Kaela Crouch is at the very beginning of her career. We welcome her to the blog. I know that we don’t have time to really do bios like we used to – the time just doesn’t seem to be there – but it would be nice to get some from new members if we can from time to time. It is so nice to welcome Kaela here and sense the enthusiasm in her voice for what I can tell, from what she writes below, is going to be a long and wonderful career using stories. I have every confidence in her for a simple reason – she is in great hands in MN with that strong TPRS team up there.
Kaela sharees:
I am in my final semester of Grad school at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am in the dual Teaching Licensure and Master’s Program there, and just received my full teaching license 3 weeks ago in K-12 Spanish, which is really exciting! I am in my final semester of school and will be/I am looking for a full-time position in either middle or high school for this Fall.
I first came across TPRS/CI when I was at a “field experience” ( or mini-student teaching) last Spring at Anthony Middle School in Minneapolis observing a TPRS/CI teacher named Bill Perkiss and was amazed by what his students could do with Spanish. I have had TPRS/CI stuck in my mind ever since, but wasn’t around anyone else at the time that was implementing it. Then, this past fall I got the opportunity to attend the Minnesota Council on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures Fall conference as a student volunteer, where I attended an introductory seminar with Carol Gaab and that is where I first learned of Grant Boulanger as he was awarded teacher of the year and his blog, which really got me researching TPRS/CI more seriously! I was able to get into contact with several TPRS/CI teachers here in Minnesota, including Grant and Amy, and have been setting up observations and meetings, as well as joining support/professional learning groups online which have led me to your great blog and PLC!
Anywhoo, thank you so much for taking the time to read this lengthy e-mail and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future!
Thanks again!
Kaela
