About+Mrs.+Geib

 As a young child, Mrs. Geib was a precocious reader. She was often found in and out of class with her nose in a book, consequently, Mrs. Geib's vocabulary and imagination skyrocketed. Yet there were many times in classes when Mrs. Geib felt unchallenged and not part of a community of learners. This all changed when she moved to Denmark in sixth grade and attended an international school in which Mrs. Geib grew to love attending school. Even though it was initially scary to be in a setting in which she did not speak the language (Danish), she overcame her shyness and began to communicate with others. Mrs. Geib was given a Danish tutor and with the help of the teachers and peers, was able to learn content and connect with fellow students. Moreover, classroom instruction was diverse: the science teacher the students on nature hikes where they would collect specimens and examine them under microscopes, the math class was self-paced, history units culminated in trips to museums and hands-on projects, language arts included class discussions and presentations. Yet what was most distinctive was the //klassens time"// or class hour that was alotted for students to reflect on the week, to resolve misunderstandings, and to celebrate personal and academic successes. Students were involved in the design and structure of the classroom, and their voice and opinions were valued. Mrs. Geib was so thrilled to find a place where she belonged. Ever since that time, Mrs. Geib knew that she wanted to be a teacher. So Mrs. Geib believes that safety, visibility and individualized attention are important factors in creating an optimal classroom environment. The human relationships between teachers, students and parents are the heart of schooling. Students come to school with their hopes and experiences, as does Mrs. Geib. What Mrs. Geib's philosophy as an educator is to provide students with an environment in which they feel //safe//, where they are //honored//, and where they can //share// their lives with others. Ultimately we are all students and we are all teachers.

Likes/Dislikes for current and future Mrs. Geib students, etc.