It's hard to decide how to start this entry on our class blog. Do I talk about my personal life? My experiences as a child? My career? I guess that starting from the beginning may be best.
When I was a child my family and I moved around a great deal. I went to a new school every year of elementary school, three schools in third grade, and we finally settled in Lincoln County right before I began middle school. As I moved around so much when I was small, I had the opportunity to attend a lot of different schools and to meet a lot of different teachers. I think that through this experience I started to have a great deal of respect for teachers, but unlike many of you, I never thought that I would be one when I grew up!
During my sophmore year of high school I met the man who became my husband 11 years ago on May 22, 1999. He works for the Department of Motor Vehicles as an inspector. He is the love of my life and my best friend. We have two wonderful children. Our daughter, Emma, will be 8 in a few weeks and is about to finish up second grade. Our son, Noah, is two and is such a handful! Daily he shows me how to be thankful for the little things in life, and to remember that my family is what is most important.
I have been a first grade teacher for 10 years. I did my student teaching in 3rd grade and thought that I would teach older elementary children. When I graduated with my bachelor's degree in December 1999, I didn't find a job right away, and began subbing. I ended up taking over for a first grade teacher who went on maternity leave towards the end of the school year. She didn't return, and I ended up staying in her spot. I love first graders, and I love the challenge of teaching them to read. I have always been an avid reader myself. When I start a new book (I like almost anything) I can't put it down until I am finished. I reread favorite books over and over again. When I am reading, I feel as if everything else (especially housework) doesn't exist. I want to help children discover the way that books can take you anywhere you want to go.
I am finishing up my first year of the masters program in reading. I always knew I would get my masters degree, but kept waiting for the right time to start. Once I realized there was no right time coming, I decided to jump in. I am enjoying my classes and learning more about reading than I could have imagined. I hope that with every class I take, I am becoming a better teacher of reading and that my students can benefit from that. I am looking forward to this class and I hope that it will help me to broaden my knowledge of reading.
-Elizabeth Norwood
Comments (2)
Elizabeth,
Each year I get students in my classroom who have moved from school to school. Some come to me in first grade and they have been in five or six schools already. My heart breaks for those children. They often lag behind their peers and need more of my attention. Your post gives me hope that they will be okay.
Posted by Christy Findley | June 4, 2010 4:01 PM
Posted on June 4, 2010 16:01
Elizabeth,
I am always inspired by teachers who want to further their education for the purpose of better understanding to become better at reaching kids. Even for those of us who have taught for awhile, there is still so much we can learn. As I am going through this master's program, I realize I wish I had started earllier. I am glad you have stayed with first graders. They can benefit from your expertise and knowledge.
Posted by Susan Hines | June 5, 2010 8:59 AM
Posted on June 5, 2010 08:59