Visiting other schools and classrooms is always a valuable experience for me. One of the great things about teaching is that is so much room to be creative while still providing a great education to your students. Learning rotations allowed me to see some of the great ideas other teachers have that I may have never thought of bringing into my classroom. One of the great things I saw was … Continue reading →

Now that you are planning for your first TCAP, what are your fears?  Your hopes?  How does this responsibility feel different than it did for your Residency? TCAP strikes fear in the hearts of many, especially my students. They are already getting worn out by testing (with me, Interims, ACCESS). I have really tried this year to create lessons that will teach skills my students can use on the testing … Continue reading →

One of the biggest perks of DTR is the chance we get to observe other schools and teachers on a Learning Rotation.  A few times out of the school year, we get the opportunity to visit various schools in the district and come back to our classroom with some new great strategies.  Many of the schools that I’ve visited are not DTR Host School Sites, which means I really get … Continue reading →

Howdy! My name is Ben Sullens and I am a new blogger for DTR. I completed my residency at Cole Art and Science Academy during the 2011-2012 school year. I am currently teaching at Greenwood Academy, Far Northeast Denver, in an intermediate Mild/Moderate special education classroom.  To say I have some lofty dreams for 2013 is an understatement. I already completed DTR, so what is my next step? Where do … Continue reading →

After a successful recharge over the holidays, it has been really great to be back in the classroom. December was a difficult month of testing and everyone anticipating the coming break, but when my students came back, all of them seemed happy and hopeful, and I realized how much I had missed them. It was a great way to start the new year. This year promises to be challenging, perhaps … Continue reading →

This semester has been one of incredible growth for me – like I should have growing pains. I came into the program with some teaching experience, but I was mostly unaware of what it really took to be effective in the classroom. I knew I wanted to be a good teacher, and looking back now, that was perhaps all I knew. One of the things I’ve learned this semester that … Continue reading →

This latest blog comes to you straight from under the covers.  Yes, I’m in bed and it’s only what, 7pm?  Well, that is because I have just finished my Winter Lead Teach – two straight weeks of being the Lead Teacher in the classroom.  My mind is running nonstop with images of my kids, observation notes, feedback, and to-do lists, but tonight is the first night that I’ve been able … Continue reading →

Well hello! I am Shakira Abney-Wisdom, a resident at Grant Beacon Middle School in the 8th grade Physical Science class. I am an only child from Stanhope, New Jersey and I graduated from St. John’s University in New York City, NY with a degree in Biology and a minor in Africana Studies.  Upon graduation, I moved to Denver to become a Corps Member for City Year, an educational non-profit organization … Continue reading →

I found out about the Denver Teacher Residency almost by accident while searching for avenues into teaching. After a whirlwind trip across the country to participate in Demonstration Day, my wife and I travelling west from Michigan and back in four days, I was impressed by DTR’s commitment to the community and the people it serves. I was thrilled to be accepted. I’m now working as an elementary education resident … Continue reading →

 Hello! I’m Kelly Hansen and a current Resident.  I’m part of a pilot program at Gust Elementary in 3rd grade where I’m in a group of four residents who work with two lead teachers.  We platoon, which means we follow our kiddos as they switch classes for Math/Science and Literacy. Our group of six, aka The Super Six, works each day to really support one another and push ourselves to … Continue reading →