Tag Archives: Elementary Teachers

Kirkland Babin describes a powerful lesson in valuing yourself

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Kirkland Babin, a fourth grade teacher at Ellinwood Grade School in Ellinwood, Kansas, describes a lesson in valuing yourself which he taught to his class on the last day of school.

I saw this on Facebook yesterday. It appears to have been written by Kirkland Babin, a fourth grade teacher at Ellinwood Grade School located in Ellinwood, Kansas, in May, 2019. Such a powerful lesson for kids. Here’s what the post said:

“Today was bittersweet. My last day of my first year(semester) of teaching ever. My last day with my 4th graders. My last chance to leave an impact on them since unfortunately, I might not ever see them again. In order to hopefully leave an impression on them that would last a lifetime, I went to the bank last night and asked for the most crisp, without flaw, never been folded $100 bill they had. I would be using that $100 bill today in my final lesson of the semester. After our awards ceremony this morning, we returned to my classroom where I delivered my final lesson for this school year.

I took the $100 bill out of my wallet, held it up, and asked the class to tell me what it was. Obviously they knew what it was, who wouldn’t? I then asked them how much it was worth, to which they responded, “$100!” I began to explain how $100 is a lot of money, no matter how rich or poor you are in this world. I then asked them who wanted the $100. 14/14 students raised their hands before I could even finish the sentence.

The next part of my lesson required me to explain how a simple $100 bill can be related to our lives. I explained that this perfect $100 bill is like all of us when we’re born. No flaws, no imperfections, no negative thoughts being thrown at us by others. I had the students pass the $100 bill around and share something mean someone has said or done to them and how it made them feel using the $100 bill as visualization. If it was something minor, they’d fold it maybe once, if it was something more hurtful they’d maybe fold it a couple of times.

At the end, when all students were done sharing, I looked at the $100 bill(now crumpled, folded to what looked to be a million times) and held it up again. I asked my class “How much is it worth now?” They replied, “$100 still”. I asked, “Who wants it?” Again, 14/14 hands flew up. So I asked “Why? It’s all crumpled, folded, and it doesn’t even look like a $100 bill anymore.” I explained to them that no matter what anyone, or this world says about you, your abilities, your worth, your value or your flaws, you’re still worth something. The same as you’ve always been worth.

I ended my final lesson by saying this, “What you say and do to people matters. You may not see it, but I can promise you it matters. No matter how many times this $100 bill was folded or crumpled up, it’s still worth $100. It’ll still spend the exact same as to when it was brand new, with no folds or imperfections. That’s the same with all of you. You’re all still very valuable. My task for you is to find someone around you who doesn’t feel so valuable, pass on this lesson I’ve taught you, and be the difference. Be the difference you wanna see in this world. Be hope to those whose lives are far from easy.

By the end of it, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.”

Love it, Kirkland. Thanks for sharing! To see Kirklands Facebook page, click here.

Elementary teacher and 2018 Milken Award winner Chad Downs of Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Chad Downs

Elementary school teacher and 2018 Milken Award winner Chad Downs of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Our students are very lucky to have so many talented educators staffing our public schools. These hardworking individuals work tirelessly to develop innovative and effective instructional programs, and they genuinely care about their students. One of these is Chad Downs, a third and fourth grade teacher from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“I’ve wanted to be a teacher since eighth grade,” Chad confesses. “A lot of my family are teachers, so going to family get-togethers, there’s a lot of talking shop,” he says. “I spend a lot of time thinking about school and really making a difference and impacting students,” Chad reveals.

Chad earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2003 from Eastern Michigan University, and his Master’s in Educational Leadership from Concordia University in 2008. He currently works at Ann Arbor Open School in Ann Arbor. An open school is defined as a public progressive school that offers an emphasis on the Common Core standards, building relationships with students and their families, and a focus on critical thinking skills.

In his classroom, Chad emphasizes project-based learning, real-life experiences, individually tailored instruction, and parent involvement. Chad encourages his students to direct their own studies and track their own progress. In addition, he invites guest speakers to come to his room and talk about their careers, and he organizes field trips to nearby cities and museums. He asks his students to write letters home every week that summarize their achievement and keep their parents informed. He also likes to play games with his kids.

Within his school, Chad has served in several leadership roles, including Co-Curricular Director and Athletic Director. He works on a committee that plans an annual professional development conference, an overnight event held offsite every March for the past 37 years. The conference, which is led by educators for educators, offers presentations by experts on topics of interest, and provides opportunities for conversation about struggles and successes.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. Chad is one of up to 40 educators, and the only one from Michigan, who received the Milken Educator Award for the 2018-2019 year. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

Teacher Melissa Nicholson takes her pigs, Prissy and Pop, to her classroom every day

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Melissa Nicholson

First grade teacher Melissa Nicholson escorts her two pet pigs, Prissy and Pop, to her classroom every day.

