About My Classroom

I have the privilege of being a 5th grade teacher in Grand Rapids Michigan to an incredible community of young learners. Most of our students speak both English and Spanish, which means we have the ability to learn from one another! In 2016 our school Burton Elementary was awarded an Apple grant which made it possible for all of our students to have 1:1 Ipads. Having access to this technology has allowed us to integrate it into our learning, which would not have been possible before. Learning these technology skills are just as important to a students success as is learning content knowledge. These are the tools that they will be using as they continue in their education and when they start working in their careers.

This student turning her writing project into an animation on Keynote. This incorporates writing, speaking and creativity into this project.
This student is designing an app prototype to help solve common problems for the Native Americans in the 1800’s. This allows him to apply content knowledge to real world application of problem solving.
Here we have a student recording a podcast of his book summary using Garage Band. Students were given the opportunity to have creative freedom in the classroom is important to me as a teacher and to our learning community.

In our classroom the expectation is never perfection but rather effort. Success is not measured in the amount of answers you got correct but rather are you improving from where you were. To me this is one of the most important lessons students can learn because there will come a time where something is difficult for them. They need to practice success right alongside failure and learn that failure does not mean an ending. It means for them to practice, try again and ask for help when needed. Often times students come into the classroom not knowing how to advocate for themselves when they are unsure and confused. One of my goals before they leave my classroom in the Spring is that they are able to ask for help when they need it and describe what is confusing to them, not just that what they are being asked to do is confusing. It has always been a goal of mine to not only have my students improve academically by the end of the year, but to leave my classroom a better version of themselves. To hold the belief that they have strengths and are willing to improve upon their weaknesses. Teaching concepts may not always stick with them, but instilling them to believe in themselves is something they will remember far beyond the classroom.