I started this blog years ago as a 4th grade language teacher, I named it I Teach. What's Your Superpower? I started it as a place to share classroom ideas, honestly not thinking I ever really stick to it! In February of 2022, it was finally time to update the name. Teaching has become so much heavier in the last 10 years. I Teach. What's Your Superpower? seemed like a fun name originally, but teaching isn't a superpower. It's definitely not a magically power any of us were born with. It's HARD and takes a lot of time, energy, and hard work.
After wracking my brain, a simple name that matched my teaching identity popped in my head. Engaging Literacy-simple, authenic, engaging. Exactly what I want for my instruction. I think it's important to continually ask ourselves as teachers-why am I using this resource? How is it helping my kids? What am I doing to support my readers? Also, is this making my life more or less complicated? I hope this blog is a place to navigate what we know about teaching literacy and the reality of being in a classroom with overwhelming demands.
When I'm not reading about reading or talking about reading or teaching reading, I have a pretty great life. Here's the run down:
•I've got a pretty fierce kids book and shoe habit and am a new plant lady.
•I've been in education for 23 years as a 1st-4th grade teacher and as a literacy coach.
•I'm a proud LSU grad. Geaux Tigers! I was kidnapped and brought kicking and screaming from Baton Rouge to Texas in 2009, and I'm mostly over the trauma.
•I have a wonderful husband (we'll overlook that moving thing) who stays off social media and keeps us all fed & two daughters that I adore and are the source of most of my laughter.