Susan O'Rourke
Essex,CT
Summary
Accomplished Kindergarten Teacher at Middletown Board Of Education, leveraging differentiated instruction and exceptional parent-teacher communication to foster academic and social development. Demonstrated success in enhancing student engagement through innovative teaching strategies, resulting in significant learning advancements. Skilled in collaborative teamwork and creating inclusive, results-driven classroom environments. Dedicated Kindergarten Teacher with demonstrated ability to motivate and engage students in learning. Manages diverse classroom, assessing student progress and developing positive relationships with students and families.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Kindergarten Teacher
Middletown Board Of Education
07.1996 - Current
- Built positive relationships with students and families for safe, trusted learning support.
- Enhanced classroom management by establishing clear expectations, rules, and routines.
- Collaborated with colleagues to share resources, brainstorm ideas, and problem-solve challenges faced in the classroom environment.
- Delivered structured lessons on readiness skills by emphasizing phonics, language skills, literature, and handwriting.
- Supported students in developing social skills through structured activities and positive reinforcement techniques.
- Arranged parent-teacher conferences to address student progress and collaboratively set goals for areas of improvement.
- Collaborated in planning, organizing and implementing instructional programs to facilitate academic, intellectual and social development.
- Provided one-on-one support for students with learning disabilities, enabling them to excel in their coursework.
- Encouraged and prepared students to become independent readers through systematic, multi-sensory instruction in phonemic awareness and decoding skills.
- Implemented behavior modification strategies, resulting in improved self-regulation and classroom participation among students.
- Observed and assessed student performance and charted progress.
- Delegated tasks to teacher assistants and school volunteers.
- Collaborated with colleagues to create and use enhanced technology and smart boards.
- Implemented data-driven instruction by analyzing student assessment results and adjusting lesson plans accordingly, ensuring targeted growth for all learners.
- Incorporated hands-on activities into lessons to engage students kinesthetically and enhance understanding of complex topics.
- Collaborated with colleagues to share best practices and develop innovative teaching strategies, leading to improved instructional methods across the school.
- Utilized ongoing formative assessments throughout lessons to monitor student progress and make necessary adjustments in real-time, maximizing instructional effectiveness.
- Enhanced student comprehension by employing differentiated instruction techniques and addressing individual learning needs.
- Promoted a positive learning environment by establishing clear expectations, enforcing consistent routines, and maintaining high standards of behavior.
- Developed strong relationships with parents through regular communication, resulting in increased parent involvement and support for the educational process.
- Led structured small group sessions targeting specific skills or concepts, enabling focused attention on areas needing improvement for individual students.
- Maintained thorough records of student performance data, using this information to inform future instruction decisions and communicate progress with parents regularly during conferences or meetings.
- Managed diverse classrooms with various levels of ability, accommodating each student''s unique strengths while addressing their challenges effectively.
- Administered the DIAL-R to screen incoming kindergarten students
- Monitored use of technology, enhancing student learning and technological skills.
- Assisted in creating a safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
- Implemented differentiated instruction strategies to meet the diverse learning needs of all students.
- Promoted learning through play with engaging activities, games and lessons.
- Promoted a positive learning environment with the use of collaborative group work and hands-on activities.
- Improved student reading skills by implementing phonics-based instruction and guided reading activities.
- Developed strong relationships with families to address any concerns or issues impacting student success.
- Recognized children's physical, emotional and social needs for personalized support.
- Utilized assessment data to modify instruction and target areas of weakness for individual students.
- Increased parent involvement through regular communication, parent-teacher conferences, and workshops.
- Monitored and evaluated student progress through regular assessments and observations.
- Reported to parents and administration about student progress.
- Evaluated student progress regularly through formative assessments to inform instructional decisions.
- Exercised good classroom management focused on positive behavior support by clearly articulating fair and consistent expectations along with appropriate natural consequences.
- Collaborated with teachers and therapists to develop individualized educational plans for each student, ensuring optimal progress.
- Created, managed, and participated in variety of learning environments and activities to support opportunities for students to develop full potential and achieve learning objectives.
- Created child-centered learning environment characterized by consistent application of sound mental health and educational psychology practices.
- Fostered social-emotional growth in students through daily morning meetings, conflict resolution strategies, and character education lessons.
- Applied evidence-based practices for classroom management to enhance learning results.
- Teamed with other professionals to enhance student learning experiences.
- Kept accurate documents about student progress for school and parent records.
- Created and supervised variety of hands-on learning activities for fun and engagement.
- Helped struggling students by motivating and encouraging kids to reach full potential.
- Rewarded student success by utilizing praise and positive reinforcement techniques.
- Developed and implemented behavior management strategies for creation of ideal learning environment.
- Utilized various assessment strategies to evaluate student performance.
- Advanced learning techniques by using differentiated instruction strategies to accommodate student needs.
- Promoted social and emotional learning by creating social activities and clubs.
- Inspired students to take ownership of learning and become autonomous thinkers.
- Established and maintained consistent classroom rules and expectations for obedience.
Education
6th Year Professional Diploma - Foundations of Education
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CT08.1999
Master of Science - Reading And Language Arts
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT01.1998
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic, CT05.1994
High School Diploma -
Mercy High School
Middletown, CT06.1990
Skills
- Differentiated Instruction
- Parent-Teacher Communication
- Lesson Planning
- Early Childhood Development
- Classroom Management
- Classroom Instruction
- Behavior Management
- Parent Communication
- Technology Integration
- Documentation and Record Keeping
- Social skills
- Early Reading
- Group and individual instruction
- Emotional Support
- Student assessment
- Student Records Management
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Fine Motor Skills
- Strong Work Ethic and Dependable
- Collaborative and Team-Oriented
- Communicating with Parents and Teachers
- Experience with Diverse Student Populations
- Student Engagement and Development
- Team Collaboration
- Organizational and Planning Skills
- Play-Based Learning
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Relationship Building
- Student Behavior and Progress Reporting
- Creative Thinking
- Student Data Management
- Classroom Management Techniques
- Lesson Planning and Preparation
- Motivating and Inspiring Students
- Caring and Empathetic Demeanor
- Coordinating with Teachers and Specialists
- Promoting Social and Emotional Development
- Interactive Teaching
- Computer Proficiency
- Decision-Making
- Problem-Solving
- Activity Planning
- Student Performance Evaluations
- Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Reinforcing Learning Concepts
- Learning Strategies
- Conflict Resolution
- Classroom Supplies Ordering
Timeline
Kindergarten Teacher
Middletown Board Of Education
07.1996 - Current
6th Year Professional Diploma - Foundations of Education
Southern Connecticut State University
Master of Science - Reading And Language Arts
Central Connecticut State University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Eastern Connecticut State University
High School Diploma -
Mercy High School
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