MADISON, Ala. — Teachers have their own unique way of engaging their students and it all depends on the subject. For one special education teacher singing is what sticks. In fact, she says she always puts on a show.
Meet this week’s Top Teacher, Virginia Abbott, from Mill Creek Elementary School in Madison!
“It's very different than a traditional teacher, but it's exciting,” said Abbott.
Abbott is a special education teacher. She meets students where they are with a song or two. “We're just practicing writing our numbers, which is where that song came into play, how to remember those strokes.”
Abbott says she has been a teacher for six years. She said two of those years were spent at Mill Creek Elementary School.
Her love for education goes way back. “I was fortunate to have some very creative teachers growing up, and I think it just inspired me to want to do that as well and I put on like a Broadway show for my kids every day. It's fun.”
Abbott hopes to make it fun by integrating interactive activities for subjects like math. “Right now in kindergarten, we're still learning our number ID, and how to write our numbers. And so their station today for that group was to spin the number and then practice writing that number on the matching ten frame that shows you how many it is.”
Her colleague, Principal Nathan Wilson, sees her dedication. “Her kids love her and she loves them. It starts with relationships and she does a tremendous job of connecting with her kids.”
Abbott says it’s that one-on-one dedication that encourages her kids. “Because of my position being a special education teacher, I work with a select few kids or a few number of kids, so I get to develop that relationship with them because I have a lot of time devoted to just them.”
Abbott does know that obstacles lie ahead. “Sometimes they do face a lot of challenges that are different to just a typical child, and I just want to see them succeed.”
“I got really into music and the arts and I just loved learning and I loved putting music into how I learned, like creating a song to remember the States and capitals, things like that.”
Do you know of a deserving teacher? Nominate them here!
