School, and has been in education for over 40 years - as well as the inspiration I get from my children. I love working with our youth - whether it is in a sporting event or in the classroom. I get really excited when the students grasp the concept you are teaching them and you can see that light bulb come on.
I can completely agree, when you can see that light bulb come on is one of the greatest feelings! I also substitute at all grade levels, it has been very eye opening to be at all levels. High school sure has changed since I was there 10 years ago!
DeleteSo jealous!!! I would love to move Wyoming or Montana!!! I am somewhat of a homebody and love nothing more than cold, snowy winter days, a crackling fire, a good pot of coffee and lots of yarn to sit and crochet with.
DeleteWelcome to the class! Wyoming is one of the few states I have never been to. I bet it is beautiful!
DeleteHi everyone,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Lori Unruh. I live in Sharon Springs, Ks with my wonderful husband and our two youngest sons who are in high school. We also have two older children and one precious grandson. I don’t have a lot of free time, but when I do, I enjoy crafts, gardening, camping, hiking, reading, cheering on the KU basketball team, and spending time with my family.
I am in my eleventh year of working as a para and have been working almost that long on my elementary education degree! Haha I am glad to see the end nearing. I have one more semester after this and then student teaching next spring. Yippy Skippy!
I have always wanted to be an elementary teacher because I believe that every student is capable of learning and succeeding if given the chance. Growing up I had so many teachers who only taught to the best students in the class or the ones who came from the most prominent families in the community. This made me want to make a real difference in young student’s lives; to encourage, care for, and impact them in a positive and meaningful way.
I look forward to getting to know all of you better throughout this class.
Good Luck All!
Lori
Hi Lori! You make a good point about how many teachers only teach to the brightest or the richest kids. Many of my teachers would not give me the time of day and assumed I wasn't too bright because I was dirt poor and came from a horrible family. Sometimes I felt invisible. I am glad you want to make a difference.
DeleteI was a kindergarten Para for 7 years up until this year. I had to quit in order to do my internships. I miss my job; I loved it so much. However, it will be nice to have my own classroom in the future! Best of luck to you!
DeleteHello everyone! My name is LaDonna Lewman and I am from Atchison, Kansas. This is my last semester of courses before student teaching this upcoming fall, and I couldn't be any more excited! I am also currently planning my wedding which is coming up very soon, June 8th! I love life and make sure to spend each day living it to the fullest! I have always had a passion for children and education. My mother did home childcare since my brother and I were very young. I always refer to all the children she's had as my brothers and sisters, and I have like over 30 from past years! It's wonderful! Aside from my mother's great love for children and their development, there were a couple elementary teachers that I believe had a great impact on me wanting to become a teacher. Teachers do touch lives, it's phenomenal!
ReplyDeleteI currently am substitute teaching nearly every single day at all of the surrounding districts in my area and I love it! I am getting a great realm of experience with all ages of students that's for sure!
Whenever I have any free time I love to go running, scrapbook,and spend time with my family and friends! Best wishes this semester!!
Hi Ladonna! Good luck on the upcoming wedding. I wish for you a long happy marriage!
DeleteCongrats on the wedding, mine is actually 1 week earlier June 1st. I as well will be doing my student teaching next fall. Should be a fantastic 2013 for you as well. Good luck
DeleteGood luck with your upcoming wedding. I was just married in October so I know how busy you probably are right now with school and planning, but it will all be worth it.
DeleteMy name is Chris Chilton I am 34 years young and attending college for the second time. I first attended Friends University where I majored in Baseball with a minor in sleeping in. For obvious reasons I am giving college a second go. This is actually my last semester of taking classes, as I will start my student teaching in the fall. I work for USD 443 in Dodge City as the ISS supervisor, which gives me both experience and time to do my school work. I also do a lot of coaching for our district doing middle school cross country, freshman basketball, and junior varsity baseball.
ReplyDeleteThis June I am excited to say I will be getting married, so 2013 will be an exciting year with both a wedding and graduation.
The reason I chose to do elementary education is becuase I feel that there are not enough male elementary teachers out there. I also believe that I want to be a teacher because of my father. He taught in this district for over 30 years before he retired.
2013 - the year of the Chris! I wish you much success and happiness in your career and marriage.
