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Elementary Teacher

Elementary teacher? Isn't that for people who like to make cute bulletin boards? I was going to do something great, not be a primary teacher!

Yes, I was going to be a social worker, music major, middle school teacher (it had to be better than primary), political scientist, back to music major...then I was told that there was not going to be another year of college.

I better choose.

I was closest to becoming an elementary teacher, so I signed up for a few more classes and student teaching.

After all, I could always get a Master's Degree in something else if I hated it.

I loved it.

Correction - I loved being a student teacher for fifth grade. I hated second grade. I had no interest, knowledge or experience with primary grades. (I even fell asleep listening to them read during small groups. Oh yes, I did.)

Somehow I made it through that second student teaching experience, and was hired to teach sixth grade.

elementary teacher
Then I decided to try teaching jobs overseas, so I moved to the Middle East. I taught 7th and 8th grades in Kuwait at an American School.

I then took a job as an elementary teacher for 5th grade in Israel. It was also an American School, just outside of Tel Aviv.

During that time I worked on my Masters Degree in Education, met my husband and enjoyed all the opportunities that opened up to me in international education.

I went to conferences around the world, gained invaluable experience with ESL students, became very aware of cultural differences...and yes, I had a lot of fun.

Becoming A Primary Teacher

When my husband and I decided to move back to America, I knew I could find an elementary teaching job in my old school system.

I couldn't.

But I did get a job in a low-income district teaching fifth grade. It was a shock.

I had come from three years of being an elementary teacher for very privileged children in international schools.

Now I was going to get an education in how poverty affects students. I wanted to quit after the second day. It was really tough.

Instead, I persevered. I made it, and I gained a lot of empathy for my students during that year.

I was fortunate, however, to be able to move districts again and landed back where I first taught. I am still here, having taught fifth grade, third grade, and now...second grade. I am a primary teacher.

And I haven't fallen asleep during reading groups!

To my joy, I discovered that I love second grade. Perhaps it is because I am now a mother to three rowdy boys. Perhaps it is because I have discovered that I have a passion for teaching children reading and writing.

Maybe it is how every day brings something new, my own creativity is allowed to shine and I thrive on seeing those "light-bulb" moments that happen so often in a primary classroom.

Whatever "it" is, I wouldn't change what I do for the world.

Being an elementary teacher has brought me more joy than I can describe. Being able to do what I love has also brought out another interesting side of me that I had no idea even existed. You are reading it right now - I learned how to make a website to share what I love and bring in another source of income for my family.

elementary teacher

The loves of my life, and why I have a particular fondness for rowdy boys!

Shannon Dipple
B.S. Elementary Education (1-8)
Masters in Education: Curriculum and Instruction
Literacy Specialist
Extensive work with Gifted Education
My Google Profile