About

About the Author:

For me, teaching is a vocation and learning is my passion.  Is there such a thing as an education geek?  If so, that is me.

I think back to when I was in elementary school and the teachers would raffle off things at the end of the school year.   I always fervently hoped to get one of the precious teachers-guides that were being given away.  On those occasions when I was fortunate enough to win one of those thick spiral bound treasures I would read all of the lessons described in the book, make up quizzes and tests and even fondle the glossy pages and the plastic spiral binding.  Today, my passion for teaching continues.  As does my excitement for my own learning.

My teaching journey began in 1994 when I got my first teaching job (third grade and fifth grade language arts).  After several years teaching elementary school (grades 3, 4, and 5), I became a resource teacher working with gifted and talented students in the elementary schools.  It was a wonderful experience where I was able to indulge my passion for learning in addition to my excitement for teaching.  I learned about all sorts of wonderful topics in my quest to develop challenging, exciting lessons for my students:  fractals, fingerprints, tessellations to name a few.

Eventually I returned to the regular classroom and became a middle school Social Studies teacher.  I have never been happier.  So often people say “Wow, you teach middle school.  That must be so hard!” And I laugh.  “No, teaching middle school is fun and exciting.  It is parenting middle schoolers that drives sane people crazy!”  (My own children are currently in 8th and 9th grade so I have been on both sides of the middle school line.)

I am now a National Board Certified Teacher in early adolescence (Social Studies) and work with intern teachers from one of the area colleges.  Working with those “teachers to be” is as rewarding as teaching my seventh graders.

I am fortunate enough to have a job I love where I can share my passion for learning with others.  I enjoy working with my students, their parents, other teachers, intern teachers, and anyone who also enjoys exploring topics relating to learning and education.  I am a life-long learner and am eager to learn about anything and everything!

Jennifer Rutters

j4076066@yahoo.com