DeleteHello everyone! My name is Julie Defebaugh and I live in Chanute Kansas. I got married to a wonderful man named Joe this past June, and together we have 6 children, 4 dogs, and a guinea pig. This is my last semester of classwork, and I will student teach next semester. I can't wait! I am so excited to graduate in December; I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel! I have always wanted to be a teacher. Like you Ms. Bray, I also "taught school" at a very young age. My younger brother was my student, and he did very well. I am sure it had to do with my excellent teaching ability at age 7! Both of my parents are recently retired, and both of them were teachers. My mother taught kindergarten and my father taught junior high typing and freshman business classes. I take the motto "Students First" very seriously. There is so much pressure on teachers to meet standards that sometimes the student themselves can be forgotten. I am really looking forward to this class, and I am sure I will learn a lot of great information. Best of luck to everyone!
ReplyDeleteHello! My name is Sarah Otto and I live in Hutchinson Kansas with my husband and our two girls, ages 11 and *almost* 9. We have two cats, a super-hyper Welsh Corgi, and a beta fish. I decided to become a teacher after 3 years volunteering and one year of working at my children's school. My supervisor highly encouraged me to become a teacher and began dropping college information in my mailbox at school. She believes I will be a great teacher! I work with students in first through sixth grade. My preference is for older students but I do love them all. I look forward to waking up on Monday morning and going to work!
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to wake up every Monday and be excited to go to work. Every semester that I have had internships my excitement has grown more and more, the days I get to spend in the classroom are definitely my favorite days of the week. I am glad your supervisor gave you that little push to become a teacher.
DeleteIt's great to see a familiar name!! I also have a preference of teaching the older Elementary students. My ideal grade would be 5/6. Hope you have a great semester!!
DeleteMy name is Kristi Fletcher, I am a 36 year old mother of 2. I am a stay at home mom/full time student. I spend the majority of my time working on housework, schoolwork, and attending my children’s activities. I am married to a military man. My son is 14 and is very active in sports and academics. He participates in football, basketball, track, running 5k’s, and participates in triathlons. My daughter is 4 and participates in dance and tumbling.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a para-educator for 3 years before I decided to stay home with my daughter and attend school full-time. I currently have an AA with an emphasis in psychology from Butler County Community College and am getting my bachelor’s in Elementary Education with a minor in SPED and ESOL. I live in Paola, KS but am originally from Cottonwood Falls, KS where my family was one of the founding families of the county. I have very little time for hobbies but when I get a chance I enjoy being on the computer and reading. I have 3 dogs (all small rat terriers). My birthday is June 24.
My third grade teacher was my greatest influence to become an educator. I am friends with her on facebook and she continues to inspire me and encourage me.
Congrats on coming back to school and getting your Education degree. I know at times it is hard to balance life as a mommy, job, and school because I'm in the same boat but it will all turn out great!! Have a great semester and good luck with everything!!!
DeleteHello! My name is Carissa Feight; I was born and raised in Aurora, CO along with my younger brother and sister. I was just recently married on October 6, 2012 to my very best friend, Lucas. We live in the small town of Clyde, KS in a beautiful home with our sweetheart of a yellow Lab., Duke. I have a very large extended family and was quick to move to Kansas and be near all of them as soon as I graduated high school. I attended one semester at Kansas State University and majored in Business, by the end of that semester I realized I was spending far too much money on tuition and I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to major in. I transferred to Cloud County Community College the following semester and graduated with an Associate’s Degree before transferring to the virtual college at FHSU. This is my last semester before beginning my student teaching in the fall.
ReplyDeleteI love to read and spend a lot of quality time with my Nook. My favorite authors include; Nicholas Sparks, Joanne Fluke, Jodi Picoult and Emily Giffin. I really love to read all different genres. I also love to spend time out on the farm Lucas’ family owns. He works very hard out there to keep his family’s legacy alive and I have blast using all the equipment and helping in any way I can. Lucas and I both love motorcycles and one of our favorite past times is cruising around on the bikes.
I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. I love the idea of getting to spend every day with children and I have always enjoyed teaching new things to others. I hope to have as much impact on my students as many of past teachers had on me.
I was definitely inspired to go into elementary education by my parents. My mother stayed at home and took care of my siblings and I, but she spent as much time as she could working in our classrooms and I always thought she would make a great teacher. My dad owned a home healthcare agency and spent a lot of time working with children, it made me want to help have as much fun as he did when he had home visits with those children.
I am very excited to get this semester started, and look forward to getting to know all of you!
