4th grade students practice continent and ocean locations during Mrs.Hendry’s social studies block.
3rd grade takes reading to the garden with “I noticed” and “I wondered” statements.
Mrs. Watkins’ Class would like to say thank you to everyone who sponsored a student in this classroom!!! We received our first book today!
First grade spent the last week reviewing letters and letter sounds. To top off the week, the students went on a ABC walk and hunted for items that started with their given letter !
Mrs. Watkins’ Kindergarteners kick off another week with centers focusing on letter and sound identification, color and shape recognition, name writing, and Lexia.
Mrs. Watkins’ kindergarten class began working in centers today. They were excited to participate in hands-on activities to practice letter identification, sounds, numbers, shapes, and their names.
Name: Haley Seeley Grade Level: Early Childhood Years of experience: 18 years Hometown: Bethany, IL Favorite band: I love music! Too hard to choose just one! Favorite movie: Home Alone Favorite sports teams: U of I; St. Louis Cardinals; Chicago Bears Favorite color: Green Favorite subject: Reading and Social Studies Favorite teaching memory: I absolutely love seeing former students years after I have had them in class. I always want to hear how they are doing in school, how their families are doing, what they have been up to, etc. I love teaching because... I love spending time with kids! What I want most for my students is... to look back at their time in school and remember it as being one of the best parts of their lives.
Name: Mrs. Watkins Grade Level: Kindergarten Years of experience: 4 Hometown: Forsyth Favorite band: Goo Goo Dolls Favorite movie: Matilda Favorite sports teams: STL Cardinals & Green Bay Packers Favorite color: blue Favorite subject: math I love teaching because I enjoy sharing my love for learning with others. What I want most for my students is for them to love learning and be excited to come to school each day.
Name: Erin VanDeursen Grade Level: Kindergarten Years of Experience: 6 years Hometown: Mattoon, Illinois Favorite Singer: Carrie Underwood Favorite Movie: Beauty and the Beast Favorite Sports Team: Chicago Cubs Favorite color: Pink Favorite Subjects: Reading and Writing Over the past five years, my favorite memory is watching each of my students succeed and complete tasks/activities her/she once felt were too tricky or challenging. I love teaching because I have the opportunity to inspire kids and help them develop a passion for learning! What I want most for my students is for them to look forward to coming to school, knowing that they are cared about and excited to learn something new each day!
Name: Sara Dickens Grade Level: Kindergarten Years of experience: 24 Hometown: Sullivan, IL Education: University of Illinois Favorite band: Rascal Flatts Favorite movie: E.T. Favorite sports teams: Cubs Favorite color: Purple Favorite subject: Math Favorite teaching memory: I will never forget when we were learning about the heart. We were running in place for one minute to make our heart beat faster. When the minute was up, I told the kids to be really quiet and try to listen and feel their heartbeat. After a couple of seconds, one little boys blurts out in a panic, "Mrs. Boyer!! Mrs. Boyer!! I can't feel my heart!! I think it needs new batteries!!" I quickly helped him find his heartbeat, but on the inside I was laughing hysterically!!! Kids really do say the darndest things!!! I love teaching because... I absolutely LOVE watching kids grow, and change, and learn!!! I LOVE it when I see that light bulb turn on and they finally "get" something they have been working so hard on. I LOVE the confidence that beams from their smiles! I LOVE to help make a positive difference in their lives! (And I ESPECIALLY LOVE all of the HUGS I have received over the years....definitely one of my favorite parts of teaching Kindergarten!!) What I want most for my students is... to have SO MUCH FUN learning that they don't even know they are doing it!!! I want them to embrace a LOVE FOR LEARNING and to know that SCHOOL IS FUN!!!
Name: Jake Haegen
Grade Level/Subject: Kindergarten
Years of experience: 16
Hometown: Sullivan
Favorite band: 311
Favorite movie: Point Break
Favorite sports teams: St. Louis Cardinals and Fighting Illini
Favorite color: Green
Favorite subject: Science
Favorite teaching memory: I have several, but here are some of my favorites. I once explained a math problem to a kid and his face lit up like he understood! I said, “So, do you get it?” He said, “No, but your breath stinks!” Another time we were learning about the color white and a student seemed confused. So, I asked, “What color are my teeth?” She said, “Yellow!” And finally, my mother-in-law asked a student how they liked kindergarten. She said, “Mr. Haegen is a real good teacher, ain’t he?”
I love teaching because... I’m a kid at heart and kids like to have fun!
What I want most for my students is...to love to come to school!
Name: Joellen Mars
Grade: First
Years of experience: First year! (and super excited!)
Hometown: Shelbyville
favorite movie: Sweet Home Alabama
Favorite Sports team: STL Cardinals
Favorite color: teal blue or neon pink
Favorite subject: Reading
Favorite teaching memory: Although I'm new to this, my favorite memory from student teaching was seeing that lightbulb moment when a student finally got it! I also love hearing students say that I made them feel comfortable or excited to learn.
I love teaching because it truly makes an impact on the future. Seeing the excitement in kids' faces makes my heart happy. I teach because I love kids and I want to make a difference.
