Mrs. Hood's Crew
Sailing through 5th Grade at Harvey Elementary

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be my 14th year teaching 5th grade. Before coming to Harvey 4 years ago, I spent 7 years at Braden River Elementary.  I also taught 12 years at Kinnan Elementary and 6 years at Tara Elementary.  I have taught grades 2-5.  Every year has been exciting and memorable, as I have been lucky to teach such wonderful students. I am looking forward to getting to meet my new students, and their parents, this upcoming school year!

 

I went to elementary, middle, and high school in Palmetto.  After high school, I went to Florida College where I earned an AA, and then I went to USF where I received my degree in Elementary Education. I have additional training in Kagan Cooperative Learning, Multiple Intelligences, Total Quality Management, 7 Habits, Melissa Forney Writing Techniques, Write Traits, Balanced Literacy, Readers' and Writers' Workshops, Inquiry-Based Learning, AIMS (Integrating Math and Science), and Everyday Mathematics.  In 2008, I also received my National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Certification.

 

I think the reading, learning, and training I've done in the areas of Reading and Writing have had the biggest impact on my teaching craft. I feel so fortunate to have been able to learn about Readers' and Writers' Workshops and the format that is used to teach children reading and writing. This learning journey with Readers' and Writers' Workshops began about 14 years ago at Columbia University Teachers' College, but most recently, in the summer of 2016, I attended a Literacy Conference in Boothbay, Maine with Kylene Beers and Bob Probst. The knowledge I gleaned from this conference further impacted my teaching and students, and I am constantly reading and honing my teaching as I strive to learn best practices. It is exciting to share what I learn with my colleagues and students, as my ultimate goal is to make us all lifelong readers and writers.

 

A few summers ago, I was fortunate to be able to attend and become "slide certified" at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. Ron Clark is a dynamic and innovative educator, and through this experience, I learned ways to further increase student engagement, ensure academic rigor, and create a climate and culture that leads to success. (If you look at my "Parent Challenge" under the "For Parents" link, Ron Clark is the author of the book that I challenge you to read.) I am so fortunate that Harvey Elementary is a place where I am encouraged by the administration and given many opportunities to keep current in my educational practices to ensure I am giving my best to the children who are my purpose and passion.

 

My extended family ...

In my classroom, I promote an atmosphere of safety, trust, and respect.  I work hard to build a sense of community and relationships among my students, and I emphasize the idea of teamwork.  I believe that great things can happen when we work together. Harvey Elementary is a place where I feel like part of a strong community and part of a winning team, and I hope you, as parents, will be part of that winning team, too!