Meet the CCSD Teacher: Ashley Thomas of Arnold Mill ES!

The talent of our teachers is unparalleled and their dedication to go the extra mile is unmatched. Every week, you’ll get to know one of our valued educators better through a Q&A posted here. #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

Ashley Thomas
Arnold Mill Elementary School 
Kindergarten teacher 

What’s the most innovative idea that you’ve tried in your classroom? 
In my kindergarten classroom, we use multimedia resources such as music, songs, and interactive media to reinforce concepts learned.  I also like to use writing trays and tactile writing activities to help children with handwriting, letter formation, and pre-writing skills.  In math, students love using math manipulatives such as unifix cubes, colored bears, Play-Doh and themed counters.  When we practice sounding out words we use objects like Pop Its and magnet tiles.  I think all these hands-on tools help kids stay engaged and enjoy learning! 
Who is the best teacher you ever had and what made him or her special?
The best teacher I ever had was Ms. Walker for fourth grade.  She was the teacher who was known for being strict and I was nervous to be in her class.  I ended up really liking Ms. Walker.  She always made me feel good about the work I completed, she was encouraging to everyone, and made me feel like I could do hard things. 
What can parents do to prepare their children for learning?
As a kindergarten teacher, I think skills that teach independence are very beneficial when entering kindergarten.  Practicing packing and unpacking a backpack or cleaning up an activity when finished are some good examples.  Also, helping your child learn the foundational skills of kindergarten such as letter and number recognition are an excellent start.  
What are the obstacles to getting all kids to achieve?
Students have unique needs as learners.  This can seem like an obstacle when you think about how you are going to help all students succeed.  However, with research based, differentiated instruction, high levels of learning are possible for all students.   I believe that it is important to establish a connection with each student so that they feel safe to make mistakes, try hard things and become critical thinkers. 
#CCSDElevateTheExcellence