Sara Elwood
Elgin,IL
Summary
Dynamic educator with several years' experience in elementary education across a broad range of subjects, seeking to utilize background to take next career step with respected school. Champions curriculum objectives to drive excellence in education and guide students towards success in accomplishing academic and personal goals. Proven success in leveraging differentiated learning techniques to lead students in surpassing performance benchmarks.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
3rd Grade Elementary Teacher
School District U-46
Elgin, IL
08.2021 - Current
- Supported social development of children through positive reinforcement techniques.
- Incorporated literature circles into reading classes to encourage active participation from all students.
- Provided feedback to parents on student progress during parent-teacher conferences.
- Established positive relationships with parents and guardians through regular communication regarding student progress.
- Implemented various assessment tools including quizzes, tests, portfolios, to evaluate student performance.
- Facilitated small-group instruction to target specific skills and concepts.
- Established positive relationships with students by creating a safe and supportive classroom environment.
- Integrated technology into the classroom to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Encouraged critical thinking skills among students by providing them with opportunities to explore solutions independently.
- Attended professional development workshops related to best practices in education.
- Provided individualized support for English Language Learners.
- Maintained accurate records of student grades and attendance throughout the year.
- Utilized instructional strategies such as cooperative learning, inquiry-based instruction, and problem solving techniques.
- Designed and implemented differentiated lesson plans based on student abilities.
District Math Coach
School District U-46
Elgin, IL
08.2014 - 06.2021
- Provided feedback to teachers on their lesson plans, instructional strategies, and assessments.
- Organized and conducted workshops for teachers on effective mathematics instruction.
- Collaborated with school administrators to develop policies regarding mathematics instruction across grades.
- Trained staff members on effective ways of assessing student progress in math skills and concepts.
- Analyzed student assessment data to identify areas where additional support was needed in mathematics learning.
- Advised colleagues on best practices for differentiating instruction based upon student's abilities in mathematics.
- Created resources for teachers to use when introducing new topics in math classes.
- Conducted classroom observations to evaluate teacher performance in teaching math.
- Guided adult learners in solving math problems and grasping key math concepts.
- Implemented curriculums to develop subject matter knowledge in pupils.
Middle School Math Teacher
School District U-46
Elgin, IL
08.2000 - 06.2014
- Encouraged active participation from all students during class discussions.
- Assessed student progress through tests, quizzes, and other assessments.
- Used data analysis techniques to track student performance over time.
- Developed and implemented innovative math lesson plans for middle school students.
- Incorporated real-world applications into lessons whenever possible to increase relevance of math topics.
- Advised students on appropriate study habits needed for success in mathematics classes.
- Maintained accurate records of attendance, grades, and other pertinent information related to student performance.
- Conducted parent-teacher conferences to discuss student progress and challenges.
- Created a positive learning environment that encouraged critical thinking skills in mathematics.
- Utilized differentiated instruction strategies based on individual student needs.
- Facilitated small group activities to promote problem solving skills related to math concepts.
- Designed learning activities to engage students in mathematical concepts.
- Customized instructional plans to meet needs of different students.
Education
Master of Science - Teacher Leader
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL05-2003
Bachelor of Science - K - 9 Teacher With Math Concentration
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL05-2000
Skills
- Instructional technology
- Project-based learning
- Social-emotional learning
- Student Engagement
- Individualized Learning
- Elementary Education
- Relationship Building
- Group and individual instruction
- Proficient in Google
Affiliations
- Reading for pleasure and knowledge
- Researching best practices
Timeline
3rd Grade Elementary Teacher
School District U-46
08.2021 - Current
District Math Coach
School District U-46
08.2014 - 06.2021
Middle School Math Teacher
School District U-46
08.2000 - 06.2014
Master of Science - Teacher Leader
Saint Xavier University
Bachelor of Science - K - 9 Teacher With Math Concentration
Northern Illinois University
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