Full disclosure: this article is financially supported by Participant Media.
Yes, this is me circa '94-'95...just made my First Communion! Ha
I can remember second grade like it was yesterday; everyone knew Mrs. Ames was the best teacher in the second grade and I was ecstatic when I received my class assignment in the mail. Little did I know that my year with her would be one of the best years of my life.
Why was Mrs. Ames so great? Because she made learning fun; she switched things up, kept our attention, and remembered what it was like to be a child.
When we were learning about the jungle, she hot glue gunned mini palm trees into mechanical pencils and we got to write with those while we learned cursive. She played "In the Jungle" when it was time to sit down and dive into our lesson for the day.
When we started our space unit, we made a rocket ship out of refrigerator boxes and covered the windows with colored cellophane to recreate the look of outer space. We learned about stars, constellations, and planets by recreating everything. She was always very hands-on and I loved it.
We watched chicken eggs hatch into baby chicks and were even able to sign-up, take them home, and watch them over the weekend! We kept caterpillars in the classroom until they hatched into Monarch butterflies and then set them free.
And my favorite part? We put on a talent show and were able to show our creativity through dancing, singing, and acting. She was helpful, encouraging, and truly shaped me into the young woman I wanted to be.
Although Mrs. Ames was just doing her job, little did she know that she was doing so much more than that. Inspiring teachers are few and far between and of all my years in school, she is one of the only ones who I remember; not only because of the activities she planned, but the way she made me feel and the memories she helped me make.
Teachers have truly shaped the lives of countless individuals, and often don't receive the credit they deserve. They spend hours upon days upon weeks molding young minds and helping the future of America prosper. These children are the future and we cannot thank teachers enough for their influence on them.
I encourage all of you to watch the trailer below and tune in to CBS on September 6th, 8/7c. This gives me goosebumps the entire way through and knowing that my children will be headed to school soon makes it all the more important.
Click here to watch the trailer
""TEACH, Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim’s third documentary film about education in America asks the question: What Does It Take to Be A Great Teacher Today?
Following four dedicated teachers from different schools across the country over the course of one school year, TEACH gives viewers a window into the challenges, demands and rewards of teaching, with the purpose of elevating and promoting the profession, as well as engaging new teachers and supporting current teachers. We see that for the best teachers, it’s not just a job but a mission. As intense as it is emotional, this year in the life of four public-school teachers illustrates how tenacity, passion and a belief in innovation drive these educators as they navigate the daily ups and downs of the 2012-2013 school year. These educators use conventional and unconventional methods and do whatever it takes to overcome obstacles and strive for success."I can never thank Mrs. Ames enough, but I can help spread the word about the importance of teachers and thank those who continue to educate our little ones :) Be sure to check out the TEACH website and tune in to watch the documentary!
"She's addicted to Diet Coke and loves designing pretty things...Check her out!"
