Episode 018 – Amber, 5th Grade Teacher
In this episode, I chat with Amber, a 5th grade English Language Arts teacher at a Title I school in Maryland. She shares how she never originally planned to become a teacher, what changed for her in college, and how after teaching for a while, she eventually continued on to pursue a master’s degree in Learning, Diversity & Urban Studies at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.
We talk about her experience teaching in Spanish through a dual immersion program, finding the age group that was the right fit, and what it looks like to support students from diverse backgrounds, including children facing poverty and learning English as a second language.
Amber talks about moving to a new city, and also gives an honest look at the day-to-day realities of the job — from lesson prep and summers off, to factors that impact teacher salaries across the country. And of course, a few sweet and funny moments with students that make the work so meaningful.
Plus, if you’ve ever been curious about the practical side of the job, Amber shares what she wears to school, what’s always in her work bag, and what a normal day really looks like before morning arrival to wrapping up the day beyond the final bell.
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