officially a Missouri State COE grad & employed as an elementary teacher starting in January within the same week. #bestweek

My students earned a class reward by gaining compliments from other teachers/staff in the school. We voted as a class on the reward and they picked lunch in the classroom. Of all the fun things we could do they wanted to eat lunch with our class family.. They are THE best!! 🥺😭

Can you tell we are excited to check out DOUBLE the books in room 105? Peep a class favorite author Mo Willems! Watkins Elementary #SPSreads

Book fair week is the best for getting the kiddos encouraged to read! They cannot wait to take these wish list home to their families! They were begging to stay in the library longer to look at the books. #SPSreads Watkins Elementary Lisa Van Gorp

Started the week off with implementing some new “brain boosts” to keep my kiddos active during the day. They LOVED changing up how we normally move our bodies. Active classroom training coming into use. #activeclassroom Brad Brummel

It takes time to become a highly effective teacher. It also takes time to become a highly effective leader. Both need patience, support, encouragement, praise and effective mentoring. With focus on maximizing strengths, not weaknesses.

👏🏻👏🏻

Day 2 of HALF of my class being gone due to sickness.... STAY AWAY FROM ME GERMS 🦠 🙅🏼‍♀️

One more final is standing between me and being a third of the way done with grad school. HAPPY SATURDAY!!

"I'm gathering evidence of learning." That shift in language in how I approach the assessment process opened so many doors for how I assess students and what I pay attention to in order to determine where a student's at in their learning.

Recess is vital to education, not just a break but the heart beat of learning. Here, students build social skills, resilience, and academic foundations. Through unstructured play, they master problem-solving, teamwork, and even self-regulation, becoming well-rounded individuals

I love being a Watkins Wildcat! 💙

Tuesday wisdom:

Great teaching doesn’t come from a box or a script — it’s built through relationships. Relationships uncover student strengths, fuel their success, and build the confidence to be their best.

Be contagious this fall!

Strengths!

Truth.