As the home-stretch of summer school is upon me, I have to reflect about the past four weeks teaching fourth grade at Piccolo School of Excellence. 

In this short amount of time, I have developed deep relationships with my students, my fellow teachers, and my coaches who have guided and supported me this summer. Specifically, I have been teaching reading to a group of 8 nine-year-olds. We have read and analyzed our own cultures and how they compare to cultures around the world. I have watched their writing take off over these past few weeks, as each of my students have progressed in writing text-dependent paragraphs.

As much as I have loved my experience this summer, I am looking forward to beginning my full-time job come August. I am excited to announce that I will be a third grade teacher at CICS Washington Park. I am so excited to take what I have learned this summer (and from past experiences) and give my all to my future students. Your support will help fund the necessary tools and supplies that my students need to be successful. Thank you!

In the past two weeks, I have moved to Chicago to begin the adventure that is my summer training program! I have met the 140 other first-year corps members who I will be working alongside this summer to engage in meaningful discussions about educational inequity, plan lesson plans, and teach summer school. I will spend the month of July teaching literacy and math to incoming fourth grade students with an enrichment curriculum that is focused on the students being able to prepare for their fourth grade year. I am excited to meet my students this week and make lasting memories!

The reason for this fundraiser is to prepare to lead my own classroom beginning in August. Throughout the summer, I will be thinking about the creative strategies that I can use to engage my future students; however, I cannot maximize my potential if my students and I do not have the supplies to do so. I will be teaching 3rd/4th grade at CICS Washington Park and I cannot wait to create a classroom space that is welcoming to my students and their families. All donations will go directly to my classroom so that my students are able to focus on their academics without worrying if they will have the necessary supplies. 

I will update this page throughout the summer to share stories and insights on my experience in teaching summer school! Teachers and parents - please reach out with stories or ideas for my first year teaching! If there are any favorite activities that you have done (or your child's teacher has done) or any other words of wisdom, I will gladly appreciate it. Thank you!