AboutMarsha Cunningham Expertise My expertise is in 1st-3rd grade, I specialize in beginning
reading and writing, but I teach drawing and painting first to help students gain confidence.
I also use jigsaw puzzle strategy to teach concentration as a subject and enlist parents to keep their children away from scary movies,among other things,which cause nightmares, sleep deprivation and low test scores!
Experience I have taught K-3 for 24 years, given in-service to parents and teachers and presented at reading conferences. To see my children's art work and examples of improved test scores go to www.artsimprovingacademics.org
Question 1. What is your favorite thing about being a teacher?
2. What inspired you to become a teacher?
3. What is the most difficult thing about being a teacher?
4. What do you plan to do after you retire?
5. Is it easier to teach art than other subjects?
6. How long did you go to college to become a teacher?
Answer Hi Ekeria,
The best thing about being a teacher is being able to introduce new things to children and show them that they can become the master of the materials and information, and not be afraid or intimidated.
I taught my daughter to read and write when she was 4 years old and figured that if she did so well that I could share that with other children, so they could do as well also I'd heard that a lot of kids couldn't read and write and saw no reason for it if they could only learn it the way I taught it.
The most difficult part is to help the fearful ones overcome the fear and get started tying, and that would probably include the ones who cause trouble. They're afraid, and by causing trouble they get out of attempting the task. Make sense? The other hard part is getting parents to understand that they must take good care of themselves in order to take good care of their children which includes no scary movies, no junk food, no late hours, no begging, no interrupting, so sassy talk, no gossiping, no complaining.
I am retired from the public system and now have a preschool in my home. After I got them all to eat brown rice and broccoli, grapefruit and asparagus, and drink their milk they calmed down, got better behavior and are nice to each other.
I start with art because it looks like fun and easy to kids. You can generally get them to listen to directions better and then you can transfer that skill on to academics.
I took 4 years to get a BA and then another year of teacher classes to get a teacher credential. In some states and in some areas there are programs that let you start teaching with a BA and keep taking classes for another few years to get a credential.
If you go to my website at www.ArtsImprovingAcademics. org and click on Tips for Parents you will see this in detail and if you include it in your report you will most likely get a good grade.
