I have always been good at connecting with young children and I enjoy spending my days with them. I believe children are capable of and eager to learn if we do it in an age appropriate way that lights up their brains. I want to protect childhood, and avoid using school to add pressure or stress. My goal is to teach by the quote,”For every job that must be done, there is an element of fun,” from Mary Poppins. I am so proud of how quickly my students pick up new skills when I teach through play!

One of favorite activities we do in spring is observe the butterfly lifecycle. My class was extremely excited about this. The kids loved watching the caterpillars grow into butterflies. The most memorable part for me, was the day we let the butterflies go. Our whole class sat in a circle. They were trying so hard to stay calm, quiet and keep hands to themselves so the butterflies wouldn’t get scared. We placed them in the middle, the shrieks of joy as the insects took flight was unforgettable!

$25,000 could buy so many things! I would love a color printer and ink so I don’t have to color print at home. This would also allow us to print pictures at school instead of sending them to Walgreens. I would love some fun recess equipment such as bikes and scooters, possibly a mud kitchen to add to our playground. I would buy themed toys, art supplies, and classroom decorations to add to our learning.