Hey there! I’m Heather and I’m retired teacher behind Mrs. Renz Class on TPT. I’m sharing the teaching strategies, ideas, hints, and tips that worked for me with upper elementary students so you can make your lessons fun and exciting. I’m sharing what worked for me in my classroom. I want you to get to know me so you can trust my teaching materials. 🙂
When students are actively engaged and taking charge of their learning, you are doing less classroom behavior management and more teaching.
Teaching 4/5 and 5/6 blended classes caused me to think differently about how to meet the needs of both grade level curriculum plus meet the individual needs of all my students. I needed to get my students actively involved working on projects so I could meet with the student groups while the others worked independently. That’s when I began creating projects that fostered independence.
Lessons have to be fun and scaffolded for success. You’ll get behavior problems when students don’t understand the task, or when it’s too difficult. Your struggling learners also need to be successful while you’re meeting with groups of students. Using projects and activities was the key to my success with students!
I am giving back by sharing what worked for me with you.
Just for Fun ~ Me by the Numbers:
Grades Taught: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7-8 math, 9-12 computers, District Academic Achievement Specialist
Number of Years Taught: 34 all in public schools
Favorite Grades to Teach: 4th and 5th
Approx. Number of Students Taught: 1,800 students
School Districts Taught In: 3
Schools Taught In: 7
Number of Principals Worked For: 10
Number of Educational Degrees: 2 (B.A. and M.A.T)
Here’s a few of the honors and recognitions I’m proud to have received as a teacher:
* Disney Teacher Award Honoree
* Microsoft’s First Worldwide Innovative USA Teacher
* Intel Innovative Teacher Award
* JASON Project Teacher Argonaut, Panama Expedition
* Mount Vernon Teachers Institute Recipient from Oregon
* Mount Vernon Lesson Plan of the Year
* OnPoint Credit Union Excellence in Education Award
* Featured in the book, One-On-One with America’s Most Inspiring Teachers
* Featured in the book, Teaching with the Internet K-12: New Literacies for New Times
* Redmond Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year
Happy students and parents are a huge importance, too. So that’s a bit about me! I enjoy helping other teachers and have always said teachers work way too hard not to share what works.
Happy teaching!
