Where I’m Coming From: My philosophy and some “stats”
Twenty-one years ago, if you had asked me where I’d be now, I doubt I would have told you I’d be teaching language arts to gifted and talented (GT) students in Northbrook. My teaching career started in Loudoun County, Virginia, where I taught third and fourth graders in a regular classroom setting. During that time, I rejected my previous belief that gifted education is elitist in nature. In fact, the strategies and activities often reserved for GT students benefit everybody, not just a select identified few. I decided to pursue certification in gifted education with coursework from the University of Virginia.
Then it was out to Brighton, Michigan. I spent over five years teaching a second / third grade multi-age class in a magnet program for GT students. While in Michigan, I realized that to meet the academic needs of gifted students, I first have to meet their social and emotional needs. It’s easy to take for granted that GT kids know how to do everything well. But the truth is, they don’t. Everybody needs help in something. I’ve found that the most common needs are social skills, coping with frustration, and organizational skills.
On it was to Northbrook, where I spent eight years as a gifted coordinator for District 28. I spent my days working with incredibly talented and eager students in the areas of language arts and math, while also working to support their needs in the general classroom.
Now, as a Navigate teacher for District 30, I find that my years teaching both general and gifted education have given me valuable experience and perspective. I look forward to working with the children at Willowbrook and Wescott Schools in Language arts. One thing I hope you learn about me? I am passionate about reading. Passionate about writing. Passionate about teaching. And learning. And the very best part about it is that I get to share that passion with your children. We are going to have a great time this year!
Name: Lainie Levin
Birthday: July 5th
Hometown: St. Louis (Yes, I do root for both the Cards and the Blues. Rams are negotiable.)
College: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Major: Elementary Education
Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite Number: 5
Favorite Vowel: e (Weird, I know, but true!)
Favorite Foods: Crunchy Chee-tos, popcorn, and dark chocolate
Hobbies: Reading, chasing my children, writing and telling stories, working out, playing ice hockey, messing around with words and numbers
Quote: “Education isn’t about getting the right answers. It’s about asking the right questions.” -Mrs. Levin
what is a GT?
Good question, Lauren! I sometimes forget when I use acronyms (like USA, FBI) that not everyone knows what they are. GT stands for “Gifted and Talented.” The acronym GT is sometimes used to describe people who learn much more quickly, and often more deeply, than other kids their age. You’ll hear us talking from time to time about what being smart means for us.
Someone who is identified as being gifted/talented, usually in an academic area.
my favorite vowel is e!
Yay! So why did you pick it? You tell me your reason and I’ll tell you my reason. =)
I don’t have much to ask because I understand everything you said and everything you typed. So all I have to say is What book are we going to read and what are we going to do in class?
The first book we’re going to read is called Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. In class, we’ll do a variety of things. Reading discussion, thinking activities, writing, you name it! As long as it’s fun. It’s got to be fun.
The book Hatchet sounds interesting
It certainly is! It’s one that stayed with me for a long time when I first read it.
In 4th grade in Mr. K’s class we read that book!
It’s a good one! Do you mean you read it in third grade? If so, that may actually be good news for you. This way, you don’t have to read the book for plot. You already know what happens, and you can focus on the development of the character and themes throughout the book.
What other books will we be reading?
The Watsons Go to Birmingham and And Then There Were None. Maybe some others, if there’s time =)
Actually, 5th graders read the Watson’s Go to Burmingham. You guys will be reading Bridge to Terabithia, Hatchet, and Out of the Dust.
My Birthday is July 15.Close to yours!!
It sure is! Happy birthday to us. =)
I really like your quote! I don’t think that the vowel question was weird! I, too, like talking about vowels and talking about my favorite foods and colors and even more! If you ask me about my name, I’ll start talking about the history of the name, what it means, what kind of name it is so you’ll say,”STOP!!!!” You are a very lucky person with your birthday. Your birthday is so, so, so close to such a famous holiday! And for your birthday you can always watch the fireworks and enjoy the view for a treat. My birthday is on April 29. I actually have a friend who’s birthday is on April Fool’s Day! I have just on teen-bitty question. What sport is a Ram or Cards or Blues? (When it comes to sports, I will miss every question you ask me.) When it comes to food, I’m always ears. I’ll eat everything but something alive, eggs, olives, vegetables (only some), pineapple (they make my tongue itch), and some crackers like Doritos Cool Ranch. I enjoyed learning about you and hope to learn some more while we have class together!
