About Ms. Grandt I have sixteen years of teaching experience and taught in three other school districts before coming to Big Hollow, but I am beginning my eleventh year of teaching in district 38. My first year at Big Hollow I taught 6th grade at the old Elementary building that was on Route 12. Then moved to the new middle school in January. After my first year I moved back to the Elementary building to teach 5th grade. I taught a year at the Elementary building. Then we ran out of room for 5th grade and I moved back to the middle school with 5th grade. I have spent the last several years teaching students with special needs and have also taught in the general education as a 6th grade reading teacher. I enjoy teaching 4th grade students.
This year is my first year teaching 4th grade. Last year I had the pleasure of teaching both 5th and 6th grade. I am co-teaching in several of my 4th grade classes for reading and math. I also love teaching 6th grade. Because I saw most of my 6th grade students in 5th grade and/or study hall last year. No matter, if I am teaching 4th, 5th, or 6th grade I think of myself as a teacher first and an advocate for my students second. I look forward to teaching you child for the 2016-2017 school year. |
Bachelor Degree & Graduate Degrees |
I graduated from Illinois State University with my Bachelor's degree in December of 1999. My Bachelor's degree is in Special Education. Then, after teaching in other districts I accepted a position teaching 6th grade in August of 2005. After teaching for a couple of years at Big Hollow I completed my first Graduate degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Concordia University! I finished this degree in May of 2009. Then, after only a year away from school I started my second Advanced Graduate degree in August of 2010. After three years which included a year long internship at Big Hollow I finished my second graduate degree as a Reading Specialist from Northern Illinois University! With this degree I earned a Master of Science in Education. This summer I finished a two year practicum class to be a certified SLANT instructor and I look forward to using SLANT with some of my students who struggle a lot with reading.
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Teaching Awards, Hobbies, and Other Important Facts |
Before coming to Big Hollow in the Spring of 2005 I received my first teaching award. This is from Who's Who Among America's Teachers which was given to me by another student before I came to Big Hollow. This award is only given to five percent of teachers in the United States. However, after teaching at Big Hollow for a few years I received two more awards. The other two awards are from the Global Directory Who's Who and Covington Who's Who. Both of these awards are for perseverance, achievement, leadership, and hard work in education. In November of 2015, a biographical article was written about me and published in Women of Distinction magazine.
I love reading Romance novels, swimming, baking, and cooking when I am not teaching at Big Hollow. I am a Cubs fan. I have been to several games during the summer with friends and family. I enjoy going out to eat at various Italian Restaurants in Lake and McHenry county. My favorite color is forest green, favorite food is pizza, and I love dogs. Finally, I have three siblings and two of them are teachers. My younger brother is a chef in Chicago. Both my parents where educators and taught in various teaching and administrative positions. Combined they were educators for sixty years. When, I am not teaching I enjoy spending time with family and friends. |