You’ve got to love first grade teacher Melissa Nicholson of Jacksonville, Florida. She brings her two pet pigs, Prissy and Pop, to her classroom at the Bolles School in Ponte Vedra every day.

“I try to incorporate them into as many different learning activities as possible,” says Melissa. “They’re great when we’re learning math—measurement, weight and other lessons. My students also like to read to the pigs. They’re so expressive, and it helps the kids gain confidence in their reading. I’ve even had parents tell me the pigs are the reason their child likes to read.”

Melissa says the pigs are very well-suited to the classroom. They are hypoallergenic, so there is no danger of a student having a reaction to the animals. They are potty-pad-trained and go to the bathroom when the kids are out of the room.

Prissy, the girl, is five years old. The boy, Popleton, who prefers to be called Pop, is four years old. Both piggies love to dress up in outfits that reflect Melissa’s lesson for the day, such as reading a Dr. Seuss book for the annual Read Across America event.

To chronicle the life of her special pigs, Melissa has written two children’s books with Prissy and Pop as the main characters. The books, “Prissy and Pop: Big Day Out” and “Prissy and Pop Deck the Halls,” are available on Amazon. Prissy and Pop even have a following on Instagram.

We love it, Melissa!For more about this creative teacher and her adorable classroom pets, see the story on We Are Teachers.com.

Texas teacher Krystal Contreras wins Milken Award

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Krystal Contreras

Fourth grade writing teacher Krystal Contreras of Texas, winner of a 2018-2019 Milken Award.

America’s students are very fortunate to have many talented educators staffing our public schools. They work tirelessly to develop innovative and effective instructional programs, and they genuinely care about their students. One of these is Krystal Contreras, a fourth grade writing teacher from San Benito, Texas.

Krystal is a long-time resident of San Benito. As a youngster, she attended the school where she now teaches, Cash Elementary. She has served 14 years as an educator at that school. After she graduated from San Benito High School, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Communications from the University of Texas Pan American in 2004.

Krystal has a reputation for seeking new strategies to add to her instructional program. Her classroom is organized and welcoming, with a flexible seating arrangement. Sometimes she re-arranges her furniture to simulate a picnic or uses black lights to make a point. She frequently asks her students to work in small groups, often with laptops. Krystal tutors after school and on Saturdays, making extra learning sessions fun by incorporating engaging activities and games. From the 2016-17 school year to the 2017-18 school year, the school’s fourth-graders who passed their end-of-year writing assessments increased from 82% to 87%. Both years, the percentage was the highest in her school district. To achieve these results, Krystal spent her summer researching new writing strategies and attending professional development workshops. Above all, this dedicated educator works towards helping her students become independent problem solvers.

“I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher,” recalled Krystal. “I remember playing school with my brother in my bedroom when we were young,” she continued. “I love trying to make an impact for the children of my community.”

The Milken Educator Awards has been described by Teacher magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. Krystal is one of up to 40 educators, and the only one from Texas, who received the Milken Educator Award for the 2018-2019 year.

Milken Educator Brian Quinn, from Silver Spring, Maryland

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Brian Quinn

Milken Educator award winner Brian Quinn, a fourth grade mathematics teacher from Silver Spring, Maryland.

American schools are very fortunate to enjoy the benefit of a multitude  of talented educators. One of these is Brian Quinn, a fourth grade mathematics teacher at East Silver Spring Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland. In 2018, Brian was recognized for his work with a Milken Educator Award.

Brian earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Salisbury University in 2006. He completed the requirements for his Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction for middle school mathematics from the University of Maryland in 2013.

In Brian’s classroom, students play board games and computer games, they work together in small groups using cooperative learning strategies, and they even create their own math games, designing the rules and writing instructions for their classmates to follow.

“If mathematics is the music of reason, Brian Quinn is a gifted conductor bringing the best out of his fourth-grade ensemble,” Jane Foley, the Milken Family Foundation vice president, said. “As a strong proponent of project-based learning, technology integration and smart data, he brings math to all of his learners so they can maximize their potential,” she continued. “We commend Quinn’s creativity, drive and dedication, qualities we value deeply in Milken Educators,” Foley concluded.

The Milken Educator Awards has been described by Teacher magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. Brian is the only teacher in Maryland to receive the award this year. He is one of up to 40 educators to receive the Milken Educator Award for the 2018-2019 year.