MICHELLE HENDERSON 

1st Grade Self-Containted Teacher | Alderson Elementary | Lubbock ISD

Charles Butt Scholar Alum, Texas Tech University

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Q  Can you share one recent moment or memory that encapsulates your experience or communicates what is most meaningful about your job right now?

A  My students are so excited to walk in my door every morning. I greet each student with enthusiasm and compliment them in some way. I absolutely love seeing how happy they are to walk in. My students who have experienced staying home for two weeks come back eager to learn and express how much they missed me. My class notices when students are gone, and they ask about the missing students regularly.

Q  What is one way you’ve supported your students recently?

A  In a COVID world, teachers are faced with asynchronous teaching. We post digital assignments daily for students who cannot learn with us in the classroom due to quarantine. I have to juggle teaching my students in person, as well as answering questions from students who are learning from home. I feel like I have become more flexible and adapted to handling both types of learners.

Q  What is one way you have recently tried to address the unique needs of learners?

A  We have utilized digital choice boards this year, and I have been more flexible with student choices. I have utilized specialized Istation assignments, DreamBox, Read Theory, and eSpark. All of these wonderful pieces of technology adapt to the student and teach them where they are. I love how we receive specialized reports that help us make informed decisions when it comes to pulling small groups. I feel like these hold students more accountable than stations from last year.
Q  Given the good, bad, and ugly of 2020-21, what do you love about teaching right now?

A  I love getting to see my students grow. I missed out on finishing my first year of teaching and did not get closure with my first class. I see my students from last year, and they are so excited to see me. This year, I hope to see all of my student’s growth from start to finish. I love seeing the excitement from a student when they finally understand a new math problem, read a higher level book, or finally understand something that has just been challenging them. Nothing can replace the joy of seeing your students succeed.

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