Certified Elementary Teacher specializing in ESL

Jo L.

ADHD

As a certified elementary teacher I have dealt with students having ADD or ADHD for years. These students require different strategies than their peers without this issue. They need extra help getting and staying organized. They need structure and clear expectations. They also need an environment as free from distraction as possible. I also used to have small objects that some students could hold and fiddle with while I was teaching. Some of my students used construction site head phones to block out external noise while they worked. It was only after I became a teacher and learned about this disorder that I realized I also had it. My oldest three biological children have ADHD. My children were taught different strategies and skills that allowed them to be successful in school. I learned along with them through literature and therapists that helped throughout the years. I have used strategies throughout my life to succeed academically. Those skills came after years of getting in trouble and not having much success academically. However, now I can pass those skills on to my students so that they can manage their ADD or ADHD. It makes life a lot easier!

Common Core

In Florida, I taught for 15 years utilizing the Common Core criteria. We were required to annotate each lesson with the code of the Common Core that it covered. Both Boyle and Mercer Counties also require that these Common Core are covered and recorded.

Elementary (K-6th)

I taught elementary school for 15 years. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida. We had three levels of internship, and outstanding teachers that were knowledgeable and helpful. Currently, I am two weeks away from graduating with a master's in teaching English as a second language. I believe in staying active in my learning so that I can stay up to date on the newest studies of successful strategies to utilize for children.

English

I have taught English as a second language to students overseas for many years with great success.

ESL/ESOL

I have attained my master's degree in teaching English as a second language. This program has taught me how to reach students of any age and ability level so that they can learn English. It doesn't matter what their native language is, they can learn to read and speak English through using the right strategies.

Phonics

I have taught elementary students for 15 years. Most of my teaching experience is with the primary grades and teaching these young students to read. Phonics is a big part of that, and something that I am very familiar with doing. I have taught from 1st grade to 4th grade. Most of my experience (10 years) is in 2nd grade. At that grade level there are students far below and far above grade level expectations. Those that are far below are given more help in areas such as phonics. These lower students were purposely assigned my class because I was able to bring their abilities up to grade level. Through remediation in phonics and other reading readiness skills these students were able to succeed.

Reading

I have a degree in Elementary Education and a Masters degree in Education. I taught in Florida for 15 years and have taught in Kentucky for 10.

Writing

I have taught writing to all ages. In the summers, I have taught a writer's camp that allowed students to exercise their creative writing skills. I have taught in school to help prepare students for state writing exams. I have a lot of experience in this and would love to pass on the strategies I have for successful writing.