My School & My Students

Since I will frequently refer to "my school" in my Hub posts, I thought it might be a good idea to give you a few facts about this place that I have poured my blood, sweat and many tears into! Read on to get a snapshot of the students I call my "kids" and the amazing teachers that I have the privilege to work alongside each and every day.

Ok, Ok.....I confess, the picture above is not my actual school. And, while I'm being honest, the picture below is not of me and my students either! However, I do credit Miss Beadle for being my inspiration to become a teacher.

I actually teach 3rd grade at an elementary school in the state of Nevada. We are in our 2nd year as a STEM school, which means that the curriculum is taught with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math. We strive to help our students gain the skills required to succeed in today's challenging world - to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. A true "lightbulb - ahh-ha" moment is when our students are able to connect what they are learning to the real world. With this in mind, we work diligently to connect the community with our students. For example, during a science unit of study on force and motion, we brought in football players, softball players, BMX riders, and engineers into the classroom to demonstrate the role that force and motion plays in their sports or jobs. Such a fun and exciting hands-on way for our students to see science in action and discover cool careers in the fields of science and engineering! To read a very thorough definition and history of STEM, please follow the link below.

My school is a Title 1 school which means we have a large concentration of low income students and receive supplemental funds to assist in meeting students' educational goals. Low-income students are determined by the number of students enrolled in the federally funded Free and Reduced Lunch Program. A school must have at least 40% of its students enrolled in this program to be considered a Title 1 school.

The pie charts on the right display the following facts:

1. Limited English Proficient - 53% of our students are considered Limited English Proficient (LEP). Although many more students list English as their second language, only 53% have not tested "English Proficient".

2. Demographics - 77% of our students are Hispanic, 10% White, 5% Black/African American, 5% Asian, and 4% Pacific Islander.

3. Students with Disabilities - 15% of our students have Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs).

4. Highly Qualified Teachers - 100% of our teachers are Highly Qualified. 85% of our teachers also hold advanced degrees (Master's or Ph.D's)

Our staff is made up of incredibly, dedicated teachers, administrators, and support staff who are passionate about our students! Within the last two years we have experienced many changes at our school: a new principal and vice principal, piloting of a new reading curriculum, introduction to a new District gradebook/attendance software program, new teacher evaluation process, new MAP testing for students, AND we officially became a STEM school. Wow! A lot to digest!

I can't begin to express how proud I am of our entire staff for stepping up to the challenges that these drastic waves of changes have brought about. Of course we all had our moments of doubt and at times, even panic attacks over the sheer magnitude of all that was being thrown our way. Unfortunately, there were days when the waves simply overtook us, and we found ourselves sinking fast! Thankfully, we only had to look up to find life preservers everywhere - fellow teachers walking alongside and supporting each other!

The profession of teaching is not an easy one, but it's a calling that drives us to forge ahead. I keep the faith that great things will happen if I'm cognizant of the influence that I have on my students and as long as I'm in the classroom for the right reasons!

This quote helps me remember to cherish the gifts that I've been given.

“To those whom much is given, much is expected.”
― John F. Kennedy, The Uncommon Wisdom of JFK: A Portrait in His Own Words