Staff Survey - Getting to Know Mrs. Jennifer Martin

Where did you go to high school and college?

I attended grades K-12 at Stryker Local Schools.  I attended Defiance College and obtained my teaching degree in Elementary Education grades 1-8.  I went on to get my master’s degree from Marygrove College in the Art of Teaching.

What grade/s and classes do you teach?

I began my career here at Montpelier Schools as an elementary art teacher for the first two years.  I then moved on to teaching third grade.

What are some of the activities or projects you do in your classroom to make learning fun and engaging?

In class, I thoroughly love using our smartboard.  Here, the kids and I can manipulate objects, sentences, and technologies like google earth.

I am teaching a newly created class in third grade which combines OAA prep and Technology throughout the week.  Technology engages the students, makes learning fun, and teaches our third grade technology standards.  At the end of this year, the students will culminate all they have learned in technology class to create a project on the history of Montpelier schools.  This will involve using digital cameras, printers, scanners, making a slideshow, using digital images, and publishing software.  I can’t wait!!  We also make some math projects to help visual learners, use kinesthetics (movement) to show turns, rays, angles, segments, and lines.  I incorporate music such as our math multiplication rap.

What professional and/or student related activities do you participate in addition to teaching?  (Supplementals and Volunteer)I am co-chair of our LPDC committee, member of our technology committee, girl scout volunteer, and am a certified mentor teacher in years that we have new staff.

What is the best thing about Montpelier Schools?

The best thing about Montpelier Schools is our students.  Our students come from many walks of life, and reaching out to them helps them along their walk in life and in return makes me a better person.

As a district we are working hard to save the district money.  What are some ways that you help save money at school?

Some things I have done personally to help save the district money are:  copying double sided and reducing print size, using my smartboard and document camera to reduce printing costs, using dry erase boards and scrap paper to work out problems and answer questions, making copies on my own personal printer with my own paper, turning lights down (shutting off a switch instead of using all lights), buying many of my own supplies…etc.