Sixth grade science teacher Kelly Grassmyer has been teaching for the past 30 plus years! Science is sometimes a tricky subject to learn, so it’s good to have veteran teachers like her that know all of the facts. She’s a great asset to the science department for the junior high.
Grassmyer said she has had the privilege of teaching alongside many amazing teachers.
“I have taught at three different schools in grades 1, 4, 5 and 6. The camaraderie with my fellow teachers is what got me through the years. The teachers that I taught with were not only co-workers but wonderful friends,” Grassmyer said.
On tough days, having a friend at work that I could talk to and knew exactly what I was going through made a huge difference said Grassmyer.
“I am blessed to still have close connections with quite a few of the people with whom I used to teach,” Grassmyer said while sharing her ways of persevering.
Grassmyer said she thinks that the best advice to give any new teacher has several components:
1. You must have classroom control. You don’t have to be mean, but there has to be mutual respect.
2. It is important to make a connection with the students. Get to know something about each student. Students need to know that you care about them and are able to feel that your room is a safe place to learn.
3. Establish your own connections with co-workers. These are the ones that will be there for you on good days and bad. They will understand what you are going through and can give you advice.
4. Create a balance between work and home. Make sure that you have an outlet for stress. Teaching is stressful, so it is important to have a way to de-stress.
