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Denver Teacher Residency is fortunate to have the voices of nearly 100 different residents, alumni, staff, and friends of the program, who all lend their unique perspective and voice. The diverse experiences and backgrounds that each brings, will be highlighted here. This blog gives you insight into the program, what a “day in the life” of a resident looks like, and some other tidbits of humor, levity, and ah-ha moments.

2/10/2012 : From resident to mentor teacher

January brought a ton of changes to Room 120! We’ve been hard at work since coming back from Winter Break and I have been amazed at how much my kiddos have grown in just this short amount of time.

The biggest change we’ve had in our classroom is the addition of a Denver Teacher Resident. I am honored that the program and my principal asked me to host a resident for the rest of the year. It’s been an adjustment, but both the students and I are very thankful for our new teacher!

It’s also made me thankful all over again for the mentor teacher with whom I spent part of my residency. She’s still a mentor teacher for Denver Teacher Residency. We talk about our classrooms, our struggles, our success…it’s been such a pleasure to spend a few moments catching up with her at our mentor teacher meetings.

As a former resident, I have thoroughly enjoyed reminiscing about my days in the program. It’s been quite the experience to think back to those first days in a classroom when I didn’t know the DRA2 from DIBLES (both are reading assessments, FYI). All in all, the past month has made me realized that, just like my students, how much I too have grown.

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1/12/2012 : Erin Meyer’s holiday treat

My students and I walking to the Oxford Hotel to enjoy the lights!

Happy 2012! I am so honored to share with you my latest experience with the Denver Teacher Residency. I had the unique opportunity to participate in the Gust Poetry Evening on December 14, 2011!

Last year, eight of my current first graders wrote a poetry unit in their Kindergarten class. These works got published in the fourth edition of DPS’ Dreams and Directions poetry volume. Before the release party at Tattered Cover, the children were invited to the 9news station! I was able to help facilitate the students memorizing their poems and working with parents to coordinate the event since they are currently in my class, so the Kindergarten teachers cordially invited me out with them for the festivities!

In the morning we went to 9news where we were interviewed and given a tour by Kyle Dyer and later we were off to downtown Denver on a chartered bus. We went to the release party at Tattered Cover LoDo, then we saw the beautiful holiday lights at the Oxford Hotel. Finally, we ended our evening at the Cheesecake Factory with hot chocolate and cheesecake!

What beautiful memories I have, perhaps the most special though is my autographed book of Dreams and Directions by my talented poets! I’m so proud of each and every one of them!

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1/11/2012 : What I learn from my students

I joined the Denver Teacher Residency program knowing that I would learn a multitude of things from my lead teacher. I also knew I would gain invaluable knowledge from other experienced teachers, the program staff, and my own teachers. So far this has held completely true. What I did not realize was how much I would learn from my students, and how that knowledge would teach me more about the teaching profession than anything.

Most of my students started out this school year the same way; cool, calm, and collected. “D” was no different. As the “honeymoon” period wore off D began to change. He was extremely disruptive in all of his classes and left his teachers at a loss for what to do to. We found out D had a rough time this summer – his mother passed unexpectedly and his older sibling is no longer in the picture because of poor decisions.

Because each of his teachers tried to work with him and showed him that they cared about him, he began to buy into the entire school a lot more. Everywhere he went he found someone rooting for him. Of course D still has his bad days, but for the most part he has become the student I look to when I needed an answer. He also saved me one day when I could not get participation in my class to save my life. Once D raised his hand and decided to participate, everyone decided to participate.

Just recently before winter break, D’s attendance declined severely and I only saw him about once a week. I found out after coming back from break that D withdrew and would no longer attend Grant Middle School. Learning this made me realize just how much I had learned from him and started to think about how much I learn every day from all of my students. D taught me patience and compassion and he gave me a better understanding of the students I work with.

Every student has a story. I’m sure that you would be surprised by how hard some of their stories are, but how they are still so strong and look to us as teachers to help them make it. My students have not only made me a better teacher but they also make me a better person.

