Writing with Stephanie J.

I am a passionate educator with over 20 years of experience teaching children of all ages and a blogger at School House Rap. I'm continually exploring innovative ways that make the teaching environment comfortable, convenient and engaging for learners. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Elementary Education, Masters of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction, and am ESOL certified. Throughout my career, I have set a strong track record, earning well-deserved respect and recognition as Teacher of the Year for two schools in Douglas County, Georgia. I have also enjoyed presenting at the Children's Literature Conference at the University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University Conference on Children's Literature. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, I was determined to ensure that children continued learning by hosting virtual book clubs for middle school children using diverse literature. As a teacher and reading curriculum developer, I use highly interactive methods to make learning fun for my students. One such method is using picture books for the reading curriculum. Using picture books helps children understand themselves and the experiences of others. I aim to make discussing hard topics like racism, sexism, intolerance, gender norms, and much more, with young children PreK – 8 easier by using picture books as a soft starting point.