Hobbies/Sports:
Gardening, Reading, Biking, Swimming, Traveling, Cooking
Education Degrees:
Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education (1984)
What do you feel separates you from the rest of the professionals in your industry?:
I believe what sets me apart from other professionals in my area of teaching is my theory in education. My pedagogical philosophy is that besides gaining knowledge in academic subjects, students must work on developing lifelong coping skills of life's lessons at an early age. I help transform a child into a student who is able to focus, apply critical thinking skills, work as a team member, take responsibility for his or her actions and respect other cultures. I strive to meet the needs of each student. This is accomplished via various reading groups (students are grouped according to their current reading level), academic games, hands-on creative activities and projects that include 'The Class Cookbook' and 'Mother's Day High Tea'. Furthermore, since we have multicultural students in the class, I integrate throughout the curriculum the importance of understanding other people and their cultures. Each month, students are exposed to languages sch as Polish. French, Spanish, Dutch and German. Students enjoy working on projects about numerous countries and being introduced to the days of the week, numbers and colors of the languages previously mentioned. As a result of these activities, students take great pride in their heritage and learn to appreciate other cultures. The 'Top Banana' program, through a series of color cards, enables students to take responsibility and ownership for their behavior on a daily basis. A component of the program is to stress the importance of teamwork in order to be successful in life. Therefore, we discuss the importance of working together, encouraging and helping each other.
Expanded Biography:
Each year, Ms. Golden strives to create for her students a love of learning and a strong foundation through academics and social skills that they will carry with them throughout their lives. It gives her great joy to instill values in her students such as self-respect and respect for others. She wants to inspire her students to to have the self-confidence to be whoever that want to become in life. She hopes that her lessons carry on in her students to not only have a positive effect in their lives, but the lives of other people they meet. She hopes that these values become second nature to her students so that they have a clear understanding of social justice and what is right and wrong. Each year, she watches her students as well as her former students strive to reach their academic and social potential. As they come to her to say thank you, Ms. Goldin knows that she has successfully reached out and touched them in such a way that it has made a positive difference in their lives. This is her greatest career achievement.
Charity:
St. Jerome Catholic Church
Number Of Years In Profession:
23
Number Of Years In Current Position:
7
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to the support she receives from her mentors and students.
Day to Day Responsibilities:
Teaching Reading, Coordinating and Training Students
Education Certifications:
Pursuing Certification in Religious Education
Awards/Honors:
Teacher of the Year Award, The Deaver Foundation (2006); Deaver Foundation Award