Mrs. Nicole Lavinder, Second Grade Teacher
My oldest daughter, Christina, and I before her 8th grade formal, June 2012.
Here is a wee bit, okay more than a wee bit, of info about moi & what you can expect to witness from me this year;-)
The 2012-13 will be my 12th year of teaching and my second year at the fabulous and soon to be famous SHES. Last year I taught a semi-self-contained (too bizarre of a story to share, let's just say it worked and move on!) 4th grade classroom full of energetic, entertaining and engaged students. They certainly kept me on my toes and ready for anything...literally, anything.
Even more exciting is this year's prospect of teaching 2nd grade, a new experience for me! Although I did my student teaching in 2nd grade, this will be my first opportunity to do so independently and I am super psyched. At this point in my career I am ready to build my teaching repertoire, my bag of tricks so to speak, in the primary grades. I think that my familiarity with the academic and social needs of the upper elementary students will help me to prepare my kiddos for what lies ahead. I will also partake in the Reading Recovery training this year, led by Mrs. Kim Robertson (J.C. Sawyer) through UNCW, another challenge I am excited to take on.
If you need to know anything about me it is that I am passionate about educating children and I am always looking for ways to increase engagement and meet the needs of not just my students, but all of our kiddos at SHES. Love to work, love to learn and ready to help - if you need anything or just want to brainstorm ideas, give me a shout, I'm all ears (and backside, but I'm working on that!)
Qualifications
NC Certified K-6 in Elementary Education
NC Certified 6-9 Language-Arts
Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction, University of Phoenix (2010)
NBCT Early Childhood Generalist (2009)
Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, ECSU (2001)
Professional Experience
Prior to coming to SHES, I have taught, in descending order:
2010-11 Self-contained 4th grade...brief move to Michigan, great overall but was pink slipped due to budget cuts and returned to NC - let's just say it was a great way to recharge my batteries and regain my sanity, I mean love for teaching.
*2009-10 3rd/4th grade combination class...hmm, let's just say that a colleague asked if I received hazardous duty pay that year.
*2007-09 Kindergarten...love, love, loved - who doesn't want to sing, dance and giggle all day?!
*2004-07 departmentalized 4th grade language -arts - this is where I really gained my love of teaching writing, challenging but well worth the effort.
2001-04 self-contained 6th grade in a Catholic School in Kodiak, Alaska - to be fair this was a dream situation and when I was forced to leave, due to CG transfer, kicking, screaming and crying, it was not a pretty sight. Not only was this the start of my career, but it was an opportunity of a lifetime - my principal gave me free reign and even challenged me by saying, "I'm sorry, your social studies is Ancient Civilizations, good luck making that interesting." Little did she know that she had lit a flame, although some may call it a bonfire, and for three years I did my best to engage my students in the history of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and the European Middle ages...drama, visual arts, and music were the mediums in which I chose, depending upon the strengths and needs of the groups taught and we had a BLAST! Of course I taught all of the other core subjects, but integrating the arts with my social studies curriculum was my passion.
*Denotes the time spent at Pasquotank Elementary School.
Personal Info
Married to Dan since November 21, 1992 - this November will be our 20th anniversary. My dear, darling husband has been retired from the Coast Guard for four years and works as a technical writer for Vector, CSP.
After about ten years of riding the emotional roller coaster of infertility, we opened our minds and hearts to adoption. In 2003 we traveled to an itty bitty island in the south Pacific, Western Samoa, and completed our family in one fell swoop. Our two daughters, Christina (14) and Katie (11) are the light of our lives and keep us laughing everyday...not to mention coloring my few sprigs of grey regularly! Christina will be a freshman at Pasquotank County High School and Katie will be in 7th grade at Elizabeth City Middle School - both are beautiful (yes, I am biased but that is my prerogative as a mother) , well-mannered (darn right they are, their daddy wouldn't have it any other way) and are active helpers with the SHES Cheerleaders...you will see them regularly around the building, don't hesitate to ask them for assistance in your classroom;-)
Favorite color(s): fuschia and zebra print:-)
Hobbies: Reading, researching ideas for school on the internet, and attempting to explore my creative side via ideas from Pinterest (my most current addiction), walking and in my quest to minimize the ostrich egg (also known as my waist) I am attempting to attend Zumba classes at least twice a week. Just thinking of that makes me hear C & C Music Factory in my head, "Come on let's sweat, baby..."
