Get to Know Me Question & Answer Session
Welcome to my blog! I tried my best to respond to all of your Instagram questions so here’s a little bit about me:
Teaching Basics
What do you teach? 7th grade: Math 7, Pre-Algebra, and Algebra
How long have you been teaching? This is my 11th year.
What activities have you been involved with at your school? I coached high school water polo, served as a Student Council advisor, and coached Girls on the Run. I am currently running a Discipline Committee to bring some sort of PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) program to my school.
Do you enjoy teaching middle school? I absolutely love teaching 6th and 7th grade at the middle school level and couldn’t imagine teaching any other grade. I completed student teaching in 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th and knew middle school was my favorite by far. 6th graders are sweet and innocent and leave with that sassy 7th grade attitude but 7th graders are fun too. I am also secondary math certified but again can’t imagine teaching high schoolers.
Did you always know that you wanted to be a teacher? I did and at a young age, I played “school” in my basement with my stuffed animals pretending to be students. I also toyed with the idea of being a Pediatrician but I’m not great with bodily fluids so that idea was out.
Getting Personal
What do you do in your spare time when you aren’t teaching? I enjoy reading, baking (mostly just eating what I bake), doing Crossfit, working on TPT, and spending time with friends, family, and my furbabies.
Do you have kids? Nope, but I have 2 furbabies: Snooki (flat-coated retriever)- age 11 and Chevy (cat)- age 3
Snooki and Chevy
When is your wedding date? Great question- still working on that. As of now, the plan is 2021.
What shows are you currently watching? I am currently obsessing over Handmaid’s Tale, The Bachelorette, Dead to Me, and Big Little Lies. I just finished re-watching all 8 seasons of Game of Thrones.
What is your favorite vacation spot? I love the Florida Keys and Lake Placid! I’m definitely a beach and mountain girl.
Reflecting on My First Year of Teaching
What is your advice for a first-year teacher? My biggest advice is to make time for yourself. Teaching is one of the most challenging but rewarding careers. Self-care is necessary to avoid teacher burnout. Be yourself and make your classroom your own; your classroom doesn’t have to be Pinterest worthy. Focus on building relationships with your students. Routines are a huge part of a well-run classroom and do-now slides (with directions on the board) are so helpful for classroom management.
What would you do differently your first year of teaching? Honestly, I would probably try to find more balance. I spent a lot of time grading, lesson planning, and creating resources at home. I am naturally a planner, so I liked knowing what I was doing weeks, even months in advance but I would just take it day by day if I were to redo it. Balance is key.
I would love to know what we have in common! Share in the comments below!
