Learning Journal

Students,

Please use this blog to ask questions and share your thoughts about what we have learned recently.

• What questions do you still have about goods and services after today's lesson?
• Please share about books that you have read recently.
• We will be learning about corn on Friday and looking at the real cornstalks. How do you think corn grows?

Miss Knight

What's Cool and Useful

Here are some websites and teaching ideas that I found helpful!

Teachertube: You can access great videos to use in your lessons. Teachertube is usually not blocked by the schools so teachers have easy access to it.

Photo Story: This software can be dowloaded for free onto your computer. It is a great way to incorporate technology into your classroom. You are able to make videos and the students love them. I made a video for my economics unit and the students talked about how they would save and spend $1 million.

Voice Thread: Voice Thread is a great website to use in lessons. You are able to share the videos your class makes with parents, students, and teachers all around the world!

Resume

Natalie Knight
nknight@ksu.edu
913.484.2684

Permanent Address 12817 Pembroke Circle
Leawood, KS 66209

Current
Address
517 Fairchild Terrace
Manhattan, KS 66502



OBJECTIVE


Seeking a Kindergarten-Sixth grade teaching position for the 2009-2010 school year where I can instill a love for learning in my students and help them succeed by demonstrating patience, commitment, and perseverance.


EDUCATION


Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS Expected graduation date: May 2009
Bachelor of Science in Education, Elementary GPA: 3.9/4.0
Minor and Area of Concentration in Spanish


LANGUAGE SKILLS

Proficient level of Spanish language in reading, writing, and conversation skills


TEACHING EXPERIENCE


Practicum Experience, 2nd grade August – December 2008
Lincoln Elementary School, Junction City, KS
Integrated language arts and reading into a social studies unit for 18 students
Developed economics lessons using culturally responsive books, a class store, and technology

Child Care Worker & Shift Coordinator March 2001 - present
Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, KS
· Supervised children, volunteers, and employees during childcare and worship services
· Acted as the lead teacher for the age 8 and up camp classroom
· Created activities and field trips for the children
· Assisted in organizing a summer camp for elementary-aged children

Clinical Experience, 5th grade January – May 2008
Ware Elementary School, Ft. Riley, KS
· Collaborated with 2 group members to organize math and science lessons for 21 students using a 5E Model
· Used balloon activities to teach static electricity and battery circuits to teach current electricity and conductors and insulators
· Taught the order of operations using a human chain and interactive technology

Teacher Aide, 6th grade January – May 2007
Riley County Grade School, Riley, KS
· Graded student work in math and science and recorded scores
· Performed clerical tasks such as making copies and assembling assignments
· Assisted students through one-on-one interaction with coursework primarily in math

Classroom Aide, 1st grade volunteer August – December 2006
Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, Manhattan, KS
· Facilitated activities to improve the students’ reading skills
· Managed student behavior during lessons


WORK EXPERIENCE


Sales Associate May 2007 – present
GAP Kids, Leawood, KS
Gained invaluable communication and customer service skills working with children, parents, and co-workers




Natalie Knight, page 2 nknight@ksu.edu


PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics January 2008 – present
Kansas National Education Association-Student Program January 2007 – present


HONORS

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society January 2008 – present
Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society January 2007 – present
Dean’s Honor Roll 5 semesters
Elvon G. and Lydia E. Skeen Education Fund August 2008 – present
Kansas State University College of Education Alumni Scholarship August 2007 - May 2008
Kansas State University Transfer Academic Scholarship August 2006 – May 2007


ACTIVITIES

Hand-to-Hand Tutor January – May 2008
Team Captain, Up 'Til Dawn January 2007 – May 2008
Intramural soccer August 2006 – September 2007
Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority August 2006 – present
Christian Navigators August 2006 – present
Adopt-a-School volunteer August 2006 – December 2006

Wha's Happening in Our Classroom

Parents,
Welcome to our classroom blog! I hope you find this information helpful!

What We're Learning:

• SOCIAL STUDIES: We are currently focusing on an Economics unit. Your students have been learning about different types of work in our community, goods and services, consumers and producers, and the benefits of saving and spending money.
• MATH: We are learning about fractions. We will be having pizza for lunch on Friday to help us learn about fractions.
• SCIENCE: Your students are learning interesting facts about corn. They are learning the different parts of corn and how it grows. We have real cornstalks in our classroom that we will be looking at on Thursday.
• LANGUAGE ARTS: We are focusing on consonant clusters this week while we read a book called The Adventures of Ranger Dockett. Through this book, the students are also learning about the jobs of park rangers.

