KELSEY KOVALA

1898 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 kova0164@umn.edu (612) 718-5179 EDUCATION AND LICENSE Minnesota Teaching License, Elementary Education (K-6) University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development Minneapolis, MN Masters of Education; Elementary Education, GPA: 4.0 Bachelor of Science; Foundation of Elementary Education, GPA: 3.54 TEACHING EXPERIENCE Teacher Candidate (first grade), Full Year Placement September 2013- present Vadnais Heights Elementary School, White Bear Lake, MN Develop and implement standards-based, integrated, engaging lessons in all subject areas for a heterogeneous group while taking on full responsibility of the classroom teacher. Individualize and differentiate instruction based on student needs, interests, and background knowledge in all subject areas. Construct academic language objectives and communicate with the English Language teacher to build background knowledge and support English Language Learners. Analyze and assess student reading abilities through AIMSweb, sight word recognition, reading benchmarking, decodable word assessment, work samples, and participation; based on assessment, provide groups to support students current abilities. Confer with parents and families at fall and spring conferences in which students strengths are highlighted, home and school goals are set, and progress is highlighted. Create a classroom management system to incorporate effective transitions, logical consequences, specific behavioral feedback, behavior intervention, and logical consequences into the classroom. Facilitate a Responsive Classroom by building community through morning meeting activities, greetings, and sharing; and enrich this classroom environment via co-teaching models. Design and implement SMARTboard files for all subjects to create interactive learning experiences. Collaborate with other teachers and professionals for goal setting, reflection, planning; including Individualized Education Program meetings, Professional Development days, Professional Learning Community meetings, and grade-level team meetings. CLASSROOM PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE Literacy Foundations and Assessment, Woodcrest Elementary, Spring Lake Park, MN September 2012 Implemented various reading assessments to kindergarten and third graders in order to create meaningful literacy tasks in twelve weekly tutoring sessions. Foundations of Special Education, Andersen United Elementary School, Minneapolis, MN January 2012 Gathered further knowledge on learning disabilities while providing support in a literacy and math resource room for seventeen weeks. Elementary Teaching, Benjamin E Mays International Magnet K-6 Elementary School, St. Paul, MN January 2011 Became familiar with the daily routine of a second grade classroom while observing behavior management, classroom organization, and literacy stations and assisting individual students that needed extra student support for fourteen weeks. RELATED TEACHING/ WORK EXPERIENCE Childcare Provider December 2012- September 2013 Keitel Household, Roseville, MN Scheduled time and activities appropriately to ensure punctuality of the children. Provided interaction and educational activities for children and monitored participation and engagement. Preschool Teacher October 2012- May 2012 New Horizon Academy, Maplewood, MN Facilitated and constructed plans for a class of 20 pre-k students focusing on aspects of emergent learning such as letter and number recognition, shapes and colors, concepts of print, and social skills. Organized and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, and storytelling for all students, including a child with special needs. Classroom Volunteer May 2010 Weaver Lake Elementary School, Maple Grove, MN Engaged in small group discussions with various activities and centers such as guided reading and skill based math groups. Coordinated with the media specialist to organize the school library. anticipated July, 2014

May, 2014 December, 2013