Miss Martin's creativity as a teacher is obvious as she very successfully creates lessons that are interesting, motivating, and challenging. She is aware of various learning styles and plans lessons to address the needs of all students. She seeks various activities to foster student success and allow for active participation. A typical lesson incorporates literature, music, and movement to secure and hold student interest.

Miss Martin is very adept at integrating the curriculum. A very successful unit centered on the book Flat Stanley. After reading and discussing the story, students wrote letters to family members, friends, and celebrities all over the country inviting them to create an adventure for Flat Stanley. Social Studies, geography, and map reading skills were enhanced as letters and packages arrived and the students learned about Stanley's trips to places such as Hawaii, Oregon, and Delaware. His most exciting trip was detailed in a letter from First Lady Laura Bush as she described Stanley's day at the White House where he played with White House pets, Barney and Spot. He also toured the White House and read with the First Lady.

In addition to the excellent job Miss Martin does every day in the classroom, when she recognized that a student needed extra help that was not provided at home she volunteered to stay after school to personally tutor that student. It is that kind of dedication and commitment that sets Miss Martin apart from others.

Miss Martin's classroom environment is one that is very positive and supportive. She models courtesy and caring while working to establish a rapport with all students. She makes each child feel special and her students respond with love and admiration.

Miss Martin is very skillful at managing the learning environment. She very effectively uses centers in the classroom to allow students opportunities to practice skills. During the time students are working in centers Miss Martin meets with small groups of students to assure that each child is being instructed on his/her own level. Transitions from one place in the room to another, or from one activity to another, are smoothly accomplished by having the students sing as they are moving.

Miss Martin uses proactive techniques to manage classroom discipline. Her students know exactly what is expected of them because classroom rules and procedures have been developed and practiced. Students are praised for good behavior and are invited to sign the "I Was Caught Being Good" poster. She works to help her students be
responsible for their own behavior and to teach them ways to find solutions to their problems.

Miss Martin communicates regularly with parents in various ways. Each student has a daily folder that not only contains samples of student work and announcements from school, but it also contains a report of the child's behavior for the day. Miss Martin also sends home a weekly newsletter and homework packet. The newsletter informs parents of the weekly spelling words, reading and math skills that are being targeted that week, science and social studies units, and important dates to remember such as PTA meetings, school pictures, etc. Miss Martin also publishes a monthly newsletter, "Martin's Messages" in which she recognizes special students and describes special events and activities that are taking place in the classroom. She also includes addresses of web sites that might be helpful to parents.

Should a problem arise parents are contacted immediately and she then follows through to make sure the problem is resolved. She communicates with other staff members to seek advice when she has concerns about a student. When parents need to discuss something with Miss Martin they appreciate that she always makes herself available and is willing to work with them.

In addition to her responsibilities in the classroom, Miss Martin willingly took on the responsibility of planning activities for a first grade Academic Night, an evening for parents and their children to learn together as they participate in various hands on learning activities.

Miss Martin is a vital part of the First grade team. She actively participates in team meetings and planning sessions. She looks for ideas, materials, and strategies to enhance instruction. She very willingly shares these with her team
members. She displays a confidence not often seen in a first year teacher, but at the same time she realizes that she benefits from the help and advice of others and she does not hesitate to question and seek advice. It is a joy to watch her enthusiasm and eagerness to learn and grow professionally.