Ariel Miller

Tell us why you became a teacher

I love math, craft, and music, but especially working with children. Teaching has given me a way to enjoy all those things each and every day. I feel a thrill seeing the kiddos grow each year both academically and as little humans. First grade is my absolute favorite grade to teach and I have taught it for the majority of my career. They walk into my class in August barely able to read & write. They leave in May as mature, responsible young adults writing paragraphs & reading novels.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Each year I do an Eric Carle author/illustrator study during Reading Week. I share his books with the kids & we watch a video of Eric Carle explaining how he creates his special papers & illustrations for his stories. We discuss how his books teach a lesson. The kids then write and type their own stories. They create their own “Eric Carle papers” & collage illustrations for their books. When I taught 6th grade, my former students brought in the books they had made 5 years ago in my class.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I think I would put it toward earning my PhD so I could teach at a university. I would like to work with elementary education majors and supervise student teachers.