Well, Kelly, I may have to ask you about your name now! Actually, there’s a cool branch of language arts called etymology. It’s the study of how certain words developed and came to be used. Pretty cool stuff.
For the sports? The Rams are football, the Cards (short for Cardinals) are baseball, and the Blues are hockey. I used to not be very interested in sports. Then, the more I learned about them, the more I started to like them.
I can’t wait to learn more about you, too!
My name , Kelly, means warrior. Kelly is an Irish name. My last name, Kim, means Gold. So basically my whole name means warrior gold. Many people have Kelly in their name. Anthony Kelly, Ariana Kelly, Betty Kelly, Bryan Jesus Kelly, Bryan Kelly Holcomb, Cavino Michele Kelly Petillo, Craig Kelly, Dale Patrick Kelly, Donald Thomas Kelly, Edward Austin Kelly, Ellsworth Kelly and who could forget Kelly Clarkson?! There are so much more but I’m going to stop there. Kelly is not such a popular name. In 1980, the name Kelly was used the most. Mrs. Levin? Your name is Scottish. I’d go on about your name but I gotta go! Bye Mrs. Levin!
My name is Scottish?! That might be a shock to my Russian, and Eastern European ancestors! I’ll definitely have to find out more about that! From what I know, the name Levin is thousands of years old, and comes from the Middle East.
You are Russian Mrs. Levin? I didn’t know that. My parents come from Belarus.
I don’t know if I would identify myself as Russian. My family came to the U.S. so long ago, and from so many places, that I can only claim it a little bit. There’s also German, Austro-Hungarian, and who knows what else? Some day I may do some research to learn more.
What is your favorite animal? Mine is a fox. I think they are so cute as a baby also as an adult too.
Favorite animal? Gosh, I’m not really sure. I’ve always admired the tiger for its strength and sleek ways of moving. I guess I also can’t complain about my dogs. They’re pretty great to have around.
Foxes are interesting; I’ve always found it cool how they are treated in folk and fairy tales.
m I think that it is cool that your birthday is the day after Independence Day! My Mom’s birthday is the day before Independence day and my grandpa (mom’s dad) shares your birthday with you! My mom’s friend has her birthday on July 6th so their are five things in a row that we celebrate!
Eric and I like Pink and dark purple. Our favorite numbers are 13 and 18. My birthday is October 15, 2003 and Eric’s is June 18, 2004.
Forget the m at the beggining.
Consider it forgotten. =)
I think that it is cool that your birthday is the day after Independence Day! My Mom’s birthday is the day before Independence day and my grandpa (mom’s dad) shares your birthday with you! My mom’s friend has her birthday on July 6th so their are five things in a row that we celebrate!
Eric and I like Pink and dark purple. Our favorite numbers are 13 and 18. My birthday is October 15, 2003 and Eric’s is June 18, 2004.
Thanks! It’s amazing how some families have birthdays that come one right after the other like that!
I also think the two of you have picked some pretty cool favorite numbers.
Cool! I like popcorn too. I like the vowel e because I like using it. I also like playing with numbers and letters.
Sounds like we will get along just beautifully. I like e just because it’s so ubiquitous (just look THAT one up =)
My birthday is so close to yours! Mine is one day after yours, on July 6.
Lucky us! We get to pretend that all the fireworks and parades are for us. Yeah!!
l\—–/l
l ‘ ‘ l_________/\
|””””” _ |
|_|”|_|””””””””|_ ‘|_|
see a cat?
I *do* see a cat! Still, I might ask you to stick with the topic for these comments, and save these awesome doodles for another place. =))
Yes I see a cat
I love the letter E (because its the first letter in my name! 😉 and my b-day is january 22, 2003 and as you can see my name is Ella!
But of course!! I should have guessed. I love the vowel “e” because, as I mentioned in another reply, it is the most ubiquitous (try looking THAT one up =)!
