Laura Howell

2283 Crystal Crossing

Howell, MI 48843

(810) 599-7898

howellla@student.gvsu.edu

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SEEKING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHING POSITION

 

Enthusiastic educator with a passion for children and learning.  Skilled in the design of differentiated, engaging lessons and activities that address the needs of all learners in the classroom.  Collaborating team member with the communication skills to create relationships with students as well as with staff members.

 

Experience in:

 

            * Differentiated Instruction                                            * Interactive Bulletin Boards

            * Formative and Summative Assessments                      * Curriculum Development

            * Reading Groups                                                         * Leveled Reading

            * Whole Group Learning                                              * Classroom Management

            * Small Group Learning                                                * Parent Communication

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EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

 

Education        Grand Valley State University; Allendale, Michigan

                        Major: Mathematics with an Emphasis on Elementary Education

                        Graduating GPA 3.831

                        Graduate of the Honors College

                        Date of Graduation, December 2007

 

Certification  Elementary K-5 All Subjects

K-8 Self Contained Classroom

6-8 Mathematics (EX)

 

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES GROUP,                            1/2008 – Current

Kent County & Ottawa County, MI                             

Substitute Teacher

 

Substitute teacher 4-5 days a week in many districts including Kenowa Hills, Grandville, Coopersville and East Grand Rapids

* Maintained excellent classroom management skills and kept students on task

* Taught lessons to learners of varied age levels and in many subject areas

            * Communicated in detail with the permanent teacher about classroom behavior and

               academics

 

LAKESIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Grand Rapids, MI                            9/2007 – 12/2007

Student Teacher

 

Temporarily assumed all teaching responsibilities in the 1st grade classroom of the regular classroom teacher, Karen Sullivan

* Communicated with parents through classroom newsletters and conferences.

* Collaborated with the first grade team of teachers through discussions and meetings.

* Collaborated with the cooperating teacher to design engaging lesson plans around the 

   curriculum

* Created a language arts unit focused on developing writing skills

* Integrated science and mathematics into the language arts unit by developing it 

   around a theme of nocturnal animals

* Integrated reading and writing into all subject areas

* Used the Harcourt mathematics program to develop lessons

* Effectively managed two students with behavioral problems through a rewards

   system

* Taught reading based on the philosophy of Fountas and Pinnell which included testing

   students using the Developmental Reading Assessment and using the assessment to

   create reading groups with leveled readers

 

EASTERN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Grand Rapids, MI                             1/2007 – 4/2007

Teacher Assistant

 

Assistant to the regular 4th/5th grade classroom teacher, Sharon Natte

            * Taught a mixed grade level classroom of students of diverse ethnic backgrounds

* Daily instruction of mathematics

* Used exit cards to evaluate student achievement after lessons had been taught

            * Taught whole and small group lessons

            * Developed and created an interactive bulletin board based around the curriculum

            * Incorporated multicultural learning into the curriculum

            * Used the Everyday Math program to develop lessons

 

ALLENDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL                                                                 9/2005 – 12/2005

Reading Tutor

 

Reading tutor in the 5th grade classroom of Jason Hubbs

            * Gave one on one reading instruction

* Assessed student’s reading ability level

            * Designed reading activities based around the student’s reading level

            * Tracked student progress

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WORK EXPERIENCE

 

JOHN BALL ZOO SOCIETY                                                                        5/2007 - Current

Guest Program Facilitator

 

            * Managed large groups of students in junior zoologist classes

   as well as birthday parties

            * Educated children and adults on the behaviors and

   characteristics of animals

            * Collaborated with other facilitators at special events

 

THE BRYANT FAMILY & THE MAGNELL FAMILY                                 6/2004 – 8/2004,

Nanny                                                                                                             6/2005 – 8/2005 &

                                                                                                                        6/2006 – 8/2006

 

            * Part – time care for the Bryant family’s two children ages 7 and 9

            * Full – time care for the Magnell family’s two children ages 6 and 8

            * Daily tutoring in the subjects of mathematics and reading                                

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

 

FIREUP! STUDENT TEACHER CONFERENCE                                    10/2007

Participant   

                                               

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP DAY                                                               4/2007

Presenter

 

* Presented the results of a semester long research project on student’s understanding of

   negative numbers.

* Discovered many common misconceptions students have when thinking about and   

   operating with negative numbers

* Developed several lesson plans to introduce students to negative numbers and

   circumvent possible misconceptions

 

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