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= = =Hi, I'm Claire Neill. Welcome to my Teaching Portfolio.= The 2012-2013 school year marks my fourth year as a classroom teacher. So far, I have taught 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade at three different schools. Two schools were located in Albemarle County, Virginia, one being a Title I school. The third school was a charter school in Dearborn, Michigan.

My interest in the use of technology in the classroom helped me to provide the students with interactive experiences on the computer through websites and programs. From brainpop jr. movies, to kidspiration venn diagrams to comic life creations and kidpix drawings, the students were engaged wih the material throughout the year.

In all grades, I have worked to develop a classroom community from day one. This begins with a classroom contract where students create rules, which they all agree to live by throughout the year. Before creating the contract, we discuss positive language and focusing on what students should do rather than focusing on the negative. We also discuss consequences. Often these are directly based on the school code of consequences, but can also include the first or second steps of consequences (warnings, moving to a new seat, etc). I continue to develop the classroom community through class meetings, share time, getting to know you games, etc.

As a reward system, I use "table tickets" to ease transitions and keep students on task. During a transition or work time, each table or group of students receives tickets based on following directions and staying focused on work. At the end of each week, each table's tickets are counted and the students at the table with the most tickets choose individual rewards. These can include extra computer time, extra library time, and lunch in the classroom with a friend.

For more information about and examples from my experiences teaching 2nd, 3rd and 5th grades with Albemarle County Public Schools, please use the links to the right. On each page, there is a link to return to this page in addition to links on each subject I taught.

Enjoy!