Teacher Spotlights are our way of highlighting and getting to know some awesome teachers in our community who use Planboard to simplify their lesson planning.
Meet Sarah!
Q: When did you start using Planboard?
A: September 2020
Q: How has Planboard made your life easier?
A: The ability to link my lesson planning and assessments has improved the intentionality and timing of assessments. Having everything virtual has been so helpful during this season of virtual to in-person and back again.
Q: What’s the most valuable thing your students have taught you?
A: To find joy in the process; to value everyone for their unique personhood
Q: What education trend are you excited about? Why?
A: Science of Reading! The return to understanding how the brain learns to read and basing education on that supports so many more students and gives them an equitable opportunity to learn to read
*Check out Chalks article all about The Science of Reading
Q: What is something you wish your students knew about you?
A: How much I genuinely want to help – even if they’ve made mistakes, even if they’ve had a “red zone” meltdown. I am here to help.
Q: What is a unique skill you bring to your role as a teacher?
A: An eclectic number of random topics that I know about and can use to enrich inquiry and PBL learning. I’m always learning about something new or trying a new hobby, and often, I can share those with students in some way. For example, I recently took up pottery; when students were interested in the process, we turned our Christmas gift craft into making ornaments out of clay.
Q: What is your favourite quote? Why?
A: “What we know matters but who we are matters more.” – Brené Brown
Q: Who had the most influence on you growing up? Why?
A: My mom – she taught me to read, she encouraged my many and varied interests and indulged my million questions, and she always made the most of teachable moments, both in the academic learning sense, and in character nurturing ways.
Q: If you had your own talk show, who would you invite on the show as your first guest? Why?
A: From the world of education: Dr David Fitzpatrick, to dig into the practicalities of his recommendations regarding the science of reading. Non-education guest: Brene Brown. While she doesn’t specifically focus on education, her research and way of expressing that research could help educators immensely in creating safe spaces for students that allow for connection and belonging.
Q: What movie/tv show/book do you think everyone should watch/read? Why?
A: C.S. Lewis – The Chronicles of Narnia. They are beautifully written, characters make mistakes, and they engage the imagination!
Planboard is a free online lesson planner and gradebook that is used by 600,000+ teachers. Planboard makes it easy to get organized and reduce your classroom prep time. Accessible from anywhere, you can plan lessons, align to standards and manage your schedule with ease. Learn more about Planboard and sign up for free today.