I’m guessing that you guys are from willowbrook, right?
No one from Willowbrook yet, but there’s a mix of fourth and fifth graders up here. Hope you enjoy each other’s thoughts and ideas!
no
Hi!
My name is Michael Klyachman and I’m a scary monster. ROAR!!!!
Ms. Levin, what is a magnet program? Is it like something in a gifted school or something?
My favorite number is 2 because it is the only even prime and also the greatest mathematical discoverey of all time. Also it is the base of binary, the language that binary is in computers!!!
In my spare time, just like Ms.Levin, I like twiddling with numbers and making jokes with pop math.
Michael Klyachman
A magnet program is a program in a school that’s designed to attract certain populations of students: arts, sports, or, in this case, gifted students.
As for number 2 being the greatest mathematical discovery of all time, well…I don’t know. What about zero and the invention of place value? We might be in for a bit of a discussion on that one =) Don’t forget that I love numbers as much as I love words…
First, it was 1, 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1 and 1. But then some genius came and came up with the idea of 2!Now it was not 1,1,1,1,1 but 2,2,1 which made life easier!
Michael
Yes, but you’ll still have to convince me that 2 revolutionized mathematics more than zero did.
I like just adding random numbers
my mom said,”my daugter needs orgnization,” I think so too. escuse i am going to read at the moment
Happy reading!
I have a problem with typing fast.
Hello, this is Christina’s mom, Rita Kivarkis. We are so happy that Christina is in your class. I know she will learn so much from you and we look forward to meeting with you.
Thank you and have a wonderful week!
Rita
Thank you! You too.
Hi, I’m Isabel, and I love math because I like fiddling with numbers,(okay, probably I should not use the word fiddling because to me, that reminds me of the violin, and a violin does not really have to do with math!) I also like reading because I like to read, and believe me, I wished I could read for 12 hours a day! (By the way, my parents had seen the blog page, Ms. Levin.)
Oh, Isabel. If you only KNEW how incredibly mathematical the violin is. My, my my!! We could go on for hours. =)
I have to agree. The violin has finger numbers, amount of bows, slurs, shifting marks, all sorts! (I play)
Who is your favorite player on the cards?
Of all time? That would be Ozzie Smith. Right now? Molina? Holliday?
I would think school was the best thing ever if we could just sit and read all day long!
Wouldn’t that be GREAT!?
Yes!
Me too!
Include me!
What is your favorite sports player? Or team?
I would say my favorite teams are the ones I’ve listed. Favorite players? Hmm. Let me get back to you on that one.
I think it’s really cool that your birthday is the day after Independence Day, mine is June 18, 2004. I also think it’s cool that your favorite number is 5. Mine is 18 because of my birthday, but I also really like 5.My favorite vowel is y because it’s kind of a consonant and it’s kind of a vowel so it’s half and half.
Y…now that IS a good vowel to enjoy. Not to mention the fact that like e, it’s incredibly powerful. Just think of all it can do to change the sounds of words. As for 18, there are cultures where 18 is a lucky number. =)
I like your first name, Lainie. L.L!
Aw thanks! I use it for my signature smiley face. It’s kind of fun.
Hey cool I’m a crazy hippie spider monster! What sport are the cards and the blues? My favorite number is also 5 and I also love popcorn reading is my life! Right, Michael? 😉 He’s crazy about reading, too.;-)
The Cards (Cardinals) are baseball, and the Blues are hockey.
My favorite vowel is e too!!!!!!!! It is e because my name is Sloane with an e. Sometimes Sloane is spelled Sloan so the vowel e makes my name unique! My favorite color is also yellow! Why is your favorite number 5? My friend Samantha said you’re a proffessional story teller. Is that true? 🙂
Good reason to like e.
And yes, I am a professional storyteller. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to do a little telling. And who knows? Maybe you will, too!
Hi Mrs Levin. You have an interesting background and am so excited to have my two girls study with you. They are excited too. I hope you have a great year!
I forgot to say that I was posting under Lauren’s ID – This is Ally & Lauren’s mom, Eileen Pines.
Nice to “meet” you!
Thanks! Yep, I’m pretty excited myself.
