From the Classroom of: Mrs. Jones

At Simply Stamps, we take education very seriously and we know going back to school can be both stressful and exciting for everyone involved! Not just on the parents and students, but there’s a lot of pressure on the teachers as everyone heads back to school as well! Often times, teachers don’t get the attention and recognition they deserve, so we’ve put together a special back-to-school blog post series dedicated to teachers and all that they do! Each week through the month of August, we’ll bring attention to one teacher, asking a series of questions about what it’s like to be head of the classroom. So this week we welcome to Simply Stamps University Mrs. Jones, a first grade teacher in Duval County, Florida.

Q & A with Mrs. Jones

Q: How many years of experience do you have teaching?

A: This will be my 6th year.

Q: Why did you choose to teach?

A: I’d always been good with kids. I was working in a daycare and one of my kid’s teachers was a math coach at an inner city school in Jacksonville. She thought I could make a difference there. So I gave it a try… and I did 🙂

Q: What grade level do you teach?

A: I’ve taught kindergarten, 1st and 3rd grades. I’ll be teaching 1st this year.

Q: What do you find is the most challenging aspect of your daily routine with students?

A: I know it’s cliché, but you work with what you’re given. Every child is different, made up of different experiences (or lack of). Their families are different. Their opportunities are different. What they’ve learned before they’ve met you is different. Sometimes it’s a struggle, but once you get to know your kids – really know them – who they are, where they come from, what motivates them, once you get that out of the way, teaching is easy.

Q: How do you get organized for the first day and first week of a new school year?

A: I have no idea, lol. Seriously, I am the worst procrastinator ever.

Q: What subjects do you teach?

A: Reading, writing, math and science.

Q: What subjects do you most enjoy teaching?

A: Reading. I like teaching the enjoyment of reading and getting to see the lights click on as kids realize the worlds that are opening up for them.

Q: Have you developed any unique strategies for teaching, staying organized or anything else?

A: I’m really good at behavior management. In the school I’ve spent my last 5 years in, too many kids miss out on education because the behavior takes up too much time. I start my year with rituals and routines, and then I’m consistent the rest of the year. If the kids know what to expect, it adds a level of security for them. They know what to expect and what’s expected of them; they don’t have to guess. And they don’t have to be afraid to get it wrong. Many of my kids over the years have come from homes that are ever-changing, where they don’t know what to expect, don’t know how to respond, and often times don’t feel safe. My kids know they are safe with me, that they can trust me and that I will ALWAYS do what’s best for them. When your kids know you love them, they’ll give you their best, every time.

Q: What has been your biggest lesson or point of personal growth since you first became a teacher?

A: Getting past my opinions of how things should be, seeing them for what they are, and doing my best regardless.

Q: Do you have any success stories about a particular student, or anything else? If so, share one!

A: When I taught third grade two years ago. First of all, I was supposed to teach kindergarten that year, so when the principal came to me the week of pre-planning and asked me to move to third I was completely unprepared. But I did it, because that’s what teachers do – whatever is best for the kids. I am definitely not the best third grade teacher that ever was but it did provide me with the best experience of my teaching career so far. I had a young man in my class that was repeating because he hadn’t passed his FSA. In fact, they had allowed him to go to 4th grade unofficially and he was supposed to be completing his portfolio (basically a collection of reading passages and questions to show proof that he’d learned what he needs to the year before. He didn’t finish them in time and they sent him, along with a few others, back to third grade. He hated reading and thought he would never be good at it. I can’t imagine what gave him that idea. But, it goes back to what I said earlier about knowing your kids, I found out he like animals. (LOVED is more like it.) He knew and remembered everything he’d ever seen on animal planet. The day he realized he could learn as much or more about his favorite animals from books and online articles than he ever could watching TV, I saw the light in his eyes when he said “Mrs. Jones, thank you for showing me how much fun reading is!” I was so excited for him. And, at the end of the year, he passed his FSA with a good, solid 3. He was so proud of himself! I was proud of him too and he gave me the biggest hug!

Q: Is there a burning question you WISH someone would ask you about your job?

A: What do your students need? How can we volunteer in your classroom? How about lunch?

Q: Additional thoughts you would like to add?

A: I LOVE teaching. I may have stumbled into the career, but it makes me happy. I see people, teachers, waitresses and other professionals, that you can just tell they hate their jobs… stop! You’re not doing anyone any favors by staying in a job you don’t like, and you’ll certainly never be the best at it. But when you love something, when you find your passion, nothing can stop you!

We’d like to send a HUGE thank you to Mrs. Jones for letting us get to know her a little more! Be sure to check back next week to get to know another teacher during our “From the Classroom” of blog post series as we get ready for back-to-school!  

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