Meet the Teacher

Today I am linking up for Day 1 of Teacher Week over at Blog Hoppin'.

Tell us a little something about you...

I'm Katie, or as my kids call me, Miss Klohn. I graduated this past spring from Schreiner University in Kerrville with my EC-6 teaching certification. I always thought that I wanted to teach in the younger grades, but after having the opportunity to complete part of my student teaching in 6th grade, I knew it was where I was supposed to be. However, it is quite strange teaching in the same room that I took 6th grade language arts in. I absolutely love what I do and cannot imagine doing anything else!

How long have you been teaching?

This is my first official year as a teacher. Last year though, I finished my student teaching in 6th grade as the teacher. The teacher resigned effective immediately and the class was all mine. The school librarian ended up being my mentor teacher. She was also my 8th grade ELA teacher too! Even though this is my first official year as a teacher, I was a substitute teacher for 3 years and then was also an elementary teacher aide in high school. I am so thrilled that I get to spend the rest of my life doing something I love so much!

You might not know...

That I was the mascot in 8th grade! Yes, I was a Battlin' Billie. Maybe if you all are lucky enough I will share a picture of it one day. Due to my experience as a mascot, I have also been wrangled into being the assistant cheer sponsor this year. The life of a new teacher!

What are you most looking forward to this school year?

This past spring my school district passed a bond and now all of the classrooms are connected classrooms. That means that I got an interactive board and ceiling mounted projector! You have no idea how excited I am to integrate my lessons with the board. This school year I am also the 6th grade inclusion teacher for Language Arts. In the first part of my student teaching I was in a 4th grade inclusion classroom and I loved it. I am thrilled to be doing inclusion again. I also really love my 6th grade team and the new language arts teachers that we added this year. I am excited to share, borrow, and trade new ideas that I can use in my classroom with my students. 

What do you need to improve?

Well this being my first year I am not really sure about this just quite yet. One thing I really want to work on from the time I spent in 6th grade last year is my differentiation for my different students. I felt like I did not necessarily accelerate my Pre AP students to the level that they needed because I was just trying to keep my head above the water. I am hoping that at the end of the year I feel like I have better served this students. This is a question that I will for sure be coming back to at the end of the school year. 

What teaching supplies can you NOT live without?

Flair pens

my interactive board

Diet Cherry Coke in my mini-fridge

Post-It brand chart size sticky notes

binders (I have a binder for just about everything)

conference during Sonic Happy Hour :)

I also had an amazing first day with my 6th graders! They are all so great and I can already tell that it is going to be a wonderful school year!

I am so excited to "meet" you other teachers out there!