A Little History
Lessons from My Early Years of Teaching
Before I was hired as a “real teacher” with my own classroom in 1973, I worked as a classroom aide in Thousand Oaks, California, which is a rather affluent community. My 22-mile commute from Thousand Oaks to Oxnard, California, was in many ways, and on some days, worlds apart.
My first-grade students—27 of them—were a rich tapestry of cultures: black, white, Hispanic, Vietnamese, and Cambodian. They spoke English, Spanish and Spanglish, Vietnamese and Cambodian. Some parents were “blue-collar” workers, some moms did “daycare,” some parents worked in the fields of the Oxnard plain, one family owned a Mexican restaurant just down the street from the school, and I think there were some parents who—for whatever reason—did not work. “Family” was defined in a variety of ways: two-parent families, single-parent families, and kids being raised by grandparents. Although I had a teaching license, I was not fully prepared for this classroom setting! Continue reading “A Little History”
Toward Kinder Classrooms
Greetings and Welcome!
And thank you for visiting my website.
When I began my college education in 1968, I knew I wanted to be an English major, but had absolutely no idea what I “wanted to be when I grew up.” Fortunately, as a freshman at California Lutheran College—and in need of a job—I managed to land a position at a local elementary school.
Imagine my surprise to discover that I actually looked forward to going to work! Every day was fun for me as I talked with kids during their lunchtime and at recess. Before long I was “hooked” and so dedicated myself to doing everything in my power to earn the privilege of having my very own classroom. Continue reading “Toward Kinder Classrooms”