Someone New Sunday

Good Sunday Morning everyone!  I hope you all have been enjoying the wonderful fall-like weather this weekend. It's been absolutely beautiful here in Tennessee, which is where our new blogger is from. I was so excited to have another TN Teacher contact me, especially one who lives less than an hour away from me!

So I would like for you to meet Elizabeth L. She gets her blog on at:

Grade You Teach:

1st Grade - This is my 5th year teaching 1st and I love it!

Where do you teach?

I teach in West Tennessee between Jackson and Memphis.

How long have you been teaching?

I have been teaching 5 years all in 1st grade.

What is you teaching "style"?

I would have to say that my style is very loving and hands-on. I feel that children need to know that when they come to school that they have a teacher that has their best interest at heart. I try to understand where my students are coming from by giving them time to share stories with me. I obtain a good relationship with not only my students but also their families. Additionally, I try to incorporate a lot of movement and hands-on activities in my lessons. I get bored very easily and so I try to keep my classroom lively by not doing tons of worksheets, but instead using practical but beneficial activities that gets the students and myself out of our seats.

What is your favorite "teacher" book?

I love any Debbie Diller book. She gives great ideas on how to teach at the elementary level.

What is your most memorable teaching moment?

My most memorable teaching moment is hard to define.  I have had so many great teaching moments over the past years. One that stands out in my mind is one that did not occur in the classroom. Last year, I had a class that consisted of students with lots of different personalities. Most of the kids did not have friends in the classroom at the beginning of the year. However, by the end, we had become a strong family together. On Field Day at the end of last year, the kids were able to work together to beat the other 12 first grade classes in our school to win the Tug of War competition.  It was great to see how different personalities could come together over the course of a year to work together to achieve this. I was a proud teacher!

Why did you start your blog?

I have had a personal/family blog for a few years, but I was never a consistent blogger. I have fallen in love with reading blogs and spend many hours doing this every week. This past school year had many firsts and I decided I needed to create something that would allow me to remember certain things - funny moments in class, breakthroughs in class, what works and what doesn't. I want to be able to take from blogging and grow to be a better teacher. I teach for the children and I want to be the best I can.

Where else can we find you?

Do you have a freebie you would like to share?

I don't create things, but check out my Wednesday's Words of Wisdom series to be motivated each week.

Please stop by and say hello to Elizabeth! And if you would like to be on Someone New Sunday, please email me at laurastarnes@ymail.com