As a child, I could think of nothing more I wanted to do than teach. My stuffed animals and dolls were my students and I took them to distant lands of Thailand and Timbuktu through the “geography” lessons I would teach. My obsession with different lands grew as I studied to be an archeologist, but so did the pull to teach. As I was finishing my undergraduate degree in anthropology, I had the opportunity to take an urban anthropology and geography course at the University of Colorado where part of the curriculum was designed around project-based learning (PBL). I had few opportunities to engage in PBL, so this experience ignited a fire to teach through projects. I wanted to share the thrill I experienced in learning with students, so as I was finishing one degree I began my education degree, and in 1984 embarked on my journey as a social studies educator. Fifteen years later, I found my calling in the Language Arts classroom. It was the marriage of my love of people, places, and stories. After 35 years teaching for Denver Public Schools, I retired from the classroom, but teaching didn’t stop, I just moved to an activity director position at an assisted living community in the Denver metro region where my audience was just older. I loved serving the elderly, validating their golden years by teaching them how to use technology and apps. They learned how to draw on the computer using Sketchpad and how to submit personal writing to various publications. It was an eye-opening experience for me and them.
But once again the Lord called me to a different mission, this time almost literally. In June I received a call from a local Catholic school, asking me if I’d like to apply for a middle school teaching position. I had no reason to accept, but I did, and from the moment I first met the principal and assistant principal, and learned about their vision, I was hooked. I resigned from the assisted living community and embarked for the second time as a classroom teacher.
The journey continues. In December 2024, I completed a master’s degree in literacy from the American College of Education. The drive to teach students skills they need to make the world their own continues, as does my own quest to learn more.
My hope with this blog is to share with you, the successes and struggles of being an educator. I want this to be a place where you can find teaching tips and thematic unit ideas that you can use in your classrooms. I want to share my love of reading by suggesting books and providing reviews. Above all. I want to continue to teach and learn.
Please leave a comment on my blog or send me an email. Happy reading and teaching.
LiterallyLeni 