About Me
I am an Interior Designer turned Art Teacher turned English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. I have also taught ballroom dancing, sold real estate, worked as a professional photographer, bred bulldogs, and owned two retail furnishings and design shops! My creative experiences have molded me into a dynamic teacher who thinks outside the box, and who creatively engages students in active learning!
My Awards & Certifications
BS in Contract Art. Appalachian State Uuniversity
BS in Housing & Interiors (Interior Design), Appalachian State Uuniversity
Add-on Certification in Art Education, Meredith College
Masters Degree in Education, English as a Second Language, Meredith College
My Experience
ESL teacher -elementary and middle school -7 years
Art teacher- elementary -2 years
Interior Designer -13 years and on-going as a free-lance consultant
Vast experience writing both freelance and research-based articles
Certified as a SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) trainer
Trained in Wilson Fundations Reading Program
Trained in numerous reading and writing enrichment programs
Working on National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification
My Latest Articles
-
The New English Language Learner (ELL) in the Mainstream Classroom
This article will provide ways to assimilate the new English as a Second Language Learner into the classroom. When a student arrives, speaking little to no English, there is no need to panic. You can assist the new student and make them feel a valued...Published on December 30, 2009 to K-12 Learning
-
How to Write Bio Poems Inspired by Artworks
Students are introduced to famous works of art and shown how to develop their own interpretation of what the artist was feeling. After classroom brainstorming and discussion, each student will write their own bio poem about the artist, using a poetry...Published on December 30, 2009 to K-12 Learning
-
Making Stone Soup with English Language Learners (3-5)
In this unit plan, the class will read the classic tale Stone Soup and take part in a variety of fun, hands-on lessons to build comprehension and develop content skills. Students will do a variety of activities to build reading, writing, math, and direct...Published on December 20, 2009 to K-12 Learning
View More »