HOMEWORK: The students should be reading a book each night. Please encourage your children to read at home. The science homework will be due on Tuesday, December 9.

FIELDTRIP REMINDER: The second graders will be going on a fieldtrip on Monday, November 24 to the bank. This fieldtrip will be a great ending to our economics unit!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!

Ms. Knight

Favorite Educational Websites

Free Clip Art
http://www.theteachersguide.com/Freebies.html

Free PowerPoint Presentations
http://www.pppst.com/

Voice Thread
http://voicethread.com/

Bookmarking
http://delicious.com/

Teacher Tube
http://www.teachertube.com/

Templates for Newspapers, Brochures, Booklets, and Flyers
http://interactives.mped.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=110&title=

Ideas for Teaching Economics
http://www.econedlink.org/

Important Links

Kansas State University
http://www.k-state.edu/

Lincoln Elementary School- This is where I am doing my Block B experience with 2nd graders!
http://lincolnelementary.usd475.org/

Shawnee Mission School District- This is the district I will be student teaching in!
http://www.smsd.org/

Kappa Kappa Gamma- My sorority
http://www.kappakappagamma.org/

Personal Thoughts

I recently found out my student teaching assignment. I was very excited to find out so early! I will be teaching 2nd grade at Sunflower Elementary School in the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas City. I was surprised I was assigned 2nd grade because I am in 2nd grade for Block B right now in Junction City. I am a little nervous for student teaching, but I am also really excited!

Student Teacher Intro.

Ever since I was a child, I have wanted to be a teacher. I am so excited to start student teaching and experience a full-time classroom! I believe it will be a challenging, but very rewarding experience. I chose to major in elementary education with a minor in Spanish. I want to be a teacher as I desire to positively influence students to learn by displaying an energetic, positive attitude and providing fun, interactive learning activities.
My hometown is Leawood, Kansas, where I graduated from Blue Valley North High School. My family has been a strong source of support throughout my academic career. My mother and sister are educators who have positively influenced me to become a teacher. Through them, I have gained an understanding of the realities of teaching from assisting in classroom organization, grading papers, and listening to their stories about difficult and gratifying experiences. They have inspired me to make a difference in children’s lives.
I have had a lot of experience working with children over the years. I have baby-sat for multiple families, volunteered in an elementary school in Manhattan, tutored children, and worked in my church nursery. I have gained invaluable experience working with kids of a variety of ages, from 6 weeks to 13 years. Last summer, I was the lead teacher of the age 8 and up classroom at a summer camp at my church and this opportunity gave me great experience in classroom management, planning and implementing activities, and collaborating with other teachers.
At Kansas State University, I am involved in a variety of activities including Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Adopt-a-School, intramural soccer and flag football, KNEA student program, Christian Navigators, Up ‘Til Dawn, Phi Kappa Phi honor society and Kappa Delta Pi education honor society.
After graduation, I am interested in teaching kindergarten through third grade or teaching Spanish in an elementary school. I also hope to travel and I plan on remaining a dedicated wildcat fan as I have loved my time at K-State!

Life Event: My Sister’s Wedding

The phone rang one evening in December
My sister was engaged, what a call to remember!

Maid of Honor I was named
All of our excitement couldn’t be tamed!

To follow were months of planning and stress
But all was worth it when she found the perfect dress.

Flowers, music, decorations galore
Bridal showers, food, limos, and so much more.

Everything planned by my sister and her fiancé too
For the ceremony when they would say “I do”.

The big day finally arrived
It was July 9, 2005.

I was happy for my big sis
But I cried a lot and was shocked at this.

Rolling down my cheeks were many tears
I couldn’t stop thinking of the memories over the years.

So close we’ve become, so much we’ve shared
From the tears, laughter, and support, she knows I’ve cared.

Mrs. Matt McKay she became that day
But I know she’s only a phone call away.

Although we’re separated by many miles
I know she sends me lots of smiles.

A good wife, mother, and sister to me
A woman like her, I strive to be.