The 2012-13 will be my 12th year of teaching and my second year at the fabulous and soon to be famous SHES. Last year I taught a semi-self-contained (too bizarre of a story to share, let's just say it worked and move on!) 4th grade classroom full of energetic, entertaining and engaged students. They certainly kept me on my toes and ready for anything...literally, anything.
Even more exciting is this year's prospect of teaching 2nd grade, a new experience for me! Although I did my student teaching in 2nd grade, this will be my first opportunity to do so independently and I am super psyched. At this point in my career I am ready to build my teaching repertoire, my bag of tricks so to speak, in the primary grades. I think that my familiarity with the academic and social needs of the upper elementary students will help me to prepare my kiddos for what lies ahead. I will also partake in the Reading Recovery training this year, led by Mrs. Kim Robertson (J.C. Sawyer) through UNCW, another challenge I am excited to take on.
If you need to know anything about me it is that I am passionate about educating children and I am always looking for ways to increase engagement and meet the needs of not just my students, but all of our kiddos at SHES. Love to work, love to learn and ready to help - if you need anything or just want to brainstorm ideas, give me a shout, I'm all ears (and backside, but I'm working on that!)
Qualifications
NC Certified K-6 in Elementary Education
NC Certified 6-9 Language-Arts
Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction, University of Phoenix (2010)
NBCT Early Childhood Generalist (2009)
Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, ECSU (2001)
Professional Experience
Prior to coming to SHES, I have taught, in descending order:
2010-11 Self-contained 4th grade...brief move to Michigan, great overall but was pink slipped due to budget cuts and returned to NC - let's just say it was a great way to recharge my batteries and regain my sanity, I mean love for teaching.
*2009-10 3rd/4th grade combination class...hmm, let's just say that a colleague asked if I received hazardous duty pay that year.
*2007-09 Kindergarten...love, love, loved - who doesn't want to sing, dance and giggle all day?!
*2004-07 departmentalized 4th grade language -arts - this is where I really gained my love of teaching writing, challenging but well worth the effort.
2001-04 self-contained 6th grade in a Catholic School in Kodiak, Alaska - to be fair this was a dream situation and when I was forced to leave, due to CG transfer, kicking, screaming and crying, it was not a pretty sight. Not only was this the start of my career, but it was an opportunity of a lifetime - my principal gave me free reign and even challenged me by saying, "I'm sorry, your social studies is Ancient Civilizations, good luck making that interesting." Little did she know that she had lit a flame, although some may call it a bonfire, and for three years I did my best to engage my students in the history of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and the European Middle ages...drama, visual arts, and music were the mediums in which I chose, depending upon the strengths and needs of the groups taught and we had a BLAST! Of course I taught all of the other core subjects, but integrating the arts with my social studies curriculum was my passion.
*Denotes the time spent at Pasquotank Elementary School.
Personal Info
Married to Dan since November 21, 1992 - this November will be our 20th anniversary. My dear, darling husband has been retired from the Coast Guard for four years and works as a technical writer for Vector, CSP.
After about ten years of riding the emotional roller coaster of infertility, we opened our minds and hearts to adoption. In 2003 we traveled to an itty bitty island in the south Pacific, Western Samoa, and completed our family in one fell swoop. Our two daughters, Christina (14) and Katie (11) are the light of our lives and keep us laughing everyday...not to mention coloring my few sprigs of grey regularly! Christina will be a freshman at Pasquotank County High School and Katie will be in 7th grade at Elizabeth City Middle School - both are beautiful (yes, I am biased but that is my prerogative as a mother) , well-mannered (darn right they are, their daddy wouldn't have it any other way) and are active helpers with the SHES Cheerleaders...you will see them regularly around the building, don't hesitate to ask them for assistance in your classroom;-)
Favorite color(s): fuschia and zebra print:-)
Hobbies: Reading, researching ideas for school on the internet, and attempting to explore my creative side via ideas from Pinterest (my most current addiction), walking and in my quest to minimize the ostrich egg (also known as my waist) I am attempting to attend Zumba classes at least twice a week. Just thinking of that makes me hear C & C Music Factory in my head, "Come on let's sweat, baby..."