Hi! My name is Erin Whisnant. I live in Hickory with my family. I have been married to my husband for almost four years. I have a six year old stepson that stays with us as often as we can get him. We have a two year old Weimaraner that is like our child. He lives inside and loves to cuddle. He recently had knee surgery to repair a ruptured ACL. Our newest addition to our family is my son. He was born on April 24th. I have been fortunate to spend the last five weeks out of work with him. Life has been wonderful. Being a mother has many joys and blessing that I was unaware of until recently.
This is my fifth year teaching. The school that I work prior to this year closed due to a new school opening. My former school was a title one school where many of the students lived in low income housing and spoke English as their second language. I currently teach second grade at the newest elementary school in Catawba County. This school is not a title one school and many of the students come from upper middle class families with few speaking English as their second language. I have taught third, first and second. I completed my bachelor’s degree at UNCC. During student teaching, I was placed in a kindergarten classroom. I have been trying to get back in a kindergarten class since student teaching. I have found it very difficult due to kindergarten teachers not changing grades. We have two kindergarten positions opening up next year, so I am hopeful that my principal will move me!
I love to read. My passion for reading inspired me to attain my graduate degree in reading. This is my last class in the program. I love learning. I believe that is what makes me a great teacher. I have told my husband on many occasions that I could be a professional student, if the pay was good. Teaching reading is second nature to me. I find that my students are inspired to read when they notice my enthusiasm for reading. My goal is to return to college in two years to begin working toward a doctorate degree. I enjoy writing but find that this is one of my weakest areas when teaching. I don’t think that I am poor teacher of writing but I do think that this is the area where students progress the slowest so I feel that my efforts are not as successful as I would wish.