Hi, I'm Paige!
Welcome
There's much to see here. So, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about Paige's teaching practice. We hope you enjoy hearing more about Paige, her teaching experience, and philosophy.
Impact on Student Success
"To be quite honest, Paige is a highly sought-after Kindergarten teacher, and this is a clear reflection of her skills. Paige’s deep respect for children, her clear expectations, and emphasis on a growth mindset make her classroom hum with purpose; she is a “warm demander.” It is a joy to watch Paige teach."
Developing as a Professional Educator
In what ways have you surprised yourself?
I think what has surprised me the most is that I have always found ways to connect on a deep level with my students - building relationships is what I do. What's great about that is I can use that strength to continue building goal-setting and sharing student work in my future classrooms.
Professional Goals and Beyond
My professional goals looking forward are focused around sharing my talents and supports to a broader community of teachers, parents, and children. We will be opening our own early education program so I can share my knowledge and teaching with more students!
What actions will you take to reach this goal?
- Earn my Early Education Site Supervisor Permit through classes at Cañada College
- Receive licensing from San Mateo County
- Work to build a cohesive early education program in line with our mission and values - strong caring relationships, building confidence and readiness, and social emotional awareness
- Create a parent and educator network to share resources, collaborate, and educate on new and valuable strategies and concepts to strengthen student growth!
I will know this is successful when I can share our up and running school and program, and see the benefits of building a thriving community of parents, educators, and students.
What actions will you take to be a connected educator throughout your career?
I have been lucky enough to be part of a very tight-knit educator community for most of my adult life - my best friends are educators, my school colleagues are educators, and my credential program cohort still stay in touch.
I am always looking for more resources to stay connected and up to date with the most recent research, and have joined many programs and online communities to help me do that. I make a point to seek out professional development opportunities so that I can continue to learn, grow, and reenergize myself as an educator. Some of my favorites include:
These are just a few resources that have kept me updated and informed beyond my programmed learning opportunities, and they will continue to as I grow into my new roles as an educator.
What can you do personally and professionally, to sustain the energy it takes to be passionate about students, teaching, and learning?
As teachers, we are consistently asked "what can you do to be better next time?" when we reflect on our teaching, lessons, and interactions with students. Many people who gravitate toward teaching are always looking to better themselves, and often have difficult celebrating their successes and are always looking at how they could have been better. I am one of those people! Over the course of my teaching career, I have learned a few things about myself and how I can thrive and continue to be the best I can be. I have also learned many tools and skills for how I can re-fill myself as I continue to give myself toward my students and my teaching:
- Celebrate successes - focusing on wins, positive feedback, and finding successes in each day is a great way to refuel. Bullet Journaling is something I learned to do through the CTI program and will continue in the future
- Identify priorities and make priority lists - what is most important and relevant - what can wait?
- Art -I am an artist, and I use art to meditate and relax. I do cross stitching, painting, and drawing the most!
- Focus on Health - I hope to continue making myself a priority and putting time into my health, and I put the effort and money into finding a type of exercise that makes me feel motivated and accomplished.
What advice to have for someone who is new to the profession?
- Trust your community of teachers - rely on others to support you by asking questions, collaborating and sharing ideas, and reflecting on your teaching with others. By working together with your colleagues, you will learn more and be able to find what is truly important in your teaching
- Prioritize yourself - make sure to take care of yourself and find ways to "refill your cup". It's okay to set things aside for a while to rest and refuel so you can be ready to take on the next task with your best foot forward
- Be systematic - create routines, build explicit instruction into your teaching, and make expectations clear as you continue building your classroom community
- Spend time building relationships with all your students - I always remember the idea of the holidays - I don't remember the specific things I had or did, but I always remember how I felt during those times as a child. School is the same - they won't remember exactly what you did but how you made them feel. Build relationships with your students based on mutual respect, care, and fun.
Contributing to the Profession
Curated Resources
These resources have helped me inform my instruction throughout the year and as I have built my own practice and business with my partner. I have categorized them and shared them here for you to view:
The Science of Learning & Reading
- Learning Scientists - podcasts and articles discussing the most recent research and practices for the best science-based instruction https://www.learningscientists.org/
- Top Ten Tools - amazing training for science-based literacy instruction, very robust and informative https://readingteacherstoptentools.com/
- A Teachable Teacher - blog and resource center with lots of free resources that are based in systematic and phonics based instruction https://www.ateachableteacher.com/
Project-Based Learning
- PBL Works - resources for planning and instructing project-based lessons that are authentic and exciting https://www.pblworks.org/resources-overview -
- High Quality Project Based Learning framework https://hqpbl.org/resources/
- Universal Design for Learning - guidelines to design and instruct lessons for all students https://udlguidelines.cast.org/more/downloads
Goal-Setting and Tracking with Students
- Set Class Goals - blog about how to set goals with your class and follow through on tracking goals together https://natalielynnkindergarten.com/how-to-get-your-kindergarten-class-to-set-goals-independently/
Teacher Wellness
- 40 Hour Teacher Work Week - professional development online course to help prioritize and streamline school planning and programs to reduce planning and work time to the most essential https://join.40htw.com/
- Skinny Taste Meal Plans - weekly meal plans based on healthy meals for families or for one with grocery lists https://www.skinnytaste.com/meal-plans/
- Moonly and Calm Apps - good meditations and mindfulness for relaxation and thoughtfulness on setting intentions for the day