TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Classroom Teacher, Seward Communication Arts Academy, Chicago, IL, Second Grade, November 2004 - Present

-    Designed and implemented lesson plans for every subject area, utilizing activities that promote student independence, problem solving, critical thinking, and accountability

-    Developed and utilized learning centers in science, math, and language arts to enhance differentiated instruction, appeal to multiple intelligences, and to promote a child-based, hands-on curriculum

-    Implemented writers' workshop, resulting in improved writing grades and reading comprehension during the year

-    Teamed with another grade-level teacher to plan, create, and implement science unit on states of matter free of textbooks, promoting hands-on learning, experimentation, and discovery

-    Incorporated technology into daily activities, utilizing computers for web-quests, research, and writing activities

-    Structured lesson plans to meet needs of various learning levels, including modifications for exceptional students; worked closely with special education teacher to monitor progress of these students and to plan lessons

-    Conducted miscue analysis assessment of students to determine reading level and yearly progress

-    Assessed student performance using a variety of tools, i.e. anecdotal observations, journal entries, experiments, individual and group presentations, and formal assessments

-    Coordinated Fun Day with three other colleagues, including organization of food, games, prizes, entertainment, and security for 385 students in grades PK-2

-    Promoted parental involvement inside and outside of classroom via ongoing communication (i.e., notes, letters home, phone calls) and through engaging parent volunteers during field trips and in-class activities