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1/9/2012 : Denver Teacher Residency joins “100k in 10,” a multi-sector movement to tackle nation’s need for 100,000 excellent math and science teachers in 10 years

Initiative to Recruit, Develop, and Retain Excellent STEM Teachers for Public Schools Secures Nearly $20 Million in Funding; President Obama Says “Nothing is More Important”; Secretary Duncan Lauds Initiative’s “All-Hands-on-Deck Strategy”

The Denver Teacher Residency, a Denver Public Schools and University of Denver teacher preparation program, has joined a growing multi-sector movement currently composed of more than 80 partners committed to working to recruit, develop, and retain 100,000 excellent STEM teachers over the coming 10 years. The movement is being led by Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Opportunity Equation.
100Kin10 is a multi-sector mobilization that invites any organization, including but not limited to corporations, school districts, museums, institutions of higher education, foundations, federal agencies, professional associations, states, and nonprofit organizations, to apply their particular assets to creatively and strategically address the challenges of increasing the supply of and retaining excellent STEM educators.
The Denver Teacher Residency has committed to training 150 STEM teachers over the next ten years. The alternative route into teaching is an initiative of Denver Public Schools and the University of Denver’s Morgridge College. By training aspiring teachers in secondary math and science, the program not only aligns with the district’s talent management strategy, it also supports its top priority: an effective teacher in every classroom.

“I am honored to partner with this initiative,” said Thalia Nawi, director of the Denver Teacher Residency. “This speaks to the importance of quality teacher preparation and preparing our teaching corps with the skills that will help all students succeed into the 21st century.”

At the seventh Annual Meeting of CGI in New York City last week, President Obama reiterated the imperative: “[Our future] demands that we give every child the skills and education they need to succeed. And I thank you for the commitment that you made to recruit and train tens of thousands of new science, technology, engineering, and math teachers. Nothing could be more important.”

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan yesterday lauded the 100Kin10 initiative, saying: “President Obama and I believe that recruiting and preparing 100,000 excellent new teachers in the STEM fields is essential for our students’ success in the 21st century knowledge economy. I applaud the work of Carnegie Corporation and the Opportunity Equation and the 80 organizations including corporations, universities, non-profits, states, and districts that are coming together under the banner of ‘100Kin10’ to provide our students with a world-class education in the STEM subjects.”

A dozen corporate and foundation partners have created an initial funding base of nearly $20 million in pledges that can be allocated to any of the 100Kin10 partner organizations at the discretion of the funder. More information, including a complete list of partners and their commitments, is available on the 100Kin10 website.

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12/17/2011 : Whew!

The countdown to winter break is almost over, with a much needed break for the students and teachers alike. I’m looking forward to having time to visit family and friends, ski, read for pleasure, and rejuvenate. I feel like I’ve been going non-stop since August and will appreciate the quick breath to refocus before the remainder of the year.

One of the best things about the Denver Teacher Residency is the balance between practical experience, coursework, and reflection. With the myriad demands of the first year of teaching, I’ve been heavily focused on the practical experience side of things. From building classroom culture, analyzing student data, and selecting curriculum to address my students’ various needs, it is definitely hands-on experience! While constant reflection is a habit of mine, I think that a break from it all will allow me to regain the balance of work and reflection instilled through DTR. I am excited about the opportunity to reread some of the books from my courses, look through old notes, and apply it to my current classroom.

I believe that one of my strongest assets as a teacher is my focus on a student-centered education. I am grateful that DTR prepared us to use reflection and professional best-practices to address what is truly best for my students.

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12/15/2011 : Two weeks of lead teaching

I just finished my two weeks of lead teaching, and I am going to be completely honest about this amazing yet trying experience. Being responsible for the students and their learning for the past two weeks has certainly changed my opinion of, and approach to, teaching. I did not feel great about myself every day. I was not consistently impressed with the caliber of my teaching. Every day had its very own learning curve, which became quite wearing. Having said all that, I don’t know that I’ve ever felt more pride in my work or a greater sense of accomplishment and personal growth than during these past two weeks.

