Reading

       In 6th grade I had an awesome reading teacher, Mr. Smith. At the time I never gave it much thought to a statement that he made to the class one day, but now, I really get it. Completely. He said, "Ya know, I taught Math for 12 years before this. I always felt so strongly that Math was the most important subject-that no one could be successful without it. Then I had a chance to work with a group of 6th grade students who were lower level and they could not even read the numbers and expressions, or even the directions in the text book. I had to take the first semester of that year and teach my students how to read. It was the most rewarding experience of my career and that next year I became a reading teacher because I realized that no child should ever be without the ability to read and write."
        I mean, pump the brakes! Can you believe that? I can still see him standing in front of our class and telling us that. That is just inspiring- like unbelievably amazing. What frustrates me is that I just sloughed if off like the little punk I was. Ugh. Okay, I wasn't a punk in middle school, but I mean- I don't think any of my peers or I grasped the magnitude of what he had told us.
       The importance of reading spans every content. It is so important that as educators that we teach our students to read and comprehend what they have read. To write, and do so with deeper thinking. Maybe it is the life experience, maybe it is the education I have received; I would like to think that it is a combination of both but I know,without a doubt that I will be reading teacher, in which ever content I end up teaching. OR whichever teaching position that I get hired into, to get my foot in the door ;-)
     

Wowsers, this last week has gotten away with me. As I began to prepare my week's assignments this evening, I realized that I had never published my BioPoem. YIKES. I thought I would be able to really bust it out but it actually took me some time and thought, mostly because so much of my life has changed. I have met so many of my goals, have created new ones and had to prioritize others. This was a fun and insightful assignment.

Katie

Willful, animated, witty, warmhearted

Mother of Ivette and Maxon

Lover of horses, fresh morning air, and my loving husband

Who feels brownies should be considered a health food, sometimes lost within motherhood, and on occasion- utterly exhausted

Who fears humid weather, not living everyday to it’s potential and not seeing my children grow

Accomplished earning my Associate’s degree, taking a shower today (that is kind of a big deal when you have a three year old and one year old), earning straight A’s for the last 4 semesters at Columbia College

Who would like to see and travel the world (cliche I know, but I really do want to), enjoy just one Saturday and sleep in past 7:30am (again, little people in the house), and travel through time to see my husband and myself when we are old.

Resident of Vichy, MO

DuClos