What I Love About Teaching: Cathy East
Words by Cathy East | Image by Ryan McGill
Early Childhood Education is my thing. It's where the magic happens. I've taught preschool, Kindergarten, and now first grade in Walker County for 28 years. I hang with the younger crowd. Five- and six-year-olds are my people—we speak the same language.
Teaching is a field that impacts all people. Did you like school? Part of the job is to "sell the student" early on the whole idea of school. This begins in the foundational years, and the first impression of their teacher is a pivotal moment in a child’s educational life. I must make the student feel like an intricate part of my school family—knowing their ideas are valued, their voice is heard, and they are safe here with me.
Building relationships with students is key to my success as a teacher. I want them to want to come to class and spend eight hours a day with me. Therefore, I must balance teaching curriculum with the fun stuff, including singing songs, dancing, dress-up days, hearing about the tooth fairy, and celebrating special milestones.
But what is my favorite part?
My favorite part of teaching is reading stories to the kids, sharing amazing children's literature, and connecting with each student through storybooks. Though I can reel them in with my read alouds, books can provide teachable moments for our children. For instance, whenever a student shares a personal story of feeling alone, I immediately grab my copy of Trudy Ludwig's The Invisible Boy. I have the kids come to the carpet and sit closely together, and we make text-to-self connections with the characters in the story. We remember times when we felt the same way and brainstorm for solutions to help others feel seen and heard in our school.
Through children's literature, I can show students that someone else has gone through a similar situation and understand how they dealt with and solved the problem. For example, it might be the death of a pet or being nervous about trying something new. I have a collection of books that may ease the anxiety in that situation. We can learn through stories how to be strong and persevere. We can learn how to be good friends. We can learn how to be good citizens.
It's those teachable moments through books that I love most.
It is important for the children to watch me read. Students notice the way I handle books with care. They watch me track the text with my finger and pause at important moments. They can see my facial expressions change. They hear the inflection in my voice as I change tones for the different characters. Finally, they can watch my lips enunciate the author's words distinctly.
When the story is over, the kids can look at the book and enjoy it more closely. I want them to love the story. We refer to it often throughout the school year, as if remembering an old friend.
Yes, sharing books with my students—that's my favorite part of being a teacher. 78