I am really excited to be in LA navigate. My mom wanted me to read A Wrinkle In Time. Now I will!!
Why do you chase your children for a hobby?
How old are they?
I have a fifth grader and a seventh grader. And maybe I’m not literally chasing them, but we do like to play. A lot. =)
Aaron are you in 5th grade because 5th graders like me read a wrinkle in time.
4th graders hatchet is an awesome book do you want me to tell you something that could be on the Back of the book?
This is Melissa and her mom, Julie. Loved learning more about you. We have kids the same age–one 7th grader, and one 5th grader. We also both went to the University of Illinois. (We’ll have to compare notes one day to see who we know in common!)
Looking forward to having Melissa in your class. 🙂
Wow! We already have quite a few things in common – would love to chat Illinois with you sometime.
Looking forward to a great year!
Hi, Mrs. Levin, this is Asher and my dad. My dad shares some of the same hobbies like working and chasing his kids around the house. My favorite color is red. My favorite number is 9. My dad’s favorite number is 4. I like sports. My favorite sports are football, swimming and soccer. My dad’s favorite sport is triathlon. My mom’s favorite sport is running. My favorite food is macaroni and cheese. My dad’s favorite food is children (just kidding) he likes pizza, especially from Lou Malnati’s. My mom’s favorite food is chocolate. My mom is also a teacher. She is the social worker at New Trier. That is stuff about me and my family.
Thanks, Asher! It’s so great to learn more about both you and your family. Sounds like your family is pretty into running too, I’d say! Your dad made me laugh with the kid comment. =))
Hi, Mrs. Levin.
This is Daniel’s mom, Huijun. Glad to find out more about you.
(I love dark chocolate too!)
I hope Daniel will enjoy a great year with you.
Thanks, and I look forward to a great year with Daniel as well!
Hi! This is Daniela Ostrov and her parents. We all are very glad to be working with you this year. We are looking forward for challenge.
Wonderful! Glad to be working with you, too.
Hi Mrs. Levin,
This is Misha and his mom Irina. We are glad to meet you ( in person and virtually respectively ). Our family loves to read in both Russian and English. We are huge fans of Harry Potter and Jack London. We love music and cooking together. We wonder what your favorite books are ?
Sincerely,
Irina and Misha
Nice to “meet” you too! I saw that Misha enjoyed Jack London. That makes me think of a couple of other authors you might enjoy: James Herriott and Jean Craighead George. Have you given them a try?
As for my favorite books, oh my! I have such a long list of them, and so many books that have influenced me as a reader and as a person. I’m not sure I can think of them all!
I’m the first to comment this year!
Also e is the most common letter in the alphabet.
It’s part of the reason I love e so much.
Now…what’s the most common WORD in our language?
And another question for you…of the languages that use our alphabet, is e the most common letter in all of them?
Have you ever heard of raspberrypi?
Favorite constanant?
Oooo. My favorite consonant? That’s a tough one. I may have to get back to you on that one. Be sure to ask me!
And you? How about you?
Website http://www.raspberrypi.org
It seems interesting! Certainly worth a deeper look.
What book are we reading?
Fifth grade will read Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle, The Watsons go to Birmingham:1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, and And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.
Ms.Levin, what books are we going to be reading this year? FYI: I’m in 4th grade.
I know you’re in fourth grade! =))
We are going to read three main books: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson, and Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.
Thank you so much for the info!!!!!!
Hi this is Alex my favorite color is purple, my favorite number is 1, my birthday is 1-14-06, and I wish that I could read all day.
I love this! So tell me…what makes 1 your favorite number?
When are we going to read Harry Potter?
Very soon!!
hi ms levin what book book will we read next?
im in 3rd grade by the way
We will be reading Love that Dog by Sharon Creech.
ms levin what would be your dream vacation ?
There are lots of things I dream about, and many places I dream about going! Still, one of the most satisfying things that I can think of is lying on a sunny beach with sand between my toes, salt water in my hair, my family beside me and a good book in my hand.
How about you?
Going swimming in a nice hotel with a water park and authentic beach. Playing my violin with enough time to play some video games and read a book. Also watch a movie.