• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Mrs.Beers ELA Classroom

Mrs. Beers Language Arts Classroom

My middle school ELA blog featuring student engagement strategies, classroom ideas, and lesson plans for language arts teachers.

  • TPT Store
  • BLOG
  • ELA Resources
  • About

My Teacher Heroes

February 25, 2015 by Erin Beers

teacher heroes

As I reflect back on my own learning I had some AMAZING teachers.  It all began in kindergarten with Mrs. Shea.  The best thing about kindergarten in Granville, Massachusetts was that I had a jungle gym inside my classroom. I wished I had that “center” activity everyday. I have debated exercise equipment in my own classroom at times.

Mrs. Cavanaugh, my 4th grade teacher was another teacher I am grateful I had the opportunity of learning from. I was Alice in our Alice in Wonderland play and loved the fact that she had a writing center that we could rotate into each day. I still remember my Cabbage Patch Kids writing folder filled with writing that I completed based on her inspiring journal prompts.

Junior high and high school had some other clever characters and fun learning experiences. My high school trigonometry teacher taught me that you could get away with a whole lot of silliness “back in the day.”  He used to take the dry erase marker and mark across our foreheads as we headed up to the board to complete math problems.  Imagine trying that with your kiddos today?!

College allowed for me to have the chance to have some incredible learning experiences.  My student teaching in Lakota Schools at Shawnee Elementary with Amy Burns was the best experience I could have possibly had as a “soon-to-be-on-my-own-classroom teacher.”  Amy was a young, vibrant fourth grade teacher.  She oozed with enthusiasm for teaching and was always so motivating.

Collaborating with her and all of her professional guidance was just what I needed to be ready and confident as I embarked on my first year as a self-contained 5th grade teacher.  I had the opportunity to develop novel units, incorporate technology, create science experiments, and dozens of displays and bulletin boards.

I ran into her at Walmart–10 years into MY teaching career.  Two children later, and an attempt into the role of assistant principal for her, she was still as energetic as always talking about her role as a classroom teacher.  I am both thankful and grateful for my time with her.  I still have the paper-cutter that she gave me at my last day of student teaching party with each student’s signature neatly written on the bottom.

Today I continue to be inspired by the educators that surround me everyday.  My children’s teachers, my teacher friends, and fellow bloggers keep me motivated and most enthusiastic about this profession 15 years in…I am truly lucky to have had such superhero educators as inspiration!

Here is a pic of me and a few of my favorite superheroes of all time-I LOVE these two!  Ziegler is a superhero because of the amazing work he does as an educator as well as starting the non-profit Norwood Connection in order to help families in need within the school district.  He is selfless, tireless, and inspires me everyday.  His pranks are pretty clever, too!

Burns is a superhero because she has been through the wringer, but gives 100% each and everyday as an educator, mom, and friend with a joke to share and a smile on her face.  She is the BEST science teacher you could ever dream of having!  She comes up with challenging lessons that make the kids feel like they aren’t even learning because they are having so much fun!  Her sneeze will make you jump out of your socks, but her laugh and dance moves are contagious!

norwood teaching heroes

I would love to hear about the inspiration behind your teaching career. Use the comment box to share you stories!

Share
Pin
Tweet
Email
WhatsApp
READER’S THEATER
ELA SUB PLANS
50 BEST BOOKS
ELA WORD WALL
CLASSROOM SETUP
25 CLASSROOM MUST-HAVES
ELA FREEBIES
POETRY ANALYSIS
NOVEL UNITS
TASK CARDS
AMAZON ESSENTIALS
CLOSE READING

POPULAR POSTS:

End of the School Year Made Easy

READ MOREEnd of the School Year Made Easy
readers notebooks

How to Use Reader’s Notebooks in the Middle School Classroom

READ MOREHow to Use Reader’s Notebooks in the Middle School Classroom
  • middle school book projects
  • context clue task cards
  • middle school ELA sub plans
  • readers theater bundle for middle grades

Sidebar

About Mrs. Beers

erin beers language arts teacher

I am a 7th grade language arts teacher in Cincinnati. 2022 marks my 22nd year in the classroom!
⭐ Visit My TPT Store
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

middle school literature circles with fables

Recent Posts

  • End of the School Year Made Easy
  • Teaching About Memorial Day!
  • ELA End of the Year Activities for Middle School

Middle School ELA

  • My Classroom Setup
  • Reader's Theater Scripts
  • Best Books for Middle School
  • ELA Word Wall Activities
  • Emergency Sub Plans
  • Novel Study Unit Essentials
  • ELA Freebies
  • Poetry Analysis

Blog Posts

  • Favorites
  • Classroom Management
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Teaching Tips

Resources

  • My TPT Store
  • Top ELA Resources
  • Reader’s Theater
  • Emergency Sub Plans
  • Novel Study Units

About

  • About Mrs. Beers
  • My Reader’s Theater Scripts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2022 · Mrs. Beers Language Arts Classroom · All Rights Reserved