About Me...

I am a student at the University of South Alabama, majoring in Elementary Education. I jokingly tell people that I want to be a school teacher when I grow up. I am a wife, a mother, and a full-time student. I am on an amazing journey, and I have learned so much more than I anticipated. I look forward to what comes in the next chapter of this book called life.

Why I Embarked on This Journey

Growing up, I never imagined myself as a teacher; and I certainly did not have an inkling that I would be going to college at age 35. I had been a stay at home mom for 9 years as well as the bookkeeper for my husband's business; but I knew that when my youngest son started school I would want something else to do. The spring before he was to start school, I completed the process to become a substitute. When school started in August of 2005, I began substituting for paraprofessionals and teachers at Tanner Williams Elementary School. It was there that I fell in love with the classroom. I began to consider going to school, and received a lot of encouragement from the teachers at Tanner Williams. In January 2006, I enrolled in 2 classes at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Now, more than 5 years later, I have an Associate's Degree from MGCCC, and am a Senior at South Alabama. I am scheduled to graduate in December of 2011 with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education.

Attitude Check

It's all in the attitude. Many of us have heard that saying; but do we really believe it? I believe that it's important to stay positive. As a teacher one of my jobs will be to encourage others. I will need to encourage my students that they can do anything they set their mind to.  I also will have to encourage parents when they get discouraged about their child's progress.  I believe that I will be an encouragement to my coworkers, and they will challenge and encourage me.

Tools of the Trade

Mountain Math on a Smart Board
Gone are the days that the main tools a teacher needed were books, chalk, and a chalkboard. The xerox machine replaced the mimeograph, and Smart Boards and dry erase boards are steadily replacing the chalkboard. As technology continues to evolve, so must we educators. Video casts, blogs, and pod casts will be added to my lesson plans to help me better connect to today's tech-savvy students. Some of the technology that I will incorporate into my classroom has probably not even be developed yet. Hard to imagine, isn't it.
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