My goal is to make interactive science notebooks engaging for 4th-7th grade students while improving test scores.
I am an NGSS expert, teacher, mom of 3 adult children, cancer thriver, and widow.
I introduce myself to my students as Mrs. Proton Priest. (Be like a proton, be positive +). That is where the name for this blog came from. My blog topics have evolved. I am passionate about hands-on, experiential learning and so that is where all of this started.
I taught TK-6 grade science until the 2020 pandemic hit and budget cuts and distance learning took over education. I am now a 4th grade teacher. As a 5th grade teacher for several years, my students' CAST test scores reflected their knowledge and my love of teaching science. I like to share my love of teaching science and ability to create clean, visual products with other teachers through my blog and TPT store.
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| Getting bins and materials ready for students |
Work Experience:
I have worked in many capacities as a teacher including as a parent educator for two local districts and in adult education. Parent education is another passion as I have worked to learn and grow as a parent. My children are my greatest accomplishment and I am proud of the people they have become.
I currently teach at a beautiful school in a valley near the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park. It is close to home and tucked in a heavenly spot. I love our K-8 "Little School" as we call it. I started back to full time teaching in 2013 after working part-time for 14 years while the kids were little.
I started my Mrs. Proton Priest Teachers Pay Teachers store in June of 2016. It has grown and been a wonderful creative outlet. I wish I could paint but creating resources for my students and other teachers throughout the world is my artistic talent.
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| Shawn and Ginny in Big Sur |
Becoming a Young Widow:
I was joyfully married to my best friend. We have with three children. In May of 2019, I was pulled from my classroom and told my husband was in a car accident and did not survive. This was just before our 23 wedding anniversary. Our oldest was across the world serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Cebu East Philippines. My world changed. This journey has been tough and beautiful. While handling intense heart ache, I have witnessed incredible love, kindness, and heaven sent miracles. I feel heaven close. Sometimes my prayers are just me kneeling and being there with God. Sometimes I am too tired to know what to say but I feel God's love and understanding.
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| Elder Tyler Priest serving in the Cebu East Mission in the Philippines |
The miracles are personal and profound. I wish I knew how to share them effectively. This blog gives me a way to put them into words as I feel ready. I am a young widow learning about loss, moving forward, and creating a future. I'm not particularly good at it but I'm learning.
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| Life is a journey with mountains, valleys, and sometimes beautiful views |