Digital Wish - Profile: Becca Stevens


Mrs. Becca Stevens

http://www.bsd7.org
Sacajawea Middle School
Hometown:
Bozeman, Montana
*Class Information:*
Room Number: 119
Students per Class: 86
Class Description:
Most of my students come from a middle-class back ground. Many are fortunate enough to have 2 parents involved in their lives. The kids who don't fit in this box, often struggle socially, emotionally and academically.
Position:
8th Grade English/Social Studies
Needs:
The district budget for technology is non-existent. I have one old eMac computer in my classroom and I just received a projector. In order to effectively teach writing the way I'd like, I need at least 15 point-and-shoot cameras. A printer would be nice and eventually a couple of laptops for photo processing.
My Philosophy:
I love teaching the writing process to middle school age kids. I have found that free verse poetry is a successful means for capturing their attention and getting to know students. At the beginning of the year, students groan when I tell them we will be writing 15 poems. Somewhere along the way, they’ve picked up the notion that poetry is difficult and hard to write. Free verse helps me eliminate their misconceptions. By providing them with opportunities to build ideas and allowing them to use their own creative license, they begin to see themselves as writers. They begin to trust themselves. Over the years, my students have dazzled me with their writing. The beauty they see in everyday things often amazes me, as well as the way they are able to articulate those feelings. One thing I’ve learned in 10 years of teaching, is that modeling is key. When I ask them to write a poem, I write it too. I talk about my successes and struggles. I include them in my process and put myself in a vulnerable position, just like them. I believe in order to create writers, we have to be writers ourselves. If we expect students to step outside the box, then we have to begin in the box, with them.
*Personal Information:*
About Me:
Avid collector of rubber stamps, teacher, artist, gum chewer, sweet tooth, poet, photographer and mom.
College and Degrees:
BA in Education and Theater MA in Literacy
Activities:
Traveling, Hiking, Drinkinglattes, Reading, Gardening, Walking
Favorite Books:
Kite Runner, Secret Life of Bees, The Book Thief, Where the Wild Things Are, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Bitter is the New Black Hunger Games Maze Runner
Favorite Quotes:
"Get busy living, or get busy dying." "We do not remember days, we remember moments." "Success comes in cans, not in cannots." "Youcan't choose your circumstances, but you can choose to overcome them."
Interests:
Photography, Art, AmericanHistory/ Civil War, Gardening
Employment History:
Englewood Public Schools 1997, Meridian Public Schools 1998 - 2000, Bozeman Public Schools 2000 to present
Why Do I Teach?:
There is nothing more satisfying to me than watching a child sparked by curiosity. My hope is to inspire students to be life long learners, to be passionate about something, and to be in the moment.
Percent of Students are:
At-risk: 20 %
Average: 60 %
High-achiever: 15 %
Special Needs: 5 %
Percent of Students are:
White/Caucasian : 90 %
Hispanic: 1 %
African American: 2 %
Native American: 5 %
Asian: 2 %
Free/Reduced Lunch Program Enrollment:: 1 %
ESL Enrollment:: 5 %
Average number of students in class:: 29 students
Number of students I teach:: 110 students