I graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Public Relations and no real direction. I worked for many years in the dot.com arena, spent time in marketing, and with my husband ran a high-tech company for a few years. However, once my children were born my priorities shifted. I no longer enjoyed the high-tech industry and craved instead to be home, learning and exploring with them.
When my youngest started kindergarten I started substitute teaching in their school. My first day was PE! I thought if I can survive that I can survive anything! Teaching has always been a career that interested me, and after several months of substituting I was hooked.
I'm fortunate that the wonderful Upper Valley Educators Institute is so close. I spent the 2013/14 school year enrolled at UVEI and interning full time in two different class-rooms. My fall placement was in a departmentalized 5th grade classroom where I learned a ton about lesson planning and how to "hook" 5th graders. The kids were smart and funny and I enjoyed the experience. My spring placement was a kindergarten classroom. The children there were in their second half of kindergarten and therefore pros at school! I was able to teach them daily, create a "neighborhood" UbD unit that everyone enjoyed, and build caring and trusting relationships with each of them. The experiences obviously were quite different, but each taught me so much.
I am now a teaching assistant at a Montessori school. I work in a mixed-age classroom with 3-6 year old students. Each day I help with classroom and student management, teach individual and small group lessons, and learn about the Montessori philosophy.
I look forward to continuing my path of learning as I guide children along their own paths. Each day is a journey and I am enjoying every step.
