Beth Kelley's Teaching Portfolio
All students are capable of learning especially when they are asked to meet high expectations that encourage each child to explore their fullest potential all the while being supported through the love and dedication of a highly effective teacher.  This is who I am and who I have been for the past 6 years.

I have been teaching 2nd and 3rd grades for the past 6 years in Atlanta, Georgia.   
I am relocating to Santa Rosa this June.  I invite you to explore my current contributions to education and student success through this electronic portfolio.  I believe that what you will view is insightful, intriguing, captivating and will heighten your interests for consideration of my addition to your learning community.
My Teaching Philosophy
Every year begins with the same motivation and desire to teach.  I spend the summer reflecting on what went well, and what I need to improve upon for the benefit of my students.  Along with this reflecting is the creation of new charts, center ideas, class projects, new management techniques and a renewal of spirit with good old fashion sleep.  However, the first day of school arrives and low and behold all the summer planning is placed on hold because the new group of students is not last year’s group.  I am prepared on how to best meet the needs of the previous class, but now I must reflect on my current class and do what is best for their success.

I foster my students’ achievements through constant dialogue with the students, understanding their interests and teaching through them, parental contacts, patience, personal reflection and meeting the child at their level.  Each day is a new beginning and opportunity to reach the needs of at least one child everyday.  If I can accomplish the instilled belief in at least one child everyday that they are capable and worthy of learning then they will welcome the rush of excitement that comes with a terrific learning day. All the rest will fall into place as long as I do not stop listening to the immediate needs and desires of my students’ learning ambitions.

I personally believe that each child has the ability to flourish with success and will best get to that point if their efforts are validated.  I strive for the same validation from my superiors and colleagues so that I know how to improve, and not become complacent with my techniques.  I believe a teacher must be a student among their students because it is essentially the child who leads my instructional delivery through the modality that will best reach a level of mastery.
Professional Resume
Let Me Introduce Myself
References
Grants and Projects
During the 2007-2008 school year I initiated and led students, room parents and teachers 
through the rehabilitation of an outdoor classroom through personal funds and parent donations.

In 2008 I applied for a Centennial Place School Foundation grant to use towards further 
enhancing our Little Urban Garden classroom.  With the grant funds we were able to install raised garden beds to avoid spring time flooding.

It is now the third year of our Little Urban Garden Project.  Students and teachers are
eager to "get their hands dirty" with tons of integrated learning!!  Our most successful lessons have been exploring measurement and area.
I have chaired Parent University
for 2 years.  Last year, I was a
recipient of the Atlanta Families'
Award.  This grant was awarded
to me based on my efforts to promote
parental involvment and foster student self-
esteem collectively leading to student 
success.

I led the Parent University committee
by organizing and hosting monthly parent 
sessions intended to educate and provide 
our parents the tools necessary for 
supporting their child's academic and 
social growth.  The sessions are 
determined by our parents' interests 
gathered through surveys and open dialogue.
Educational Career 
and Certification
I attended Indiana University at Indianapolis graduating May 2003 with my Bachelors in Science for Elementary Education.  I moved to Atlanta a year later and eagerly began earning my Masters in Education from Lesley University out of Cambridge, Massachusetts.  I earned my M.Ed. for Curriculum and Instruction: Integrated Teaching through the Arts in 2007. 

My current certification is a Multiple Subject California Teaching Credential along with my Georgia T5 Certification.
Connecting and Involving
Families in the Learning Process
Family Learning Totes
This year I created 24 Family Learning Totes for each of my 24 students by collaborating with one of my room parents.  The students in my class have
a need for additional support with English
Language Arts and Vocabulary development.

The totes include a piece of authentic children's
literature, a question guide for parents and students
to use before, during and after reading the text along
with manipulates such as writing prompts, reading
comprehension cubes, Grammar Tales activities and
a Language Arts board game.

The family totes provide each family a week's worth
of engaging activites that support the curriculum while
promoting family involvment through fun, interactive
learning!
Little Urban Garden
Parent University
Teacher Leadership
Grade Chair
Design Team
Tutorial
Grant Writer
Guided 
Reading
Georgia State University Teacher Intern Mentor
PTA Member
&
Curriculum Board Member
Professional Development
Global
Learners
Interview 
Committee
During the course of this year's Design Team I assisted with the creation of Tri-Weekly Assessments by leading the 2nd grade team in creating tests in all areas.
Centennial Place is located in
downtown Atlanta nestled 
between Georgia State University
and Georgia Tech University.  Our
school serves as a host to Georgia
State's Teaching Interns.  I had the
opportunity to serve as the mentor
teacher to three interns during their
3rd year.  I mentored them in writing
integrated lesson plans, communicating
with parents and classroom management
techniques.
My greatest pleasure in teaching has been mentoring students.  I had the grand experience of being a mentor to one of my students this year when she presented to her classmates and principal the need to host a bake sale to raise funds for those children in Haiti after the devastating earthquake which occurred in January.  She initiated and planned a successful bake sale, Valentine's Day Art Sale and a Spare Change Coin Drive.
My duties and responsibilities
include participating in 20 
professional development clock
hours each year.  Most of these
are presented by teacher leaders
within the building or those from
the district.

I have sought an additional 16.5
professional development clock hours
with the assistance of receiving the
Atlanta Families' Award.

I attended the ASCD Fall Institute
in Las Vegas this past November.
I earned 11 clock hours for attending
Framework for Teacher Leadership, 
and another 5.5 clock hours for
Classroom Instruction that Works for
English Language Learners.
Effective Teaching
Manipulatives: Math
Thank you for your time!
I strive to integrate all 
lessons with several modalities 
of learning for the success 
of my students daily!

Beth Kelley
2nd grade teacher
2009-2010
Teaching effectively requires
meeting the child where they
are as a learner.  I have 
demonstrated quality teaching
by providing a variety of tasks
when assessing for a culminating 
unit, or daily with Reading and 
ELA Center Menus based on my
students' individual needs.
Technology
Varied Leveled Tasks
Kinesthetic
Linguistic
Art
One-on-One
Small Group
Peer Collaboration
Integrated