I set goals for my students and saw them attained through quizzes, class participation, and district testing. I made positive phone calls home on a nightly basis to the parents of those students who continued to impress me in class. I planned and re-planned lessons, revised my style and methods, and added more opportunities for student discussion as I learned to let go of complete control. There are still so many areas in which I need to improve, but the momentum I gained by teaching every day helped me visualize and experience what my life will be like once I’m a teacher in my own classroom.

I look forward to pushing myself further next semester, and continuing to develop excellent teaching habits through Denver Teacher Residency. Seeing students independently tackle difficult math problems that would have scared them off just a few weeks prior, and delighting in the fact that they got the right answer, has me eagerly and impatiently awaiting my next lead teaching experience. And, though I’d like to say I won’t be thinking about work over the holiday break, I know I will be happily brainstorming new ways to engage my students with exciting lessons in math.

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12/13/2011 : The final week before winter break…

I think every teacher simultaneously loves and hates this time of year. On one hand, it means two glorious weeks of leisurely coffee dates and the opportunity to use the bathroom whenever I want are just around the corner. On the other hand, it means the year is half over…which begs the question of how I can help those kiddos who are still academically behind?

For me, this is the toughest part of the year. Not even the Polar Express can bring me out of this funk! I bite my nails as I pore over notes and assessments, realizing that I have a handful of friends who just aren’t getting it (whatever it might be). What on earth am I supposed to do?

Being a Denver Teacher Resident gave me the skills to reflect on the data students give me. When I’m stuck on how to help someone, I inevitably refer back to notes from class and from my lead teacher. I pull out my old case studies. Those sheets of paper almost always calm me down. I stop worrying. I write down solutions, adjust homework, call conferences with parents. I was trained to do this, I think. And I have Denver Teacher Residency to thank for that.

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12/12/2011 : Required PLACE and Praxis II test dates extended!

The Denver Teacher Residency has extended the PLACE and Praxis II tests for which you can register! Interested candidates may now register and take the March 10, 2012 PLACE or Praxis II tests. The previous deadlines were January 7 and 14 respectively.

For detailed information on taking these test, please visit our test FAQ page:

Please note: the final application deadline is February 10, 2012, and program acceptance is contingent on the provision of a passing PLACE/Praxis II score.

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11/8/2011 : “Really, really worth it”

Jasa Santos It’s hard to believe October is already over! The past month flew by and with it came a whirlwind of parent-teacher conferences, our first field trip, and writing growth objectives for this year. I also spent several days and some really late evenings in various trainings. Now I’m spending my final day of Fall Break getting caught up on planning and getting organized for the upcoming month. Whew. This job they call teaching is incredibly demanding!

I’m not sure I could have really been prepared for how much time teaching requires. It’s been an adjustment for sure: no more late nights watching television, a lot more coffee, and sometimes, a crummy attitude from feeling a little overwhelmed. Then, I get to experience something great with my class. Riding escalators for the first time. Seeing shiny gemstones. Watching that light bulb turn on as connections are made. And then, all the hours I spend at my teacher table, at my desk at home, on the couch, in a training…wherever the hours are spent…it becomes apparent that all time was really, really worth it.

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11/8/2011 : “Running a Marathon”

Becky Peters This year to me feels like running a marathon. This first lead teaching experience was like seeing the five-mile marker go by – exhilarated that you are a part of the way into it, but a bit intimidated by the remaining distance.

I had my first lead teaching experience last week, and it felt really great to hold the responsibility of teaching for three full days. There were new concepts I’d taught that the students had never seen before, and watching them understand and manipulate those concepts was an incredible feeling.

I learned so much about my temperament and ability when I am solely responsible for the students’ learning (I always thought I was a decent multi-tasker until now!), and about how I will be able to persevere through frustrations to realize the joys that teaching brings.

I also realized I am just as excited about the race itself as I am about reaching the finish line. Having this year to learn and grow as a resident is something so few people get to experience in their careers – I have already learned so much, and can’t wait to see what discoveries the rest of the year will bring. After this experience, I am even more grateful to have this time to acclimate to teaching while I am learning about and employing best practices in education.

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