Hi I'm Jack "Eddie" Bowman. This is my final semester prior to student teaching. I'm married with two boys, two white boxers and a cat. I'm currently a lieutenant at LJCF and I oversee the behavior management/mental health wing during the day shift. I also teach martial arts on the side. I became interested in elementary education after working with at risk youth in group homes and detention centers.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Brandy Watson. I live in Wamego Kansas with my husband and 3 children. I have always wanted to be a teacher, I used to play school in my basement as a small girl. I have a BS degree from the University of Washington in Interdisciplinary Arts and Science but the Army moved us before I could do my 5th year from education. I currently work at Eisenhower Middle School in Manhattan as the Athletic and Financial secretary. I enjoy biking and reading. I will take Educational Psych this summer and will student teach in the fall!
ReplyDeleteHello everyone!! It's nice to see so many familiar names this semester!! My name is Stacie Westermann and I live in Winchester, KS. Right now, I am currently busy planning my wedding that is April 6th!!! This is my last semester of classes before I start student teaching in the Fall! I cannot express how excited I am for all of these new things that are happening in my life!! I've always wanted to work with children and be in the education field. My first few years at college, I thought I would try to go into a different field but I quickly realized what I really wanted to do, and that is teach!
ReplyDeleteI am currently a Para at a local Elementary School and a Momma to a wonderful 3 year old girl! We also have a four-legged child, her name is Harley. She is almost 2 years old and is a yellow Lab. When I'm not working, doing schoolwork, or planning for the wedding, I like to spend time with my family/friends, work outside in our backyard, exercise, read, fish, and camp. I love being outdoors and doing things with my family/friends. We like to BBQ and have friends over.
I hope everyone has a great semester!! Best wishes!!!
Hi Stacie! It is so nice to start recognizing names and forming relationships with classmates. I didn't really have this experience when I was taking mostly general education classes, but now that we are deep into our majors it has been fun to get to know the people that will be in the same graduating class. Congratulations on your wedding! You are definitely busy this semester! Good luck with everything. Maybe I will see you at graduation in December!
DeleteHi my name is Kasey Konda and this is my final semester of course work before I get to student teach!! This has been a long journey for me, and I am so excited to take this course finally get to be in control of what I teach! When I began schooling I was going into secondary education, but after working with some younger student back in 2008 as a substitute teacher I found that my passion was in elementary education.
ReplyDeleteI am also a wife to a wonderful man, Kurt, he works for KUMC-Wichita as a researcher in public health and preventative medicine and he teaches sociology at Friends University. We live in Wichita, KS with our children. We have a 5 year old son, Kameron, and he is a kindergartner at Minneha Core Knowledge Magnet. We also have a 5 month old daughter, Karleigh, she is an expert at rolling over and avoiding naps during the day. I am privileged to be able to stay home with our daughter and go to school online. We are currently taking applications for a pet that does not need walked in the cold and/or rain and that will not potty on the carpet. At the top of the pile right now is a beta, but we will see what next month brings us.
I am very excited for this course, and I wish everyone good luck this semester.
Oh boy, this semester didn't waste anytime getting started! What a week! I am Saralyn Szyndlar. I was born and raised in Salina, KS and I have lived here all but two years of my life. I am a full-time virtual student as well as a licensed substitute for my local school district. I sub as much as possible, but it is nice to have the flexibility in my schedule to take a day off as needed for homework and such. Most importantly I am a single mom to a couple of amazing children. My daughter is seven and my son is four. I am a nontraditional student in the sense that this isn't my first time in college. I finally returned to school two years ago after my divorce and it is so nice to have control over my own life again. The last three years of my life have been amazing! In my "free" time I love to read, camp and fish. I have always wanted to be a teacher and have been teaching all my life. My brother is seven years younger than me and was reading before he went to preschool, because of all the "school" sessions we had with my many self-created materials. I think this helped him be very successful in school and he actually just graduated with a degree in chemistry. I find teachable moments in all aspects of my life. Before I returned to school I worked as a para for eight years. I loved it but I am overjoyed to be a sub at this point and can't wait to finish my degree! I am supposed to graduate this December and my nerves have already set in. I think 2013 is going to be one heck of an adventure! Happy semester to all!
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Francie and I am a senior at Fort Hays State University. I just moved to Denver, Colorado with my 3 year old daughter. I have this semester and next semester then I will be ready to student teach. I will have my Elementary Teaching degree as well as a Special Education Minor and an ESOL Minor. I have a passion for working with children with disabilities and cannot wait to start teaching! I hope everyone has a great semester.
ReplyDelete