What I want most for my students is for them to feel loved and accepted. I want them to grow academically and socially. I hope to instill values in them and create memories that will stay with them forever.
Name: Cassie Becker Grade Level:1st Grade Years of experience: 4 years Hometown:Gibson City College: Eastern Illinois University Favorite band: The Beatles Favorite movie I watch with my kids: The Little Mermaid Favorite sports teams: Sullivan Redskins and The Cubs Favorite color: Pink and Teal Favorite subject: Math !!! Favorite School Supply: Post-its and Coffee Favorite teaching memory: Dunking at the Wizards Game I love teaching because... I love teaching because every student is different, every day is different, and every day there is a chance to learn something different. What I want most for my students is for my students to fall in love with learning and want to keep learning for the rest of their lives.
Name: Eudora Drollinger First Grade Years of Experience: 36 Hometown: Sullivan Alma Mater: Eastern Illinois University - Bachelor's Degree Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville - Master's Degree Favorite Concerts: Garth Brooks, Billy Joel, Michael W.Smith/Amy Grant Favorite Sports Teams: Fighting Illini, Chicago Cubs Favorite Colors: Blue, Lime Green Favorite Pizza Place: Monical's Favorite Vacations: Washington D.C., Canadian train trip, any National Park, beaches One of the reasons I love teaching is because I get to share to books, books, and more books with kids everyday. What I want most for my students is that they love school, have character, and are blessed with people in their lives that will always help them and support their educational journey! Teaching memory: When I went to interview for my first job, the man outside sweeping the sidewalks directed me to the principal's office. A few minutes later I discovered that man was the principal. The message I got was to be willing to jump in and do what needs to be done and to be respectful to everyone. That makes for a great school! On a lighter note: One afternoon at around 2:40, a parent arrived at my classroom door and said she was removing her child from our school to homeschool him. The next morning, around 8:20, that student walked into my classroom and said "I'm back!"
Name: Lauren Fultz Grade Level: 1st Years of experience: 6 Hometown: Lock Haven, PA Favorite band: Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin Favorite movie: Beauty and the Beast Favorite sports teams: Penn State, Steelers, or the underdogs. Favorite color: green Favorite subject: science Favorite teaching memory: It's hard to pick just one...My favorites are definitely the endless hugs and those times when students make connections with what we're learning: it really is as if you can see a lightbulb turn on above their heads!! I love teaching because...seeing students grow in so many ways, including in their learning, is very rewarding. What I want most for my students is...for them to be curious and always want to learn and make connections
Name: Leslie Auten Grade Level:2 Years of experience: 30 Hometown: Shelbyville, Illinois Favorite band: No favorite, but I enjoy listening to lots of artists. Favorite movie: the Harry Potter movies Favorite sports teams: Sullivan Redskins Favorite color: purple or navy blue Favorite subject:math and science Favorite teaching memory: There are too many memories to have just one! Everyday, I look forward to the smiles and accomplishments of my students. I love teaching because... I enjoy being around children with all of their enthusiasm to learn and I enjoy leading them to gain new knowledge. What I want most for my students is... to feel successful, proud, and have that eagerness to learn.
Name: Amber Saul Grade Level: 2nd grade Years of experience: 13 years Hometown: Oreana, IL Favorite band: Hmm.. I like to listen to any live music Favorite movie: Pretty Woman Favorite sports teams: St. Louis Cardinals Favorite color: Yellow Favorite subject: Math Favorite teaching memory: Too many to name just one! I love teaching because... everyday is different! What I want most for my students is... to feel loved each and every day in our classroom!
Name- Ashley Hussong Grade-2nd Years of Experience-14 years Hometown-Lovington Favorite Movie-Pitch Perfect and Elf Favorite Sports Team-Cubs Favorite Color-Blue Favorite Subject-Math Favorite Teaching Memory-I have so many teaching memories, but my favorite would have to be when we paper mache' pigs as we read Charlotte's Web. It is a long process that includes blowing up balloons, covering the balloons with 2 layers of paper mache', adding legs, painting the pig, hot glueing ears and tails on, and then naming each pig! It is a messy process that is so much fun!! I love teaching because everyday is a new adventure. I also get to spend my days with about 20 kids that look up to me, laugh at my corny jokes, hug me, and want to spend time with me!! What I want most for my students is for them to know that I truly care for them and want to see them succeed.
Melissa Haegen 2nd Grade 11 yrs in 2nd grade at SES Sullivan graduate Fav Band: 80s and 90s Monster Ballads Fav Movie: I can't pick just one but I love Breakfast Club and Dirty Dancing Fav Sports Team: St. Louis Cardinals Fav Color: all colors of the rainbow Fav Subject: I enjoy teaching reading Fav teaching Moment: I love when former students come back and share memories with me about times in 2nd grade. I love to see how they have grown and matured. It's a great reminder of why we do what we do and that each and every year is important to our students. What I want most for my students is to give them the confidence to be themselves. I want them to feel safe in my classroom and know that they always have a place here.
Name: Karen Harpster Third grade teacher Education: graduate of Eastern Illinois University, What I love most about teaching: teaching in Sullivan for my entire career and still loving what I do every day