Teaching is always evolving! The one thing that has been constant in my professional experiences has been change. Students themselves and what they bring to the classroom has definitely changed over the past 20 years. Teaching practices, curriculum, technology, and working with student teachers are a few of the areas that have demanded considerable time and attention. I have been fortunate to have worked with caring and concerned colleagues over the years who have helped me hone my skills, and share their ideas and resources.

    Presently, I am teaching a 4th/5th grade classroom at King School in Urbana, Illinois. I have been teaching in this district since 1976. My experiences have included  a variety of teaching assignments over the years. I began as a classroom and special education teacher. I have also taught multi-cultural students and enjoyed job-sharing as well.

    One thing that hasn't changed is the desire and willingness of students to learn. They are so eager! Their minds are like sponges which soak up everything their eyes and ears can take in! My success in the classroom comes from the students' success. Sometimes these are very small steps on the road to major learnings. At other times, I'm able to see progress in groups of students as they plan and support each other in our collaborative efforts. This is really exciting! Assisting them as they find and choose appropriate research tools to continue on their learning paths, introducing them to great literature, and helping them decide on problem-solving strategies in math and science are but a few of the ways that I carry out my daily job.

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