4th Grade Teacher: Salas

This past weekend I interviewed one of my favorite teachers at my current school, Alex Salas. I love walking into her classroom to collaborate because her room always has such great ideas and student engagement. She has a fun hot chocolate station kids can earn and does some really awesome projects throughout the year. I have also subbed for her a few times and can tell how highly her students think of her just by talking with them, they truly do love her. Here’s our email interview:

1. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

This question always makes me laugh because I have bounced around with ideas for years! I wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. For a while I made t-shirts and catered with my brother. Both of which I loved because of the creativity and the social interactions with people. I saw myself eventually owning a business of some sort. In high school, I decided to start Cosmetology school as a Senior and went off to work in a salon for a little under a year. I liked it and enjoyed my clients, but I quickly started subbing in Classified positions on my slow days. When I started doing this, I realized that I wanted to go back to school because I really enjoyed working with kids. While I worked as a Computer Lab Technician, I was very content and figured I would finish school when I felt like it. It wasn’t until my dad became sick in 2017 that I realized, hey you’ve always wanted to be a teacher, why are you taking so long! So, I took all my tests, got back into school, and here I am! I would say I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, I just took some different paths and took my time getting there. 

2. Do you have a time with a teacher you will always remember from your time going through school (can be good or bad or both)?

My elementary teachers were great and I will forever remember them. They all stand out to me for one reason or another, mainly good reasons. Many of the teachers I had are teachers that I get to call my coworkers now. It’s actually really cool to think about in my opinion. I never realized how much those teachers influenced me until I started working beside them. It’s also nice to have them in my corner as a professional like I did as a student. Mr. Gonzales, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Tribble stand out above others because I learned that things didn’t have to be so serious all the time. It was okay to laugh in the classroom and to have fun with students. Mr. Gonzales was so structured and liked things a specific way. The perfectionist in me appreciated this. Mr. Smith would crack jokes, sing at the top of his lungs, and showed us that teachers are people too. Students sometimes forget about that. Mr. Tribble was my Psychology teacher in high school, so while I was learning about the mind and other aspects of psych, he was also there for us through emotional struggles. He was also the first coach that I looked up to and admired because he didn’t give up on me and pushed me beyond my limits. There are so many more teachers I could acknowledge, but these three will always stand out to me because of the way I felt in their classrooms. Mr. Smith also nailed me in the forehead with a whiteboard eraser, so I definitely can’t forget that. 

3. What do you teach and why did you want to teach that age group/subject?

I teach Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science to 4th graders. I also incorporate Social Emotional Learning and stress Growth Mindset. I didn’t know I wanted to teach 4th grade until I got the position. I wanted middle school students because of their ability to understand sarcasm and jokes. If you know me, you know I joke around a lot and love to laugh. I also liked middle school because I had coached for so many years and figured because I was used to that age group I would do fine. When applying and accepting jobs for this school year, I struggled with what grade I wanted, but I ultimately chose based on what my heart was telling me and it was 4th grade at Chatom. Now that I have had this group I realize how much I absolutely love it! I love their innocence and drive to want to do well for you. I also find that I love the content that I am teaching. I can’t imagine myself in a different grade at this time. 

4. What is a great tool you use in your classroom and why?

Cactus Cash for Classroom Management! My room is cactus/succulent theme with a hint of Rae Dunn so I wanted a system that incorporates that and I personally like alliteration, so I came up with Cactus Cash and our Cactus Corner (store). The kids could be acting silly, which I allow sometimes because they are kids, but when it is time to focus, just start handing out Cactus Cash dollars and BOOM! Engagement at 100%. It’s easy, it’s efficient, and it teaches them about responsible spending. The Cactus Corner only comes out once every two months, but students can use their money for a bathroom break during learning, or for hot chocolate any day as long as I am not instructing at that time. So if they spend it, they have less for the store, if they save up, they have some cool options like getting their lunch Doordashed to them. 

5. Is there anything you do to accommodate students and how often do you use these accommodations?

I really think about where kids are academically and work one on one when needed and make myself available before, during, and after school. If I have to modify the assignment a little for them, I do. What I have really found is that getting to know each student and showing them that I actually care about them, makes them want to do well in my classroom. Or at least give something their best shot. I don’t limit this to only my classroom. I have fourth graders that are not in my class that come to me and a few third and fifth graders. These kids pop in before or after school just to talk and making myself available for them academically or emotionally shows them that they never have to handle something alone. We stress so much on academics and making academic accommodations, but they’re kids. Sometimes all they need is someone to remind them that they can do it and they have someone rooting for them. Stress and anxiety isn’t just limited to adults.

6. I have to ask because your room is always soooo cute and you are always doing such fun activities- what is your top go-to places to get materials and things for you kids and classroom?

I like to think I am a really creative person, which I am at times, but I am a sucker for Instagram, Pinterest, and TPT. I have developed some of my own resources, but I get a lot of ideas from teachers I follow on social media. I am also a shopping addict so if I find something at Target, Hobby Lobby, something on Amazon, and I think of my kids, I get it and incorporate it in some way. My kids laugh at me because they know how much I love to shop for our classroom! Our favorite afternoons are when the Amazon truck comes through so we can open our goodies before dismissal!

7. Any advice for a new teacher?

Don’t lose yourself and who you are because someone else doesn’t agree with it. I will be completely transparent in this moment because too often things are sugarcoated for new teachers. It will get hard. You may not find the support that you are searching for from the people around you, but there is always someone somewhere who is in your corner. Remember why you started this journey. Keep all the notes from your students and when things are tough, read them. Not everyday is a breeze, sometimes you will wonder if you have even taught them adequate information that day. It’s okay. Every day they will go home with something whether it be in their hands, their mind, or in their heart. 

8. How is it going teaching virtually?

I mean, it is what it is! We do what we can for our kids. I’m thankful that all of my schooling was online so I am familiar with online teaching and programs like Zoom. It is very different than seeing my kids in our classroom, but we are making the best of it. I will admit that I have more anxiety right now because I can’t physically see that they are doing okay. Next week I will be doing a lot more phone calls and Zoom meetings for check ins. Whatever it takes, I’m here for it. 

9. A lot of people are saying nothing has changed much in education but do you think anything will change in our realm of education due to this Pandemic?

Honestly, I have no clue. I follow a few teacher pages on Facebook and see that some teachers are getting let go for the upcoming school year, which would mean bigger class sizes for that campus depending on enrollment numbers. I also see so many different updates/ideas from politicians about splitting the day, hiring more teachers, etc. So I really don’t know. I do hope that all of the sanitizing and cleaning implementations that started with the pandemic stick around though. Why are we not always providing teachers with disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer? Usually I go buy these things myself which I don’t mind, but having them provided for us was nice. Preventing the spread of germs is better than fighting something when it has gone too far. This is something we are going to have to wait to play out in my opinion because there are so many different ideas going around. 

I hope Alex gave you some ideas of what you can do in your classroom and just how important relationships play a part in our job!

Happy Teaching and remember…